Ignorance of Who We Are

Ask any parent what they did when they had their child and they would answer with something like, "We made sure it knew that it was loved and we would do anything to provide for it." Prior to a mother giving birth it is tradition to throw her, and perhaps the father, a baby shower. At this shower gifts are given to make sure that the parents have everything they need to assist them in taking care of their baby. Gifts may include such items as diapers, clothing, a crib, wipes, blankets and much more. Basically, the goal is that the child is not in need of anything and is assured that it is totally loved. With that thought in mind why would we treat a new Christian any different when they first come into the Body of Christ? Unfortunately, some are not treated like newborns. A well-known denomination promotes on a website what they deem is necessary to properly disciple a new believer:

1. Receive assurance of salvation.
2. Develop a consistent devotional life.
3. Understand the basics for victorious living.
4. Assimilate into the life of the church.
5. Learn the basics of sharing faith.

This list of five things is about four too long. I agree that a new believer needs to be assured of their salvation. However, the last thing a new believer needs is to be put to work. And that is what is entailed when you look at steps 2 through 5. In other words, it is like telling a new believer, "God loves you now get to work." You need to read your Bible daily. You need to start eliminating all the sin in your life. You need to make this fellowship the center of your life. You need to tell everybody you know about Jesus. Whoa! Hold on one minute. Would a new parent tell their newborn they need to start walking, talking, feeding themselves and become independent right out the womb? Of course not. But that is exactly what this list entails. A parent makes sure that all the child has to do is be loved. In a sense, the parent is like God to that baby. They make sure that baby knows whose child they are, that they are completely loved and that its parents will do anything for them. Is our God any different?

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:16-19

The moment we are born again of the Spirit of God through faith in Jesus Christ we receive an inheritance. That inheritance includes such things from God as being totally loved, totally forgiven, totally righteous, reconciled, redeemed, sanctified, justified, being made a part of the Body of Christ, having citizenship in heaven, having eternal life and being made a brand new creation. All that, and more, from one act of faith. When a parent looks into the eyes of their child they don't feel any different about it then God feels about a new Christian. A child, from birth, has everything it needs to make it in this world. It doesn't get more fingers, more toes, more eyes, another nose, another brain and so on. It is no different with a believer. We have been given everything we need for life and godliness the moment we accepted Christ. Yes, like that child, we need to mature and grow. And with that growth comes a greater ability to understand what we have and how to allow God to use us. But, we are not expected to set the world on fire from birth. If a child is expected to perform the tasks of an adult it will fail, miserably. Studying scripture, involvement with a body of believers, trusting God more with our lives and evangelism will all come in time. But first we need to know who we are in Christ.

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." Colossians 2:6-7

I am not a parent, but I know that one of the joys of being a parent is seeing your children grow up to be a good representation of yourself. You desire nothing more than for them to be a reflection of you, your values, your beliefs, your ideals, etc. Many times people who encounter your children see them as a reflection of you. When a child realizes all the sacrifices made for them, in love, they respond with a lifetime of thankfulness. As children of God, our God is no different. As we grow in our understanding of who we are in Christ, the byproduct will be that we reflect all we have been given in Him to all those we encounter. However, as a popular Christian teacher once put it, "the tragedy of modern-day Christianity is our utter ignorance of who we are in Christ." Rather than being instructed on who we are in Christ, how God sees us and all we have in His Son, we are given a list of things to do in order to keep us busy. We end up operating in our own strength and soon burn out, become despondent, and in many cases, have little to do with the faith. We become anything, but thankful. We must remember that new Christians need to be loved and informed of who they are in Christ, allowing them the time to grow in the grace and knowledge of our God. By this they will become rooted and built up in Him and begin to experience the real Christian life. A Christian life that is motivated by faith in Jesus, not in our works for Him.