7. We want churchgoers to stay immature. When children grow up, they leave their homes, get married and have their own families. This has been God’s plan since He told Adam and Eve to “be fruitful and multiply” (Gen. 1:28). Jesus repeated this commission to His disciples when He said, “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples” (John 15:8). Real disciples make disciples. They don’t just sit in pews year after year like spectators.
Some insecure pastors don’t want members of their congregations to grow because they feel threatened by mature believers. They are afraid someone will steal their ministry. That’s crazy! I want my spiritual sons and daughters to surpass me in spiritual fruitfulness. Let’s swallow our pride and get back to the primacy of discipleship.
J. Lee Grady is the former editor of Charisma. You can follow him on Twitter at @leegrady. He is the author of The Holy Spirit Is Not for Sale and other books.
