I heard a famous Christian minister say that people don’t change. Because of the context in which he made the statement & because of the particular subject that he was discussing many of the people at the conference nodded their heads in agreement. But I thought to myself, “I’m at a conference for CHRISTIAN MINISTERS & we don’t believe people can change?” I’m glad Jesus doesn’t feel that way about me.
4 comments:
I read recently that you hit your spiritual maturity at the age of 13. I thought, I hope not!!! I have no idea how you would even come up with that reasoning. Some people don't even become spiritual until their later years. People say the oddest things at times.
Where did you read that comment? Any idea how the source of the statement came to that conclusion? To describe it as "unlikely" would be a wild understatement.
I'll try to figure out..wait, I didn't read it... I heard it. I think it was on one of the radio stations that plays christian music. If I'm remembering it correctly it was part of a commercial for a children's ministry.
But I found this "“In essence," the researcher noted, "what you believe by the time you are 13 is what you will die believing. Of course, there are many individuals who go through life-changing experiences in which their beliefs are altered, or instances in which a concentrated body of religious teaching changes one or more core beliefs. However, most people’s minds are made up and they believe they know what they need to know spiritually by age 13. Their focus in absorbing religious teaching after that age is to gain reassurance and confirmation of their existing beliefs rather than to glean new insights that will redefine their foundations."
Here's the link. http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/130-research-shows-that-spiritual-maturity-process-should-start-at-a-young-age
I think this might be a case of terms and concepts being utilized or understood in different ways.
I'm still convinced that people CAN change. I believe I've experienced it and observed it. If that fact is not true than one of the fundamental principles of Christianity is false. That would be a problem. (Again, that's a case of my typical understatement.)
I also remain convinced that a person does not reach spiritual maturity at age 13. (I'm chuckling as I'm thinking about churches throughout the country searching their Jr. High youth group for potential Elder candidates.) Basic personality characteristics may be formed by then and some core beliefs may be established then, sure, but SPIRITUAL MATURITY--as I understand that concept--is not achieved at that time. I PROMISE YOU spiritual maturity is not achieved at age 13.
Post a Comment