The rebirth as a child of God is a start. But God expects that we reach adulthood in our faith. That is how Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider formulated it and set out to explain the steps on our way to a mature faith.
“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” This Bible text from 1 Corinthians 13: 11 was the basis of a divine service the Chief Apostle held on 21 February 2015 in Uíge in northern Angola.
The rebirth through baptism with water and Spirit “was our birth as a child of God”, the Chief Apostle explained the words of Paul. “In the beginning we of course acted like a small child. That is normal. But with time we have to grow up into the full manhood of Jesus Christ.”
“Let us examine ourselves now and see whether we have grown and matured or not,” the Chief Apostle said and mentioned some factors:
- “When a child is born all it can do is cry to call attention to itself. The only thing a newborn can do is demand.” But with time a child will learn and one of the first words it learns is “thank you”. “Have we grown in thankfulness?”
- When a child begins to talk it usually prattles non-stop. Later, at school, the teacher will say, “Be quiet and listen. Listen and you will become smart.” Let us be mature in conversation and endeavour to listen to God.
- When a child is small it always wants to be carried. Later it might have to come to terms with the fact that there is a little brother or sister that Mother has to take care of. And eventually, as it gets older, it will be expected to help with the chores. “We are to grow in Christ and belong to those who carry others in their imperfections.”
- A system of rewards and reprimands defines a child’s behaviour in the beginning. An adult, on the other hand, acts out of conviction. “Those who have reached adulthood in their faith act in accordance with the principles of the gospel because they know: this is the way that leads to Jesus and that is where I want to be.” A mature faith does not act out of fear of punishment or because it hopes to receive a reward.
- Children love to play and they will often copy their parents as they play house. Of course this is all play. Real parents, however, always carry responsibility, even when things become difficult. “Serving the Lord is not a game. Those who have matured in their faith know that they are responsible.”
- A child cannot yet distinguish what is important and valuable. “Let us not be childish when it comes to our faith and allow ourselves be led astray by all kinds of strange doctrines” (cf. Hebrews 13: 9). “Those whose faith has matured are able to distinguish and know: I will follow the Lord, I will follow the Apostles, because that is the way that leads to the goal.”
What is important for a child’s proper development? Children need a balanced diet, a good upbringing and education, they need role models, and a chance to practise what they have learned, the Chief Apostle said. “The Lord gives us everything we need in order to grow and develop. He not only gave us the rebirth out of water and Spirit, but gives us bread from heaven in Holy Communion. He teaches us through the Holy Spirit. He has given us a role model in Jesus Christ. Much of what we consider as being a misfortune or a bad thing is actually a spiritual exercise. God wants to help us so that we can learn to forgive, to pray, and to trust.”
“The Lord always gives us the opportunity to prove: we are here to stay out of conviction. The most important thing for me is Jesus Christ.”