I don’t know for sure, but I have a sneaking suspicion that most Americans who call themselves Christians have never advanced in their faith beyond infancy. Some may have never read the word of God for themselves, others may be spiritually conflicted due to the liberal ideology we receive from the media and society in general, and still others may be content with merely dipping their toe into what it means to be a Christ-Follower. As a result, I believe that many who call themselves Christians do not understand the Bible enough, or have grown in their faith enough, to think and understand the deeper things spoken of in the Bible and have never advanced beyond the elementary things. Paul warns the Corinthians about this in first Corinthians chapter 14 verse 20 which says:
“Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.”
This is found buried in Paul’s teaching about the gifts of prophesy and speaking in tongues. Now, I realize that there have been heated debates as to whether speaking in tongues still happens today, and even what it means to “speak in tongues”. But my question to those who would quickly dismiss the phenomenon is, “if you have a problem with speaking in tongues, what will you do if God decides to do something really crazy?” To have the faith to believe in the miraculous goes beyond thinking like a child. It is the realization that God sets the rules, God sets the boundaries, and at any time and in any way that lines up with his word and his character, he can choose to move. So I encourage you not to put God in a box, because when we decide that there are limits to what God will and will not do, I believe that we are actually revealing our lack of faith.
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Like Paul says, we need to advance in our faith and stop thinking like spiritual children. Yes, we are to be inexperienced - or infants - when it comes to evil, but with regards to the deeper things of God; the things that stretch our faith and grow our understanding of who he is, we should be adults. I encourage you to filter what you hear and learn about God through the Bible aided by the Holy Spirit. Then open your mind and understanding to a mighty God whose power and influence are limitless. If you do, you might be able to stretch your faith in such a way, that God will move in your life in ways that are beyond what you can think or ask.
