Spiritual Growth

How do professing Christians explain the lack of difference between themselves and unbelievers? Both types of people can show themselves to be moral; both can display characteristics associated with the fruit of the Spirit: gentleness, kindness, patience, self-control, love, etc. Both types of people can also reveal their sinfulness, seen in subtle and obvious ways. Lack of contentment (coveting / greed) and perhaps even tolerance are examples of subtle sins. More obvious sins include lying - something of which all of us are guilty - and hatred (if not blatant, then at least behind one's back in our hearts).

The answer to this delicate question lies, I believe, in spiritual growth. We ought to hunger and thirst for righteousness. And though we may not always exhibit righteousness, we ought to be known by outsiders as people who are striving for growth. We're not perfect, but we want to be made perfect. We're not merely professing, we are progressing - and this, all by the grace of God for His glory.

Colossians 4:5-6 says, "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." This verse may be taken to imply, "Be ready to defend your faith." But I think it's more aggresive: "Be looking for ways to talk about things with unbelievers that will open doors for substantial growth, and do it with grace and salt." Stagnance, over and beyond hypocrisy, may be the silent killer among relationships between Christians and non-Christians. Thus believers must strive not to exhibit satisfaction with lack of knowledge on spiritual things. There is a time for milk, and let us drink! But for the sake of God's glory, let us be seeking meat as well.

2 Peter 3:17-18 says, "Be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."

The first part of the passage tells us to be discerning - on the defensive so that our understanding of God's truth is not compromised. I find it interesting that Peter tells us that the reason for this tactic is so that we may not "fall from our secure position." If we are in a secure position - which we are - then it is impossible to fall - and it is. Yet the warning, I believe, is a challenge to do more than dig in your heals where you stand. I think it's a challenge to go on the offensive, and that's what the second part of the passage encourages - spiritual growth. "But grow..."

Grow in grace and grow in knowledge of Christ. It's what separates the wheat from the tares - they look similar at first glance, but they grow a whole lot differently. And that's how we tell the difference between believers and unbelievers.