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Can or should spiritual growth be objectively measured and charted, such as measuring your physical weight or height? If yes, what should be ideal spiritual growth measures? Examples, tithing, church attendance, potluck participation. If no, then how do we measure spiritual growth?
Can or should spiritual growth be objectively measured and charted, such as measuring your physical weight or height? If yes, what should be ideal spiritual growth measures? Examples, tithing, church attendance, potluck participation. If no, then how do we measure spiritual growth?
Not sure there really an objective way. I've seen spiritual growth in the past year among some of the members in my church, and I judge it by the fact that I've seen a hunger to know God more. They want to hear more Biblical preaching, they read it on their own, they come to Bible studies, and church. Others are not at that point yet--it may be as simple as just coming to church, and maybe asking a question or two after church. It can vary by the person, and what their personality is. Some folks are very open, some aren't.
Serving God by serving others... in His name IMO. It's much more complex than this, but this is one measure of our maturing spirit.
The measure is different for men and women. Men should be measured by their ability to serve sacrificially (with love) and women should be measured by a peaceful motivating spirit (with respect).
These are the very things we must cultivate. Men do not need to learn how to be respectful and women do not need to know how to love... God has already put those qualities in us.
Good question! - Christians talk a great deal about Spiritual growth, yet, it cannot be measured in finite chronological, physical or intellectual terms. Since Spiritual growth is the work of God’s indwelling Holy Spirit, only ‘born again’ Christians have Spiritual life and are able to grow Spiritually.
Spiritual growth is the process through which God’s indwelling Holy Spirit conforms believers to the character (image) of God (Rom 8:29, 2 Cor 3:10). The Holy Spirit transforms the minds of believers (Rom 12:2) and also sanctifies believers (Col 3:1-10). As Believers "GROW," they enjoy a richer, higher, personal relationship with God, Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Spiritual growth includes: a) pursuit of righteousness (1Tim. 6:11); b) being transformed (Rom. 12:2); c) perfecting holiness (2 Cor. 7:1); d) pressing toward the goal (Phil. 3:14); and e) being built up in the faith (Col. 2:7).
Some characteristics of Spiritual growth (or the lack, thereof):
1). Growing/mature Christians are committed followers and ‘lovers’ of Jesus Christ. They are not easily swayed by new doctrines, opinion polls, charismatic personalities or religious dogma and ritual.
2). By definition, Spiritual “GROWTH” always involves progressive CHANGE (Heb 6:1-3). This changes ‘baby Christians’ into seasoned, mature followers of Christ. (Some ‘baby Christians’ are unwilling to move beyond a ‘milk diet,’ thus become ‘Spiritually dull of hearing” and may never grow or mature Spiritually.
3). Spiritually mature Christians are able to DISCERN good from evil (Heb 5:14), and INSTRUCT others in matters of righteousness. They cling to sound doctrine as revealed by the Spirit and Word of God; and are not blown about by every wind of doctrine (Eph 4:14), like a ‘double-minded’ man (Jas).
Spiritual growth measurement has multiple perspectives: 1). God's knowledge (the ultimate 'measurement'), 2). Our internal knowledge of our own Spiritual growth and 3). The Spiritual growth believers see in others.
1). God does not ‘measure Spiritual growth’ …since He sees and knows the heart. He knows who truly lives in relationship with Him and worships Him in Spirit and truth. God intends for every Christian to experience His life-changing reality and grow to Spiritual maturity (2 Peter 3:18), however, our active participation is necessary for that to happen.
2). Believers measure their own Spiritual Growth (and the Spiritual Growth in others) by the evidence of the ‘fruit of the Holy Spirit’ within them (Gal 5:22) – and by the evidence of God working through them in Spirit-powered, fruitful Spiritual Gifts (Rom 12, 1 Cor 12, Eph 4).
3). Christians ‘know other believers by the evidence of the ‘fruit of the Holy Spirit’ and the ‘Spiritual fruit’ of Spiritual gifts. Discernment and ‘testing of sound doctrine’ is essential in this area, since the world often confuses the appearance of ‘Spirituality’ with true ‘Spiritual growth’
Good question! - Christians talk a great deal about Spiritual growth, yet, it cannot be measured in finite chronological, physical or intellectual terms. Since Spiritual growth is the work of God’s indwelling Holy Spirit, only ‘born again’ Christians have Spiritual life and are able to grow Spiritually.
Spiritual growth is the process through which God’s indwelling Holy Spirit conforms believers to the character (image) of God (Rom 8:29, 2 Cor 3:10). The Holy Spirit transforms the minds of believers (Rom 12:2) and also sanctifies believers (Col 3:1-10). As Believers "GROW," they enjoy a richer, higher, personal relationship with God, Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Spiritual growth includes: a) pursuit of righteousness (1Tim. 6:11); b) being transformed (Rom. 12:2); c) perfecting holiness (2 Cor. 7:1); d) pressing toward the goal (Phil. 3:14); and e) being built up in the faith (Col. 2:7).
Some characteristics of Spiritual growth (or the lack, thereof):
1). Growing/mature Christians are committed followers and ‘lovers’ of Jesus Christ. They are not easily swayed by new doctrines, opinion polls, charismatic personalities or religious dogma and ritual.
2). By definition, Spiritual “GROWTH” always involves progressive CHANGE (Heb 6:1-3). This changes ‘baby Christians’ into seasoned, mature followers of Christ. (Some ‘baby Christians’ are unwilling to move beyond a ‘milk diet,’ thus become ‘Spiritually dull of hearing” and may never grow or mature Spiritually.
3). Spiritually mature Christians are able to DISCERN good from evil (Heb 5:14), and INSTRUCT others in matters of righteousness. They cling to sound doctrine as revealed by the Spirit and Word of God; and are not blown about by every wind of doctrine (Eph 4:14), like the ‘double-minded’ man (Jas).
Spiritual growth measurement has multiple perspectives: 1). God's knowledge (the ultimate 'measurement'), 2). Our internal knowledge of our own Spiritual growth and 3). The Spiritual growth believers see in others.
1). God does not ‘measure Spiritual growth’ …since He sees and knows the heart. He knows who truly lives in relationship with Him and worships Him in Spirit and truth. God intends for every Christian to experience His life-changing reality and grow to Spiritual maturity (2 Peter 3:18), however, our active participation is necessary for that to happen.
2). Believers measure their own Spiritual Growth (and the Spiritual Growth in others) by the evidence of the ‘fruit of the Holy Spirit’ within them (Gal 5:22) – and by the evidence of God working through them in Spirit-powered, fruitful Spiritual Gifts (Rom 12, 1 Cor 12, Eph 4).
3). Christians ‘know other believers by the evidence of the ‘fruit of the Holy Spirit’ and the ‘Spiritual fruit’ of Spiritual gifts. Discernment and ‘testing of sound doctrine’ is essential in this area, since the world often confuses the appearance of ‘Spirituality’ with true ‘Spiritual growth’
Very well stated Jghorton. If I might add, while every believer is indwelt by the Spirit, no believer is continually filled with the Spirit because each time a believer sins he comes under the control of the old sin nature and must name or acknowledge that sin to God as per 1 John 1:9 in order to be restored to temporal fellowship under the filling of the Holy Spirit which puts him in a position to regain his spiritual momentum. Both Ephesians 5:18 which commands us to be filled with the Spirit, and 1 John 1:9 which tells us that if we confess our sins He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins are stated within the context of walking in the light and ties the two verses together. Spiritual growth requires the filling of the Spirit so that we are under His control rather than under the control of the sin nature.
The system still won't let me rep you again yet, but I tried.
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