12 Year Old Faith Ephesians 4:1-16
I learned something recently that I had never thought of before... I guess it was new information to me because one of three things is true... Either kids have changed since I was was in Jr. High, or I have gotten so far along at my advanced age that I have forgotten what it was like to be 12 years old...
Or, perhaps I never was a normal kid... Since I am now such a main stream, well adjusted, healthy adult, I know it can’t be the latter, so I know it has to be one of the first two possibilities.
But, One of the things that has been pointed out to me is that kids in early adolescence do NOT want to stand out. I don’t think I am violating any confidences when I tell you that Bobbie Jo Lynn told me of two young men this year in her 8th grade class have attained the rank of Eagle Scout. Another one attained the same goal last year... At least that’s the way I remember the facts... None-the-less, that is a pretty remarkable feat. I was rather shocked to learn that these young men had reached a level in scouting that many don’t reach until much later in their scouting journey... in fact, some don’t attain the Eagle Scout rank until after high school when they have the time to devote to their project. Anyway,
in my conversation with Bobbie about this fact, I mentioned that I am sure the boys would appreciate being recognized for their accomplishment and she told me that in fact, the opposite was true. The father of one of the boys instructed her and other teachers to keep quiet about the accomplishment so as to not embarrass the boy. Further conversation about this matter with Bobbie and also talking with other teachers and folks who work with that age group
confirmed that one of the greatest desires of every 12 year old is to blend in with the crowd. The biggest goal, if not to actually be so, is to “Appear” average in every way. To be seen as successful in any endeavor is the equivalent of having leprosy in Biblical times and is one sure way to be outcast by society as defined by 12 year old standards.
After thinking this thing over and applying the same principle to the Christian faith as I have experienced it, I have learned some amazing things in the past couple of weeks. I was wondering why the church never seems to accomplish anything beyond maintaining regular worship services and participating in the community in the same way that we have always participated. We get the bills paid and we keep the
lights on and the doors open... But I wonder how much it permeates avery aspect of our lives as it really should.
In my travels I am constantly reminded that the church in the wider sense throughout our world is largely in the same situation... Sure, there are examples of extreme faith making a real difference in the world, but sadly, far too often, the opposite is true and we are content to “Blend in” and not appear to be anything other than good decent people (which, by the way, can be accomplished regardless of church involvement).
What our scripture for today encourages us to do is
something entirely different. It encourages us to grow up!
To mature in the faith, growing up into the image of Christ... If that is the goal, and it should be, how are we doing? If we are really to be people who know God in an intimate way and see his action in our lives, We have a long way to go if we are ever going to be the people we are supposed to be.
One never really knows what life will bring our way... But the marks of a true follower of Christ are described in our text for today.
A true follow of Christ will posses several distinguishing characteristics. I wonder how many of us can honestly say that we display these signs.
Those signs are:
First, that we would have unity in the faith.
Second, that we would have knowledge of the Son,
and third, that we would become mature attaining to the
whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
So, how are we doing in those three areas?
What does it mean to have unity in the faith. It certainly can’t mean that we agree on everything... When I think of unity I tend to think of agreement on issues and a peaceful co-existence with one another. But, I am certain that it cannot mean this entirely. Simply as a matter of course as human beings, we are not about to attain that state until we are together in heaven with Christ. But, we can go a long way towards this end in the present world. There are few
places on earth where we see more divisive behavior than in the church. Just this Summer as I travelled to Providence Rhode Island for the Biennial convention of the ABC-USA, I saw at one and the same time people who weree seeking unity and people who were seeking to divide us. This is a tragedy. The church today is filled with people who are honestly and sincerely trying to find common ground and to discern what it is that God would have us to know as the core of the gospel as we seek to live it out in our lives. those are the people who have at least attained a level of maturity in their faith that they are openly and fully seeking God’s will for the people who carry his name.
12 year olds on the other hand, are usually content to divide themselves into little cliques and to fight among themselves clamoring for status and prestige. 12 year olds are often content to live with division, but they are also more sensitive to the painful words
and the arrows of attack that others would hurl at them.
So, this morning what can we say about our own attitude?
Are we at least striving to find unity and to bring about genuine transformation in our own lives and in the lives of those around us?
Or, are we content to live in a divided world, where matters of political correctness and finding others who are “like us” rises to a level where we seek that
above seeking Christ?
If we are truly honest with ourselves, we would see that we far too often fall into the latter category and should be praying that the Holy Spirit would help us become a people who are at least striving for unity while not selling out the gospel.
We aren’t doing very well in our quest for unity my friends...
How are we doing with regards to knowledge of the Son?
Notice our text says “Knowledge OF the Son” NOT
“Knowledge ABOUT the son”... there is a vast difference
between the two. It is very easy to learn all of the facts and figures contained in scripture and even in extra-biblical sources regarding the facts and details of the historical Jesus, but it is a far different thing to truly have a knowledge OF the son.
In human relationships, I would much rather have friends who knew OF me than those who knew ABOUT me. To know ABOUT me is to know mere facts and figures: where I was raised, places I’ve been, places I have studied, things I do...
but to know OF me is something far different indeed. To know OF me is to be aware of my hopes, my dreams, my
visions, my goals and objectives, to understand what I am trying to construct for my future.
Think of a husband and wife for example, or those involved in romantic relationships. Of course at first acquaintence, we begin with factual information... but if the relationship is ever
to progress to a deeper level, it must go beyond that mere knowledge. How can you truly love someone unless you know those deeper things that drive them towards the future? Those things that create in them a passion and a zeal for living life?
12 year olds are content to stay at a surface level in most of their relationships and perhaps that is healthy... when you are twelve! But, the marks of maturity drive us deeper in connectedness with one another. It is only in getting beyond a 12 year old faith that we will even begin to desire that deeper connection with Christ. What are HIS hopes and dreams, what are HIS goals for the future, What is HIS vision for the church, What is HIS vision for the people who are called my his name... Simply put, are we content to know ABOUT Jesus... or, do we really want to know OF him and in so doing be people who will take his message and let it truly transform us.
Finally, how are we doing with regards to being transformed to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ? While I don’t want to burst our collective bubble this morning, I would say that we are not doing very well in this department either.
This is the real measure of our maturity: How well do we measure up to the standard which has been set for us? If the standard is Christ, we have a long way to go and if we are being honest, we will have to acknowledge that we will never get there this side of heaven. But, this does not give us license to stop trying to attain this goal.
I can remember when I was 12. Math was absolutely my
worst subject in school. I never understood it and I recognize that I probably never will. I remember crying real tears as late as my high school years as my dad would get frustrated in trying to help me understand the math homework. He was gifted with a great knowledge of mathematics and the complex equations that made algebra and geometry work. I
on the other hand never did understand it and was frustrated beyond measure. I never did think I would get it and therefore, never put much work into understanding it.
Such is the case with many people who are trying to attain the fullness of Christ. If we see Christ as he really is, we recognize our ow shortcomings and we know that we will never fully measure up. So, we are content to not press ourselves and push ourselves beyond the status quo and as a result our faith and our maturity simply stop where they are and we don’t grow towards that goal of Christ-likeness.
This is the paradox of faith. We are called to reach for a goal that cannot be attained, we are called to strive for challenges that will always be just beyond our grasp, we are called to become people who we can never be, but we must not accept stagnancy in exchange for a passionate pursuit of the goals that Christ has set for us.
we are called to live up to the challenge of a mature faith, growing towards Christ-likeness, never content with a 12 year old faith, but instead growing towards a faith that moves us closer to our goal. We should not be content as the 12 year old social structure of our world encourages us to “fit in” and not rock the boat, but rather we should take the challenge and be never content with the status quo in our world or in our own lives.
1 Peter 2:11-12 encourages us as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against our souls. But instead we are to Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God.
May we never be found content with an adolescent faith that leaves us where we are, but may we strive to become those people who are sladly set apart from the world... Not afraid to stand out, but rather seeking that others might see Christ living within us and in so doing be drawn to him themselves. Don’t be content to be average, but instead, be peculiar, be strange, dare to be different... and change the world in the
process!
