Life-stages

To be a child is different to being an adult. The journey is often marked as one from total dependence, through radical independence, to the realization that we are all inter-dependent and where one acknowledges and assumes one's responsibilities in life. This is what it means to be mature in Christ (Colossians 1:28). I suggest therefore that one can only truly be adult when one is truly Christian.

We gain further insight, however, into adulthood, when we consider Jesus' words: "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (Mark 10:15). This indicates that to be an adult does not mean we abandon child-like trust, innocence, faith, wonder, excitement, etc. To be sure we put away 'childish ways', those that are marked by jealousy and selfishness and immaturity of mind, but we are always to be people of faith, people under authority. This is evidenced by the truth that we never graduate from being children of our Heavenly Father.

Perhaps the best way of describing God's original plan for human development is how Jesus' growth was described: one of growth in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and people (cf Luke 2:52).

When we analyze this statement, and reflect on our own lives, the only element which can really be controlled and influenced by other humans is our growth in wisdom, that is, our mental growth. We will end up behaving in the way we were trained.

When we think about this, we can easily see the importance and benefits of disciplining and training up a child in the ways of the Lord, because then there is less undoing of false thought and behaviour patterns after they come to believe in Christ and have their own personal counselor, the Holy Spirit, to guide and direct them.

Therefore the role of parents is absolutely essential in a person's development, as is the necessity of discipline from birth to always counteract and put in perspective the negative destructive ways of our covetous flesh desires which are there from birth to death (see Alpha). We never should try and escape discipline in our lives, and even God disciplines us. In fact, to not be disciplined is not to be treated as a son (cf Hebrews 12:7-11).

Finally, the stage we cannot avoid in life is death. But this is not the end for the Christian - because of Jesus we shall all be resurrected! (cf 1 Corinthians 15). Therefore we have nothing to fear in this life - whether hunger, persecution, disaster, cot-death, etc. We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28), and that to be with Christ is far better than remaining on this earth (Philippians 1:23).