Comments on: Patronizing the "baby" Christians.

By: Alleycat

Alleycat — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 00:57:04 +0000

Aren’t we all “baby Christians?” There are GOBS of passages in the Bible about how we are God’s children.

By: Christina

Christina — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:22:16 +0000

I’m in recovery from drug addiction and when new people come in they often get this way too, only to be told by old-timers that they are going to lose that “on fire” feeling. We even have a term for it “on the pink cloud”.

By: James

James — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 19:48:24 +0000

After I received Yahshua I felt that feeling go away after awhile but Yahshua himself said that "I will have to leave you" to his disciples but the Holy Spirit (Ruach Hakodesh) will come upon you. We need to allow the ministry of these churches to bring people to Moschia Yahshua (Messiah Jesus) then encorage them to grow in the faith. Its like this would you tell a child that he will one day not enjoy playing with with toys, and he will soon grow out of watching cartoons? No you let them enjoy being a child because they will develop on their own eventually.

James

By: Amber Leigh

Amber Leigh — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:51:10 +0000

I always think of it this way: love is not a feeling…it is a commitment. I love my dog. Sometimes he makes me crazy (and honestly, sometimes I feel that way about God, too when he does things that I don't like), but what I trade him for anything in all the world? Absolutely not! He is my dog, and I am his human. We've made a commitment to each other. That's how I feel about God, too.

By: April

April — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 17:51:10 +0000

We drive two hours each way to attend the church we love. We do it willingly and with glad hearts, as long as there are no "you're going to make us late!" fights on the way out the door. When asked, recently, why we don't attend more often, I told the truth. She looked at me like i was crazy and told me we "shouldn't" be driving so far. I didn't know how to respond to that, smiled at her and changed the subject… I found it deeply condescending that she would assume that our faith and our commitment to finding a church home were not big enough to gladly "sacrifice" the time and gas to drive there. Maybe her desire wouldn't be big enough, but ours is. We may be "preschool Christians" (thanks, earlier poster, i love that phrase!) and we may not be typical church-goers ( very much into secular culture, music and technology, filtered for the kids), but we are dedicated to Christ and to finding a home church in which to raise our children and our spirits. How dare anyone tell me I "shouldn't" do what i feel called to do, just because they wouldn't do it?

phew! thanks for that, i feel better now.

By: thoughtriver

thoughtriver — Wed, 05 May 2010 20:57:34 +0000

I have done this, it must stop. One of my biggest efforts of the last couple of years has been to eradicate this type of behavior from my life and instead be a 'full of Joy' Christian.

By: With_apostrophe

With_apostrophe — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:34:36 +0000

Well, Scrubs is supposed to be one of the most accurate portrayals of hospital life.

The episode you're thinking of is when JD's brother comes to stay, and ends up challenging Cox to be a more positive example. The examples in the last two series didn't exist when you commented.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 05:05:21 +0000

I can speak to this from the medical student perspective - it's so true. When I was about to start medical school, a friend of mine (a recent MD grad) told me, literally, "don't let them beat it out of you".
While I have encountered grumpy, cynical docs that really drag you down (after all, it's hard to disagree with your "superior", and I think new Christians feel that way when talking to old Christians), I also encountered old docs that are still excited and love their jobs. This rekindles the love of medicine in me and really encourages me that I, too, could love this job for the rest of my life.

I think that's true of Christianity. When you meet a mature Christian (ie, not just an "old" Christian, or a "lifer", etc) who is full of joy, it's so refreshing, exciting and encouraging. Thanks for a great reminder of how it's NOT all about us, but rather about the people around us. The little things we say and do can make a huge impact on others without us evening knowing it (for good or for bad).

By: Grant

Grant — Tue, 12 May 2009 07:37:00 +0000

Nick,
good comment. I think as a “mature” Christian, you have to be pretty dense not to hunger for the raw energy of the younger believers. Unless you don’t understand that we need to be moving forward. I’m always stoked when they’re willing to hang out with me, because I gain so much from the transaction.

BTW, I am a casual student of church movement and growth. I think young churches often grow because of the fervency of youth, and I think they often grow because they’re the latest fad. Here in California, it’s quite popular to jump on the latest hip-church bandwagon. It’s sincere, but somewhat faddish.

By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:09:00 +0000

OK, I know this is way late in the game, but I love this post so I had to comment.

This is something I've really been praying about because it is so true. Statistics show that new churches tend to grow while existing churches tend to keep the status quo. I believe this is in large part due to the idea that "Mature" Christians try to stop all that "kid stuff" in new Christians.

What I know is that Jesus tells us to be like kids in our belief. I also know we are to encourage one another in growth, AKA discipleship and mentoring. The last thing Jesus tells his disciples is "go into the whole world and preach my gospel, baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and teach them all that I have commanded." It is important to consider one of the things He commands is right here, to go and preach.

Anyways, I am trying to get this whole "mentoring" program going where "mature" Christians can come along side new Christians to help disciple them, but the real trick is teaching the mentors that this is a two way relationship. While they are pouring wisdom and knowledge into these new Christians they should be receiving excitement and energy, not trying to stamp it out.

I'm still a ways off with the whole program because I'm trying to get some discipleship foundations laid that teach how important it is to fan into flames the gifts God has given us (Paul says that to Timothy) not pout sour water all over it.

I'll keep pondering and praying while God takes me down this path and trust that this is His answer.