This title is somewhat tongue in cheek. I'm poking fun at both myself for feeling the need to say things like "there's no such thing as spiritual growth," and at those who might get upset reading it. This entry is to help fill the gap between an imperfect term and a perfect experience.
We've called it spiritual growth for so long that we've begun to believe that somehow, at the moment of conversion, we received the baby Holy Spirit, the 8lb/6oz Jesus, and that we were responsible to feed and care for the little tyke until He grew to make us Christlike...wow! What a sad commentary on the teaching of both Biblical truth and logic.
As I wrote earlier, it's clear from scripture that as believers, we do not receive an immature or inadequate version of the Spirit of God, but the full, mature, glorified Spirit of Christ Himself. The ever-looming question, the pink elephant in the room, is this: If that is in me, why I act, feel, live, like this.
That's a good question. Why do so many Christians go through life not asking it? That's another subject. We, however, are asking it, and I think I have a good answer.
You act like that because you think like that. I do the things, good, bad, and indifferent, that I do, only because I have manufactured those actions in the factory of my mind. I'm overweight because ingrained in my way of thinking is the idea that real men eat...a lot...fast. I'm not blaming anyone. Whom would I prosecute to make me eat less? I realize, however, that these actions of mine will not change without a change in my way of thinking.
And that's the whole thing. Change the way you think. I've done it in other areas of life, and I'm certain I'll do it in my current area of struggle, too, once I change my way of thinking in that area. The trick is, just knowing something is right or wrong often doesn't change our behavior. Just knowing there are consequences is not always a deterrent to poor choices.
I believe that lasting change in our lives will take place only as a result of repaired self-identity. You may know getting high, self-medicating, self-mutilation, overeating, gossiping or lying are wrong, but until you just can't see yourself doing those things, you'll do them again. You may not always behave as you believe you should, but you'll always behave like who you believe you are.
See yourself the way God sees you. Change the way you think about yourself. Change your self-identity. That's the process. I believe you have it all right now. You have everything God has to give, right now, right where you sit. It's all available to you right now. He's held nothing back from you. Your spirit is full-grown because it’s His Spirit in you. All that's necessary is for you to act on it. The trick is, you'll have a hard time acting on what your mind can't conceive.
For most of us, it takes time for our minds to conceive all that God re-created us to be. I realized at some point in my life that on some level I'd begun to see myself as nothing. It's taken a few years for me to change that thinking, and it may take a few more to complete the process. I do believe maturity is possible, though. Paul implied to the Ephesians that in not too much time, they could all reach the same level as Jesus. Yeah, look it up. 4:13...It's one of those "W…W...W...What the heck did that just say?" verses.
I'm so deeply different from the person I was five years ago when this journey of discovering who I am began, or at least restarted. I am so much more secure, confident, steady, and peaceful than I was. Yes, I've "grown," but it's crucial to know that God hasn't given me anything I didn't already have.
I've succeeded in lasting life-change largely because I realized I didn't have to ask for...and therefore earn...anything. It's all already there. Character qualities, spiritual fruit and gifts, miracle powers, are just clothes in my closet I can put on and wear. I just have to be able to see myself in them, so I need to change my self-identity.
Nothing wrong with being practical, here. Some of our issues are just habits that we need to replace with other habits. Don't just try to quit; replace that bad thing with something good. Experience is a great teacher. Once you see that you can do it, you have much more confidence to continue. Nevertheless, I believe this also comes down to identity. Seeing yourself as someone with the ability to improve is beginning to see yourself as God sees you. I think that's all walking in the Spirit is...walking around with the mindset that within your spirit is everything you need.
Most importantly, though, seeing yourself as someone who has everything you need means seeing Jesus in you. I have a suspicion that's why God designed it to work this way. He's really out for relationship with us. He works everything out so that we constantly need to focus our attention on Him and get to know Him more intimately.
That's also the best part for us. Coming to know Him in a genuine, palpable relationship is more satisfying than I had ever imagined it could be. Seeing Him as the God who gives everything, all of Himself to me has been like the removal of a veil not only to see myself more as He sees me, but also to see Him more as He is.
Therefore, the key to growing spiritually even though spiritual growth is impossible, is to realize that spiritual growth is impossible...then you'll really experience spiritual growth...that isn't actually spiritual growth at all.
What I mean to say is, we don't need our spirits to get bigger or stronger or better, we need to get our minds around the fact of Who it is Whose Spirit now lives within us. Then we're on our way.
References: Philippians 2,3,4, Galatians 5, Ephesians 1,4, Colossians 1, Romans 6,8, 1 Peter 2
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