And vice versa on how a matured believer can learn from a young believer. Young believer : 1 - 6 years in Christ, matured believer : 7 and above years in Christ. I often wonder what the young christians think about matured christians and vice versa and what are the things that we can learn from one another. You can define your own on what is young and/or matured believers.
2006-09-03 22:32:02 · 21 answers · asked by galgal 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Shardf : you are a brave person!
2006-09-04 21:58:05 · update #1
I guess I would qualify as a "mature" believer. The lessons I would pass on to a young believer are:
1. The Christian life is a marathon, not a 100 yd. dash. So many start off so fast, then burn out. Zeal for Christ is good, but learning, growing and maturing are just as important.
2. Learn to be silent before God. We live in such a noisy time. It is a hard discipline to just be silent before God. He will not shout to you over the din of noise.
3. Learn the Scriptures, know them, trust them as truth. Never compromise. Never let anyone convince you that the Bible is in error in doctrine, history and ethics.
4. Be willing to learn from the mature believers. So many young people think they got it all figured out, they have all the answers, when in truth, they don't even know what the questions are.
5. Understand what prayer is. God is not a vending machine where you put in the right prayer and get what you want. Prayer is communication with your Heavenly Father. Speak to Him as such. Learn to accept the no's and waits as well as the yes's. As C.S. Lewis said, "Prayer doesn't change God, it changes me".
6. Watch for "spiritual appointments" Take any opportunity that comes to share the Gospel
2006-09-03 22:44:17 · answer #1 · answered by BrotherMichael 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Some young christians associate the perception of their own faith through the actions of the mature believer. If the mature believer behaves in an unchristian-like behaviour then this would send the wrong message to the young believer. The mature believer must already have a servant-heart, leading by example and not act all high and mighty and demanding respect from the younger believers. In fact the mature believers should serve the younger ones. Learning to be humble, getting your hands dirty and having a serving attitude is the best lesson you can give to a young believer.
My kid is 6 yrs old. God loves children at this age because they don't doubt Gods existence and their heart is pure and clean. Thats why a childs prayer is more powerful than an adults. We are actually learning from them, their innocence in faith and trust in God which really is demanded from us. It seems strange that as Christians grow old they are actually trying to recapture this child-like faith. It is because of what the secular world has put them thru and of course due to the countless spiritual attacks.
2006-09-05 01:47:34 · answer #2 · answered by JasonLee 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Through my own experience, I have learned alot from a Mature Christian, From Many really.. 1. How to Pray.. there is no specific way, but "good food good meat good god lets eat" isnt exactly a prayer lol.. all joking aside, Really putting ur heart into your prayers.. taking time for God, with no interuptions. Loving those whom you pray for.. and Being specific. 2. Love.. Saying I Love You, just doesnt cut it anymore.. so many people have perverted the meaning.. Loving Unconditionally.. etc.. there are so many things that young believers can learn.. I look towards those who have matured in Christ..
2006-09-04 06:06:19 · answer #3 · answered by hearts_taken1980 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have been a christian all my life (48yrs) and have attended church on a constant basis. I've had many teachers and was taught by many Elders in Christ. I am now considered an Elder in my church.... and from all that God has taught me and shown me I have come to a few stead-fast conclusions and one of them is:
Never stop learning about Christ. Because many have made up their minds and have chosen one way of believing in Christ, they become closed minded to expanding their knowledge in God.... So to continue learning about God, you must always be willing to learn or else you will become as some and stand only on a few principles which will make you condemn the rest for not believing as you do and that is a bad thing to do when dealing in the gospel of Christ.
And that would be the best advice I could give to a person just beginning in the worship of Jesus Christ and God Jehovah.
May the lord give you the spirit of knowledge and the spirit of God to guide you through the years to come.
2006-09-04 05:55:22 · answer #4 · answered by KeAhi 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Basically we learn from each other yes. And I believe that one can never achieve maturity because there is just so many things to learn about God. A "mature" christian can be a born again christian for 1 year and know more about God than a christian who is born again for 7 years.
We as a church or as body of Christ can learn a lot of things from each other, but the one who truly teach you and guide you is the Holy Spirit.
Good luck I hope it helped and God bless.
2006-09-04 05:41:34 · answer #5 · answered by tolquit 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
the more you get to know Him the more mature you will be. because it is based on your relationship with Him, a 7 & above years in Christ may still not be mature if one doesnt spend enough time with God. so maturity should be measure in how closely you know Him, His personality , His likes & delight & also not forgetting how much areas of your life is submitted to Him. the more life decisions you ask for His opinion & will is another sign of increasing maturity. there are more but i can only think of these few now. hope its helpful so far. peace, man
2006-09-04 05:45:58 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
How many years you have been christian does not define maturity. You can be a christian for forever and never gain wisdom. It is how you study, respond when God asks of you, and your everyday response to times adversities. You will know what can be gained when you speak to someone about the Lord. The Holy Spirit will shine through.
2006-09-04 05:51:11 · answer #7 · answered by i.know9moreangels 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, I don't believe that there is a "young" or "old" believer. If you are a Christian, and believe in Jesus, you will know it. I am an older Christian, and in my younger years, I do not think I could have learned anything to speak of from an older Christian. You, see, it is private, beteen you and God. I believe that it is possible to grow in your faith and religion, and become closer to God. However, the younger Christians can face the same challenges as an older one. It just depends on how you mature in your spiritual growth. Younger ones can have health issues, face death, death of their loved ones and become deeper from experiencing these kinds of things. For instance, my first challenge was when my dad died and I was with him. Knowing that he had not been a Christian, or an active one, most of his life, I gave him a cross and prayed for his soul. He was not a bad person, and I know that God did not judge him for that, but I just wanted to do that for him. It was very spiritual, to watch someone take their last breath. The same for my mother, to be with someone, when they die. My father died of lung cancer, and was a bad death. Just know that you will have challenges in your life, and the glue that pulls you together is your faith in God. Those that do not believe it, have not perhaps experienced much yet in their life. When my daughter almost died of diabetes, and my son was hit by a car, and both survived. When I got cancer, had a heart blockage and almost died. All these things happened over a period of time, but I could not really share this with someone really, but just tell them, they have to experience these things, and decide themselves who really has the power to step up to the plate when you need them, and pull you through, it is Father God. You have to ask Him to come into your life, and you have to believe it, otherwise, it is nothing.
2006-09-04 05:50:06 · answer #8 · answered by shardf 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I love being around long time Christians that have already went thru the valleys of life and how they used God's word and their faith to walk thru the valley. The miracles they have seen in their walk with God, and the power they show because of their faith.
I love being around new Christians because of their zeal and wonderment of finding out that God loves them and their search for truth. Their testimony of how God brought them to himself is so moving.
The anointing on the mature and the young Christians is the same.
2006-09-04 05:49:19 · answer #9 · answered by tobinmbsc 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A young believer can learn that God does not slack in his Promises. What He says he will do, he does it. A mature believer can learn from a young believer on being zealous not extreme but a love for souls who are lost.
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2006-09-04 05:43:07 · answer #10 · answered by Pashur 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋