I think there are indeed sign posts and I am going to suggest some of them. By sign posts, I mean the mile markers we find at the side of the interstates in America. While driving to Florida recently I would watch carefully as the mile markers passed by because I could judge withe some accuracy how far I had gone toward my short term goals. If it was 32 miles until the next Rest Stop I would look at the current mile marker and calculate what it would be when I reached that wonderful destination-a rest stop.
What were the markers your church used when you were young? I don't mean the "official" markers but the unwritten ones. For me the most important markers about being a "godly man" had to do with knowing the Bible and being able to speak well in front of groups without notes. We had a husband and wife team come to the church to train youth leaders and at the end they told the Pastor in front of all the kids that I should be the official youth leader. All the kids, including me, were astounded because I was living like the devil not the Lord. However, I knew and quoted the Bible effortlessly so the visitors were fooled by my superficial abilities.
For some groups, the ability to show a strong evidence of spiritual gifts is the right way to judge one's maturity. The movie Apostle shows this view when it has "Boy Preachers" strut their stuff and add to biblical knowledge and preaching skills the gifts of tongues and healing. The film shows, however, that the depth of faith of these young ones was not capable of carrying the load of a true ministry.
What do you nominate as the best way to mark growth? there are no "right answers" but I would like to read your views. I will offer my views later.
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Gary Sweeten
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