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Finding mature Christians - 10/25/2008 11:01:51 PM
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layman
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Joined: 2/20/2006
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I have to wonder if anyone else out there feels that there are no mature Christians that are their age with the exception of their own person. I have seen quite a few baptized, religious kids who would eat up forums like this, but absolutely none that are of such faith that I would call them a brother or a sister.
Personally, I just became a deacon a few weeks ago. I was baptized about four years ago, received the Holy Ghost about 3 years ago, and went through all sorts of crazy religious phases in between these events.
Theres that over-zealous phase when you first become a Christian (when you are ready to smack anyone with a bible who curses around you and dress plain to ward off any of the opposite sex who might cast a lustful eye on you). The funny thing about this stage is that you barely understand the Bible, yet, you are trying to push the duty of understanding it onto others.
Then theres the lukewarm phase, when you feel lazy about doing things for God. Instead of saying "Praise the Lord!", it is "PTL!". A lot of that actually stemmed from shame with me. Dont want to push our beliefs on others now, do we? Or rather, dont want people to think of us as strange or outlandish now, do we? God forbid we should be politcally incorrect!
There are more, but I could prattle for hours about them.
Frankly, I am tired of seeing so many teens in the same phases that I went through. I am tired of seeing so many babes in Christ.
I am not being an ingrate in saying that I am tired of seeing the effects of mature Christians sowing the seeds (babes), I recognize that we all have to start out somewhere. The problem is that there is no growth nor a will to want to grow with these kids. They justify themselves by saying that they are just having fun, living life, and enjoying their youth.
I am simply saying that I am tired of seeing so many Christians who, most likely, will never mature but will fall away or else become one of the many hypocritical or lukewarm ministers we see in church today.
I barely made it through that jazz with the skin of my teeth. People must have been praying hard for me because, technically, I should be self-righteous, lukewarm, and many other things right now.
Call me pessimistic, but do not call me a liar. How many mature Christian youths are there out there?
The church apparently does not think there are many, why else would they have created youth groups? If someone out there thinks that youth groups are built for mature, young Christian then smack yourself with the nearest bible you can find. I have visited many churches. Youth groups = pretty colors, cool posters "Jesus is my homie", rock and roll, video games. Ughhh.... I could go on, but lets not and say we did. Adult groups = plain color room, regular posters "footprints", hymns, (perhaps a television, but only for watching bible movies or may be sermons).
A difference? Me thinks so.
So, back to my question. Does anyone else feel like they stand alone?
PS. Does anyone remember me? I started this account like 3 or 4 years ago during that overzealous phase I was going through. I had several accounts across the internet and I was bashing everyone with the little biblical knowledge I had.
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RE: Finding mature Christians - 10/25/2008 11:49:13 PM
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violinist_for_jesus
Posts: 1992
Joined: 4/20/2007
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I agree with you.
But Jesus is my homie. It's such an honor to be able to call Him friend. And yeah, it's such a lonely world out there being a youth who's souled out for Christ. Even though there are a lot of "christian" youth
_____________________________
Zachary/19
http://www.myspace.com/zacharygraft
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RE: Finding mature Christians - 10/27/2008 9:11:39 AM
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rae_of_light
Posts: 3050
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From: The true North strong and free!
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Yes, I do think there are mature Christian youth out there. My youth group does not "=" any of those things that you mentioned. We meet in someone's home, in the park, or in our church (a gym). Sure, we play sports or games. It's fun, and we're kids, we need that! But after it's over we gather together and have a worship time. There are several youth who are very annointed as worship leaders, the presence of the Lord is SO strong! And then someone (quite often one of the older youth) shares a message that is always exactly what we need. Our youth group motto is "Pressing On", and every regular member of our group is doing just that. I would say that your opinion is based on what little experience you may have had with youth groups, but it does not extend to every youth or youth group.
_____________________________
I don't need to swear to get my point across
I don't have to change who I am to be cool
I don't have to drink to have a good time
...And you're asking me what MY problem is?
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RE: Finding mature Christians - 10/27/2008 2:22:34 PM
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chmill24
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I completely understand what you're saying. I'm a sophomore in college and seems that no matter how hard I look I see any mature Christians. The only christians i see are ones that go to church on sunday and the rest of the week they aren't any different then someone who isn't a christian. Even my high school was the same way. I went to a private christian high school. The vast majority of students at my high school would watch, act, tell the same sexual jokes,etc. as any non-Christian. For too many "christians" its God at church and the world the rest of the week.
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RE: Finding mature Christians - 10/27/2008 8:37:11 PM
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layman
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In response to violinist, I agree with you as well. Christ is our "homie"; yet, why do we have to use street language when it comes to God? Is it respectful to address our elders with such language? I do not see people saying "My grandpa is my homie" or "My great-aunt is my homie". Call me old-fashion, but I think that God should be addressed with titles that show respect AND love. "Homie" may show love, but I fail to see the respect. To me, it goes back to the line of saying "PTL" instead of saying praise the Lord. There are people who could do it with full love and faith behind it. But the danger lies in the large crowd that can say these things without any feeling at all.
Personally, I find it kind of hard to say "Praise the Lord!" or call Christ "My Savior and Redeemer" without feeling some sort of reverence and strengthening of spirit. Yet, these phrases using jargon and acronymns fall short of absolutely requiring one to give God the glory. They can be said without one lowering one's pride, since they have an appeal to the flesh.
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In response to rae. I did not mean for my example to apply to every youth group, if I did, then I would have had a lot more to say about the matter. But truly, if you are as optimistic as to think that all youth groups are as yours, then it is not me who has had little experience with youth groups. Its not like I walked into one church, had a bad experience with their youth group, then pronounced holy war against all youth groups. I think I have a notion about what I am talking about, I tend to keep my mouth closed if I do not.
But overall, your words say that you do not agree with me because you think there are "some" mature Christian youths out there. However, reading deeper than the letter, it sounds like you are actually saying that you think there are "a lot" out there (or at least enough so that you can easily distinguish them amongst a crowd). Strange enough... I have even heard a few pastors say that it is hard enough to find a good number of adults who are sanctified, Holy-Ghost-filled Christians, not to mention youths. And these were, of course, pastors who had youth in their congregation.
Also, if there is even a significant amount of mature Christian youths, then why are so many adults suprised to see my faith? I have heard many people tell me that I am one of a kind, and not just because I use eloquent language (Believe me, I do not speak eloquently, I only write in that manner). These are people who just see a quiet boy, reading his Bible, or perhaps they only speak with me for a few minutes about my faith.
Now, it seems to me, that either I am Moses (or Elijah reincarnated, take your pick), or else there are very few mature Christian youths out there. I have not yet given myself the pleasure of thinking the first option may be true.
It is not that I doubt that sanctity of your youth group, or even of you. But, if you are as optimistic as to think what I think that you are implying by your words and tone, then I would suggest that you spend some time in the real world, where religion is much more often thought to be had than it is possessed (and for all those people who try to draw distinctions between faith and religion- dont care, you know what I mean by religion).
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In response to chmill24, all I can say is that I feel for you. I wish there were some comfort, but the only comfort seems to be that the older people get, the more they start to realize that God is what counts in life. But, perhaps with this generation, there may be dwindling numbers. Maybe this points to these being the last days?
It is very lonely to feel that you have no equal. Its like everyone is either two steps ahead of me, or else 10 steps behind me. Quite sad.
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RE: Finding mature Christians - 10/27/2008 8:48:24 PM
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violinist_for_jesus
Posts: 1992
Joined: 4/20/2007
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quote:
ORIGINAL: layman
In response to violinist, I agree with you as well. Christ is our "homie"; yet, why do we have to use street language when it comes to God? Is it respectful to address our elders with such language? I do not see people saying "My grandpa is my homie" or "My great-aunt is my homie". Call me old-fashion, but I think that God should be addressed with titles that show respect AND love. "Homie" may show love, but I fail to see the respect. To me, it goes back to the line of saying "PTL" instead of saying praise the Lord. There are people who could do it with full love and faith behind it. But the danger lies in the large crowd that can say these things without any feeling at all.
Personally, I find it kind of hard to say "Praise the Lord!" or call Christ "My Savior and Redeemer" without feeling some sort of reverence and strengthening of spirit. Yet, these phrases using jargon and acronymns fall short of absolutely requiring one to give God the glory. They can be said without one lowering one's pride, since they have an appeal to the flesh.
I was just saying to not really prove a point, but yet, to prove a point.
Then I can't call Him my friend? Or lover? Or, hmm, a lamb is a humble animal....then we shouldn't call him that.
What about sheperd?
The Lord is my sheperd....do you know what a sheperd is?
Then I can't call Him Jesus, because, well, that's a pretty common name, nothign that really brings to mind respect.
_____________________________
Zachary/19
http://www.myspace.com/zacharygraft
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RE: Finding mature Christians - 11/9/2008 8:52:31 PM
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layman
Posts: 14
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Violinist, you most certainly do have a point about using terms with familiarity. I am not trying to redrive the wedge between man and God that Christ came to pull out. My main point, in fact, was to comment on the carelessness that is making the churches such lukewarm sources of light nowadays.
I recall once (while attending a seven-day-adventist church) I heard a girl say "Why should girls have to wear dresses in church? I mean... when it turns winter, it can get real cold". I also remember her saying something about how dresses did not feel comfortable on her. The response to her ( I cant remember if it was me that responded, but the church agreed with me if it was) was that if we let one thing slip, everything else starts slipping.
There are some things that are not sin, yet these things must not be allowed in the church for the negative effect it could have on the growing community of new Christians.
I do not think it would damage the faith of my great-grandmother (the great woman who God used as a vessel to bring me to the faith) if she wore jeans. However, what about the newer Christians? Surely there would be a number of them who would feel less serious about God if they could dress more casually.
Let us remember, faith starts with repentence. I find it hard to get in the mood for repenting if we are in this laid-back atmosphere where Jesus is 'just' our homie (nothing to fear) and we are kicking it with our friends listening to a cool Christian rock band (nothing to regret).
Let me reiterate, I have nothing against Christian rock, nothing against informality with God. The only thing I have against these things is that they are making it harder for people to detatch themselves from the world (since they have an appeal to the flesh)! If we should we cultivate a fiery atmosphere where God is preached as God instead of a lukewarm atmosphere where God is preached as "the Big Guy", me thinks we should get better results.
Violinst, I give you two thumbs up for standing for what you believe in. I also believe that we should strive for a personal relationship with God (why else would Christ call us His friends?). My only regret is that the church throws this informality thing out of proportion and soon we are grinding on the rails of the cathedral (that is, if we are not break dancing in the name of Christ before the altar).
Yes, for those who have not seen it, it happens.
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Rae, I hear you loud and clear. I can only hope that i am not coming across in a way that I do not intend to. I am told that I either write very aggressively, or else, pompously. Sometimes it is hard for us to communicate our more passionate ideas without offending others. Even if our intention is to come off softly, we often come across as harsh.
I always thought there were others out there, but if you walked a mile in my shoes, you would be a bit depressed. Many times I have looked around and thought "I am the most righteous person I know of that is around my age, and I myself am not even worthy of the comfort of the darkest, dampest, corner of hell. So what does that mean for everybody else?".
The good thing about this is that it has inspired me to step up to the plate, to quit acting like a boy and start becoming a man. The bad thing about it is..... um, obvious. How does that verse go? "If the righteous scarcely be saved... then where should the ungodly appear?"?
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Sorry if I had some grammatical errors, I tried not to spend 2 hours writing a response this time.
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RE: Finding mature Christians - 11/10/2008 11:09:15 AM
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jeune
Posts: 50
Joined: 11/4/2008
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i can't speak for anyone else, but i know my youth group is made up of a bunch of "misfits." almost half of the kids there have been left back in school at least once. their homes aren't the best places for sure (most of them would rather be at the park than at home even in the dead of winter when temperatures are well below freezing). but every thursday we get together at the elementary school for dodgeball in the gym and a half-hour bible lesson in the cafeteria. our lesson is short and most "life-long" christians would probably call it shallow, but it gets the wheels turning and many teens have come to know Jesus as a result. we've gone from 10 regular members to over 50 in the past two years.
i considered myself a mature christian until i witnessed the growth in my youth group. all of those concepts i'd thought i'd "mastered" in sunday school-love your neighbor as yourself, for instance- they didn't mean a thing until i saw them put into action at the little elementary school. when i couldn't explain the gospel without using my extensive "christian" vocabulary (ie redemption, crucify, etc.) and "well, duh" attitude (ie "he died on the cross because he loves us"), i knew there was a problem.
there's a girl from my youth group who got saved about a month ago, but even though i prayed the "sinner's prayer" when i was 4, i feel like she's already passing me in spiritual maturity. how so? she WANTS to go to church. she's always asking questions like "why did they kill Jesus?" and "what is communion?/why are we drinking Jesus' blood?" of course i know "all" the answers and can explain them with my fancy "i've been a christian all my life" language. but she's the more mature christian for desiring God and wanting to know more.
i can put on a skirt for church, but would that make me care to be there anymore?
i can pay attention during the half-hour lesson at youth group like my life depends on it, but does that mean i want to learn more about God? the other kids at youth group are always getting scolded for clowing off during the lesson, but they're the ones who aren't ashamed to go to the youth leaders with "baby" questions because they REALLY want to know exactly how the lesson applies to them and why God does thing the things he does.
i complain about the church's apathy (and throw myself in my complaints every once in a while so people won't think i'm self-righteous), but they're the ones getting involved with ministries like love146.
i pretend to have an ounce of respect for my dad when we're at church cause he's a deacon and i don't want our family to look bad, but they're the ones who're genuinely loving their parents despite breakups and other bad circumstances.
anybody can put on the "mature christian" face (trust me, i know, i've duped plenty of people), but real growth is more subconscience than that. trust me, i don't say "ptl," but it's easy enough to play the good girl. if you want to see real "mature christians" maybe you should get to know the kids playing videos games at youth group a little better. plain rooms and deep, spiritual sermons don't make the christian.
_____________________________
It’s a long way down
from here
to the sound.
Watch the faces
go ‘round—
to the stars
then the ground.
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RE: Finding mature Christians - 11/10/2008 2:21:17 PM
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jesuschick247
Posts: 2884
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quote:
ORIGINAL: jeune
i can't speak for anyone else, but i know my youth group is made up of a bunch of "misfits." almost half of the kids there have been left back in school at least once. their homes aren't the best places for sure (most of them would rather be at the park than at home even in the dead of winter when temperatures are well below freezing). but every thursday we get together at the elementary school for dodgeball in the gym and a half-hour bible lesson in the cafeteria. our lesson is short and most "life-long" christians would probably call it shallow, but it gets the wheels turning and many teens have come to know Jesus as a result. we've gone from 10 regular members to over 50 in the past two years.
i considered myself a mature christian until i witnessed the growth in my youth group. all of those concepts i'd thought i'd "mastered" in sunday school-love your neighbor as yourself, for instance- they didn't mean a thing until i saw them put into action at the little elementary school. when i couldn't explain the gospel without using my extensive "christian" vocabulary (ie redemption, crucify, etc.) and "well, duh" attitude (ie "he died on the cross because he loves us"), i knew there was a problem.
there's a girl from my youth group who got saved about a month ago, but even though i prayed the "sinner's prayer" when i was 4, i feel like she's already passing me in spiritual maturity. how so? she WANTS to go to church. she's always asking questions like "why did they kill Jesus?" and "what is communion?/why are we drinking Jesus' blood?" of course i know "all" the answers and can explain them with my fancy "i've been a christian all my life" language. but she's the more mature christian for desiring God and wanting to know more.
i can put on a skirt for church, but would that make me care to be there anymore?
i can pay attention during the half-hour lesson at youth group like my life depends on it, but does that mean i want to learn more about God? the other kids at youth group are always getting scolded for clowing off during the lesson, but they're the ones who aren't ashamed to go to the youth leaders with "baby" questions because they REALLY want to know exactly how the lesson applies to them and why God does thing the things he does.
i complain about the church's apathy (and throw myself in my complaints every once in a while so people won't think i'm self-righteous), but they're the ones getting involved with ministries like love146.
i pretend to have an ounce of respect for my dad when we're at church cause he's a deacon and i don't want our family to look bad, but they're the ones who're genuinely loving their parents despite breakups and other bad circumstances.
anybody can put on the "mature christian" face (trust me, i know, i've duped plenty of people), but real growth is more subconscious than that. trust me, i don't say "ptl," but it's easy enough to play the good girl. if you want to see real "mature christians" maybe you should get to know the kids playing videos games at youth group a little better. plain rooms and deep, spiritual sermons don't make the christian.
This is good, really, really good! (Especially the ending!)
I always have felt I was the mature one at youth group, for goodness sakes, I'm a student leader! Until, I started having girls ask me how I was okay with being single, how I knew I was beautiful in God's eyes, how I could wait for the right guy and know God would answer my prayers. It was their questions and our shared search for answers that has caused my own faith to deepen. It's the kids that I sit there and let cry on my shoulder as they show me their wounds from cutting their arms, that make me remember why we are here. We're not here to entertain the Well, we are here to extend help and healing to the Hurting. And until we get that through our heads, it won't matter how "spiritual" we may seem, we aren't going to be mature. And I know that we all deal with this, I deal with it too. Just remember, it's not the church, or what kind of music, or even the sermon that really matters. It's the people and what they choose to do with what they learn that truly matters to God. You can be spiritual as much as you want, but if you're not real, what good is it?
Just my thoughts on this...
_____________________________
"The memories erased...Baby, that's the BEAUTY of GRACE!"
"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, rather than a second-rate version of someone else." - Judy Garland
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RE: Finding mature Christians - 11/11/2008 9:24:30 PM
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layman
Posts: 14
Joined: 2/20/2006
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You guys will have to forgive me for my continuous responses, I know it doesnt give much chance for everyone to throw their opinion in. However, I feel the need to shut some things down quickly before what I have said is completely lost in everyone's interpretation of what I said.
Again, main point is that although jeans, games, and a lax atmosphere in general in church may not hamper every Christian, there is still a sizeable enough audience that will be delayed or, perhaps, stopped in their conversion.
Jeune, you make it sound like approaching the youth pastor with baby questions is a sign of genuine faith. In actuality, all it shows is... um... nothing? Perhaps pride is too much for you, but many people find it easy to put pride to the side when talking to a spiritual elder. People have approached me with questions that I thought were obvious, but I have also seen these people engage is... alternative activities (by the way, I am a deacon). However, I have found these people to possess a love for God, but a lack in the strength needed to complete the will of God. It is one of my greatest struggles, how can I help them get the strength? It is ultimately God's job of course, therefore, entertainment or not, it is God's job to make the seeds grow, we can only sow and reap.
Yes, people can put on the mature Christian face, but it is a very hard activity. Should someone put it on once, it is hard to casually take it off and put it back on at one's will. Soon, the immature Christians will reveal themselves to be immature, once they have, people generally lose trust for them and they wax worse and worse if they do not become better (so it becomes more and more obvious they are unreal).
In conclusion, plain rooms and deep, spiritual sermons may not make the Christian, however they cultivate a better atmosphere for genuine Christian growth. You can pretend to listen in this spiritual atmosphere, but you KNOW that you dont care much about the faith if you are just daydreaming and thinking about the footballl game. However, if you have the football game right in front of you, it is easy to deceive yourself that you are here for God... the game on the side is just a bonus. People use this method to draw in more people to the congregation, they may get a few people saved but they may also do more damage than healing. After all, is metal of its best quality when it is of a more pure substance or when it is mixed with alloy?
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RE: Finding mature Christians - 11/11/2008 10:03:28 PM
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jonfortean6
Posts: 1239
Joined: 9/16/2008
From: Pennsylvania
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quote:
In conclusion, plain rooms and deep, spiritual sermons may not make the Christian, however they cultivate a better atmosphere for genuine Christian growth. You can pretend to listen in this spiritual atmosphere, but you KNOW that you dont care much about the faith if you are just daydreaming and thinking about the footballl game. However, if you have the football game right in front of you, it is easy to deceive yourself that you are here for God... the game on the side is just a bonus. People use this method to draw in more people to the congregation, they may get a few people saved but they may also do more damage than healing. After all, is metal of its best quality when it is of a more pure substance or when it is mixed with alloy?
I understand what you're saying, and I think some of your points are good. However, I don't think everyone's been talking about what "lures" someone into a Christian atmosphere, but rather that the type of people God is looking for to be His disciples are people who are sincere in their faith. Like in 1 Samuel 16:7.
I personally like deep, spiritual sermons. But they only cultivate a better atmosphere for genuine Christian growth if the people they are directed to are spiritually mature enough to understand it. Just like you wouldn't feed a newborn baby bbq ribs.
And I think another question that needs to be asked, in this case, is why we do the things we do. If we bring in a new ccm artist into church every week to lead worship just so that we'll have a bigger congregation to brag about, then our motives are clearly out of God's will.
And, if a Christian sincerely is seeking God, with that will come the conviction from the Holy Spirit to grow and mature in Christ. Which includes reading the Bible, studying the Bible, prayer, etc.
Like Deuteronomy 4:29.
There are probably things that I meant to say right now that I left out, but I'm too tired in the brain to think of them. Oh, well...
_____________________________
Pray. A lot.
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RE: Finding mature Christians - 11/15/2008 9:39:14 PM
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jeune
Posts: 50
Joined: 11/4/2008
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quote:
ORIGINAL: jonfortean6
quote:
In conclusion, plain rooms and deep, spiritual sermons may not make the Christian, however they cultivate a better atmosphere for genuine Christian growth. You can pretend to listen in this spiritual atmosphere, but you KNOW that you dont care much about the faith if you are just daydreaming and thinking about the footballl game. However, if you have the football game right in front of you, it is easy to deceive yourself that you are here for God... the game on the side is just a bonus. People use this method to draw in more people to the congregation, they may get a few people saved but they may also do more damage than healing. After all, is metal of its best quality when it is of a more pure substance or when it is mixed with alloy?
I understand what you're saying, and I think some of your points are good. However, I don't think everyone's been talking about what "lures" someone into a Christian atmosphere, but rather that the type of people God is looking for to be His disciples are people who are sincere in their faith. Like in 1 Samuel 16:7.
I personally like deep, spiritual sermons. But they only cultivate a better atmosphere for genuine Christian growth if the people they are directed to are spiritually mature enough to understand it. Just like you wouldn't feed a newborn baby bbq ribs.
that's exactly what i'm trying to say! lol. i've grown up in church and seen all ends of the spectrum (and believe me, layman, when you've been going to church since "before" you were born, it's way easy to put on the mature christian face  ). i'm not saying baby questions are a sign of genuine faith (though, in the cases i presented, they were signs of genuine growth). i'm saying sometimes things aren't what they appear to be. man looks on the outside, but God judges the heart, right?
as for plain rooms and deep, spiritual sermons cultivating a better atmosphere for growth, i agree with you. mostly. everything has it's place. what's wrong with teens getting together at youth group to play video game, listen to norma jean, etc.? sometimes being Jesus to someone means giving them a place (other than the park with their other pothead friends) to hang out after school? but, you're right, sooner or later the baby's gotta put down the bottle.
so maybe instead of "does anyone else feel like they stand alone?" the question should be "what can be done to get kids growing?" "what needs to happen before they can go from milk to meat?" or something. 
_____________________________
It’s a long way down
from here
to the sound.
Watch the faces
go ‘round—
to the stars
then the ground.
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RE: Finding mature Christians - 11/16/2008 7:42:35 PM
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layman
Posts: 14
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It appears we have reached a consensus, jeune, jon. I meant to say that an atmosphere that is purely spiritual has guaranteed results. However, there is that mentioned point that if you grow up in this atmosphere, you can adjust to it without actually growing spirtually.
I have always thought that people will just leave a church if they do not like it. When my cousins and I were little, we were forced to go to church. When we got older, we were allowed the option of coming or going. We would come for a while based on the guilt trip our parents would put us through. Then, we got over it and stopped going. Perhaps (I have always thought), if we had games and a flat screen TV in church, all my cousins would be enjoying church with me. Yet, my cousins and I could have just become among the many luke-warm individuals seen today.
I suppose, in the end, it is the youth pastor's job to make sure that his congregation is not consumed with fun, fun , fun. But it seems that no matter what you do, when you got games and etc. you will have the people come that are only interested in the games and etc.
This is true of plain, "boring" church too. No matter what you do, there will be the people who come to show off their clothes, their deep-possessed spirituality, or just to get their weekly good deed in. It is God that does the saving, not the atmosphere.
Perhaps, the reason why I have been narrow-minded is because I grew up in a small church. We ALL knew and still know each other. Its easy to point out who is saved and who is not. In a bigger congregation, one could be asleep and hardly anyone would notice. In ours, if somebody falls asleep, EVERYONE knows.
I have always wished to be able to get together with the faithful and just hang out in a relaxed atomsphere. The problem is that I cannot feel as relaxed around people who I do not feel are on the same spiritual level as I am. I feel like I have to be on my guard as a spiritual elder, or else I will not be taken seriously. Kids will be willing to use vulgarity and treat me as if I am as carnal as they are.
This is the beauty of hanging out with the mature. It all goes back to my original question.... where is the maturity?
Hmmm.... I will continue searching churches, as of yet, I have found none.
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RE: Finding mature Christians - 12/14/2008 11:48:19 PM
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Dan1138
Posts: 236
Joined: 7/1/2008
From: The Land of Graham
Status: offline
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Hey kids...and Deacons. Although I am almost 40, it is easy for me to say that all these things and questions and misgivings that you have, we older people have as well. It is my experience that most older Christians just pave over these things as time goes by. The problem with maturity stems from the fact that most Christians aren't. That's right they are not saved at all. That is why they never mature. Read the book "Hard to Believe" by John MacArthur.
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My Christian walk is like a car ride. "How long Lord. OK I'll be patient......How long Lord!"
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I'm not going to deny it, I've been rather sheltered compared to some. Most of my experience with youth group has been inside of my church and it's sister churches. But I do realize that there are a lot of youth that really aren't following God, but profess to be saved. 
