Pastor's Desk
February 12 , 2006
COMMUNITY IS WHERE people, live together, work together and grow up together. Let’s look at growing up together. When God puts us into Christian community, our interaction with each other in that community shapes us. The shaping process includes many different things. Some things are pleasant especially when we are being encouraged and affirmed. Other things are painful such as when we are being rebuked or we are trying to work out differences of opinion. All of these kinds of things contribute to our spiritual growth.
After we are born again, we are expected to grow up into mature Christians. The scriptures say, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” (1 Peter 2:2) Physical maturity is used here as a picture of spiritual maturity. And just as there are sometimes physical issues that hinders healthy growth and development of the human body, such as poor nutrition, exposure to harsh environment and sickness so it is in the spiritual realm.
It is important that the community of faith functions in a healthy way. Individual members need to be spiritually fed. They need to be protected from spiritual danger. They need to be free from spiritual diseases. The members of the Christian community provide all of this for each other under the direction of the Lord Jesus by the Holy Spirit so that there can be healthy spiritual growth.
But what do we mean by spiritual growth? Simply this: the formation of Christ-like character in a people so that their thoughts, attitudes, words and actions increasingly become like those of the Lord Jesus Christ. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18)
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Instead, speaking the truth in love,
we will in all things grow up into him
who is the Head, that is, Christ.
From him the whole body,
joined and held together by every supporting ligament,
grows and builds itself up in love,
as each part does its work.
This page was last updated on Friday, February 10, 2006