Growth Plate

Over the last few years, a recurring concern for me has been the growth systems of the Christian faith. By that, I mean how we believers move from infancy unto maturity.

As I started to look inwardly, it became obvious that some of the systems that we were raised in started to be left to individuals to figure it out as they went along. Some other settings perhaps did not see the need or perhaps could not meet the need for intentional measures to foster growth.

[26] Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.
[27] Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land.
[28] Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.

2 Kings 17:26-28 (KJV)

As I read this chapter, it set off a cascade of thoughts within me. It seemed that a lot of focus and intent was exercised in bringing people into ‘the land’.

Now, however, believers are shown the wonders of salvation, the finished works and so on, and the rest is left to us to figure out. And so sometimes, you meet a believer and he is saying wonderful stuff but he doesn’t know how that translates to daily living.

Looking loosely at our feature verse, it seems that the people suffered not because they were strangers, but because they didn’t know the manner of the God of the land. And because they did not know His manner, they could not worship or fear Him.

Again, people come into Christ, and yet their lives reflect nothing of Christ. They are sincere, they have good intentions but their lives in experience do not tally with that which should be theirs on account of their newfound estate.

How can this be solved? There must be deliberate and systematic measures put in place to ensure the consistent growth of believers and experiential understanding of the knowledge of God’s ways. Such that the experience of the believer becomes as advertised by God through Christ.

The King, in his passage, sent one of the priests to the people in the land to teach and instruct them according to the manner of the God of the land. This is a pattern in scripture. In God’s land, believers are to be taught and instructed in the way of the Lord. This does not replace the place of personal diligence, if anything it fosters it.

All through the new testament, after men become obedient to the faith, they are immediately transited into a system of discipleship. We cannot afford to assume that we can do differently and achieve the same, desired result. The curriculum is set; God has given unto men and set them in the body, and we trust that systems of growth will be put in place for the maturing of believers – even in our time.