A Practical Guide for Transformative Growth Part 1ნიმუში

Why Aren't We Growing?

Most traditional Western church growth models are focused on learning truth and applying what we learn to our lives.

There are two problems with this way of thinking:

1. It is focused on modifying external behavior through our willpower. God designed us to be transformed from the inside out. We cannot truly grow through behavior modification. This was how the Pharisees operated. But Jesus said that our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees. To illustrate His point, He described a man who lusted after a woman in his heart and a man who held bad intentions toward another in his heart. He said that these men were guilty of adultery and murder, respectively (Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28). In other words, transformation is about the heart, not just the external behavior. When we are genuinely transformed, we do not just choose to act like Jesus, our heart motives are like His. Our outward Godly actions are a natural outflow of our inward Godly values, motives and desires of our heart. An effective strategy for spiritual growth is aimed primarily at the heart.

2. It is focused on truth as the cornerstone of transformation. Truth is important, but it is not the most important thing. Focusing on truth and academic instruction simply creates knowledgeable, immature saints (which is usually worse than an unlearned, immature saint). Jesus was clear that the most important thing is love. Dallas Willard said that the acid test of Christian maturity is loving our enemies. A focus on truth suggests instruction as a primary means of growth rather than a focus on love, which would lead us to relationship as a primary means of growth. Human beings learn through imitation. We imitate the people with whom we have strong bonds. God’s plan for transformation is for us to love Him and love others as He has loved us. In other words, to form a strong deep bond with God through which we become like Him… and then to pass it on.

A method for transformation based solely on using our willpower to modify our behavior in alignment with Biblical truth is not only un-Biblical but also impractical. Human beings have a spirit, a soul and a body. When we speak about transformation we are, in the main, talking about sanctification of the soul; about our beliefs, values and motives becoming more like Christ. Our spirit is made new when the Holy Spirit comes to live in us, and we will get a new body when Christ returns, but in this life our souls are being saved or sanctified. Now, our souls have many components but to make my point here I will oversimplify it into two parts – the head and the heart. We are rational beings, but we are also emotional beings. Our head responds well to information and instruction (truth), but our hearts are changed by only one thing – love. We cannot be taught into maturity. We are loved into maturity.

An effective model for transformation, therefore, must be relational and heart focused.

So, let’s go back and take another read of the four foundational Scriptures. These Scriptures together contain the means of spiritual growth – how we become mature. If we’re to put them in a list, it might look like this:

1. Experience the love of Christ at such a deep level that it becomes our foundation for all life, source of all life, means of all life, model for all life and reason for all life

2. Allow scripture to convict us, correct us and train us

3. Receive equipping from the gifts of the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher

4. Speak the truth in love, supporting one another to become the best version of ourselves

5. Interact with each other in such a way that we can be vulnerable and open with each other without being judged, rejected or shamed

6. Take responsibility for our personal growth and wholeness (spirit, soul and body) and become competent contributors to the body of Christ

7. Connect to other believers at a deep level, giving and receiving life to heal and grow together

8. Love each other well through our thoughts, prayers, words and actions

9. Persevere through trials to refine our character

All of these ingredients are necessary for our growth into mature daughters and sons. None can be omitted if we want to become like Christ!