Growing in Christ

The purpose of pastors and teachers is to help Christians grow in their faith.

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Eph 4:11-16 NIV)

However, the hierarchical nature of the modern church leadership ensures that Christians remain perpetual children, dependent of their leaders instead of becoming leaders and teachers themselves – the goal of our growth in Christ.

 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. (Heb 5:11-14 NIV)

Children must shed their dependence of their parents if they wish to become grown-ups themselves. The first step towards growth is critical thinking; instead of obeying without a question, the teenager challenges what is being said, and through that challenge, learns to distinguish good from evil. An untrained mind depends on someone to tell her what is right and wrong; a trained mind no longer needs someone to lead the way: instead she has become someone who can lead others. To become a mature Christian (a “spiritual” person) instead of remaining a child (a “carnal” person) is the goal of our faith. Happy are those Christians whose spiritual leaders recognize this and allow them to grow up instead of forcing them to remain children in order to bolster their own (false) authority over the flock.