Oh, Grow Up!

"Oh grow up!" she said. "You're such a child!"
"I am not," he shouted back. "Besides, what do you know—with all your bragging and selfishness?"

Ever had this conversation? Ever heard it going on in your family? I'm confident it goes on everywhere. Children and childish ways are OK for children, but when you get older you have to stop acting and thinking as a child. At least that's the claim, depending on what we're talking about.

To show you how ancient this way of talking is permit me a few Biblical quotes:

• "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways" (1 Corinthians 13:11).

• "But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it" (1 Corinthians 3:1-2).

• "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child" (Hebrews 5:12-13).

These Biblical writers are talking about spiritual matters, our new birth by the Holy Spirit and our growth in the Word of God. They do not address children as not belonging to the family of God. They do not suggest that they are without faith in Christ. They are not suggesting that the Holy Spirit does not dwell in them. But they are children, not in terms of years lived, but in their relationship to the heavenly Father and in their willingness and ability to obey His commands and guidance, as well as their ability to resist temptations from their old human nature, the fallen world and the demonic forces that rule the world.

What are some examples of acting as a spiritual child? What does it mean to speak, think and act like such a child? 

Paul says that quarreling about whose pastor or teacher is best is childish (study the context of the passage quoted). Anytime you start bragging about your teacher and putting another down you are being childish.

The writer to the Hebrews chides his readers because they are not interested in learning about how carefully and how long the Lord God planned their rescue and redemption in Christ. They are, he says, "unskilled in the word of righteousness." He worries that if they do not move on in their spiritual growth they will ultimately lose their faith altogether. From his perspective such folks are in danger of mocking Jesus and their need for what He alone brings them, the forgiveness of sins and life eternal. And once that happens there is no turning back (Hebrews 6:1-8). 

All I can say therefore is that it is dangerous to remain a spiritual child and to try to survive on milk. There are big, strong, dangerous spiritual enemies around who love to run off with children. We all need to hear God's Spirit pleading with us. Please. It's time to be weaned. It's time to start eating solid food. It's time to grow up.