Spiritual Stages of Growth #6.

We have covered very briefly the beginning of the Christian walk. In fact, we describe what precedes knowing Christ as Babes which is the state of every person until he/she comes to faith. We also described what it means to be a Child in Christ. 

We indicated that it is almost impossible for a Christian to achieve a place of real influence and leadership unless he/she has allowed God to heal the heart and restore the soul. Any major areas of unresolved shock, trauma, abuse and neglect from childhood that is suppressed or repressed will arise from the shadows later in life and sabotage the people of God. Moral failures are the evidence of that issue.

Now for the time when we start to really become mature in faith, God's truth, His love and His power. We call this the Disciple stage. Discipleship in this model means that the person is ready mentally, emotionally, spiritually and relationally to chew the meat and gristle of integrating Christian truth into the culture without being defensive, reactive, arrogant or aggressive. 

Disciples are the men and women who have matured in the Wisdom of the Spirit enough to be secure in Christ. They know their lives are hidden in Christ and start to abide in the vine. They can take on and apply the tougher aspects of God's word by hearing the Lord. They discerning the truth on their own.  Paul in the passage above describes them as being "spiritual" and that term is "teleios" or "mature in Christ". 

Becoming a Disciple always requires inner healing. Conservative Christians focus primarily on getting theology straight. Knowing God's word is essential, but applying God's word every day in relationship with God, self, family and others is a sure sign of where we are on the growth scale.

Thus, healing hurting hearts and generational dysfunctions are critically important early in the believer's life in the Spirit. Helping new Christians clean up painful brokenness with parents and siblings, for example, can unlock the door to speedy spiritual and emotional release and the development of the Fruit of the Spirit. If we fail to "Honor our father and mother" we cannot have a long, prosperous and healthy life. (See Exodus 20:12) Moral failures of Christians can almost always be traced back to early childhood wounds that have never been healed leaving scars that block our honor and respect toward our parents and result in conflicts at home and church.
 
In James 3 Paul says, ¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity. ¹⁸ And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

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 Gary Sweeten