November Beacon
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” II Peter 3:18
I did not see this, but I can picture it! It was close to thirty years ago that the event took place. The first church we served in held a Mother-Daughter banquet a few years before we got there. We continued the tradition when we got arrived, but we missed out on this memorable one. Apparently the men served the banquet and provided the entertainment. I believe it was some kind of a fashion show or contest put on by the men that night. One of the contestants was a middle-aged Deacon. His apparel for the event included a baby bonnet and a diaper. Like I said, I did not see it, and I think I’m glad!
Was there a problem in the early church related to that unusual scene? I know that Peter issued a challenge for believers to ‘…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior.’ But there are several verses indicating that that must not have been happening. What conclusions do you make based on these verses?
I Corinthians3:1-2 – “Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly – mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.”
Ephesians 4:14 – “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.”
Hebrews 5:11-14. (I wonder if the following description was the exception or the rule.) “We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
Did you catch what some of the ‘early church’ issues involved: shallow spiritual lives being susceptible to deceitful teaching; slow spiritual growers; teacher shortages; and lack of discernment. One pastor recently preached a message on this concern and suggested that many churches today have people attending who may as well be walking around like that aforementioned Deacon - wearing diapers. They have grown chronologically, but if they were dressed according to their spiritual lives, they would not yet be in ‘big boy pants!’
You may have heard or even given the admonition at one time. It is intended for good, although it can be hard to hear. It is a short directive, but it can cut to the quick. Each one of us must decide if the words, ‘GROW UP’ are what we need to hear.
Pastor Lerud
October Beacon
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: First for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” Romans 1:16
A [...]
September Beacon
“His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [...]
August Beacon
“If He comes suddenly, do not let Him find you sleeping. Mark 13:36
Keith Green wrote a song called, ‘Asleep in the Light.’ These words come from that song.
The world is sleeping in the dark,
That the church can’t fight, cause it’s asleep in the light,
How can you be so dead, when you’ve been so well fed,
Jesus [...]
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