“growing old is unavoidable, but never growing up is possible.“ -Martin Luther King Jr.
What does it mean to be a grown-up?
In some parts of our country, it means anyone over the age of 18. Some communities equate it to high school or college graduation. Yet others suggest marriage, parenthood, or financial independence. Do these events yield fully-realized human beings?
A friend had a habit of uttering, “You can’t talk to me like that, I’m a grown man.” – usually after doing or saying something foolish.
Sadly, our culture says very little regarding what it means to be grown-up, mature, or an adult. If anything, we are losing ground – resulting in delayed adolescence and a lack of Godly leaders and parents. “The Vanishing American Adult” is a relatively new phenomenon – one that deserves our attention.
1 Peter 2:1-3 allows us to see that God has more for us than worldly disappointments if we align our purpose and appetites to His plans.
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:1-3
Malice – Ill will or hated.
CS. Lewis said, “Hatred obscures all distinctions.”
Hatred causes us to de-humanize each other. We no longer see a child of God, we see a label.
Deceit – Switcheroo
In 1988- It is estimated that 500,000 Americans have counterfeit diplomas or credentials – Since then, the internet caught up with many of them – leaving them discredited. Some in church attempt to exaggerate the good and hide the bad.
Hypocrisy – Mask
“I don’t make decisions in public life based on religious belief.” – Former Presidential Candidate He lost. It is better to run on your convictions that comprise your faith. Resist the temptation to live a life of duplicity.
Envy – Slander
Lanny Ketchum said, “Envy is the weak link in a chain of successes that might have been. It is a self-defeatist attitude that distracts us from the works that might have been, and focuses us on the limitations of the works that others have already accomplished.” This internal sin robs us of our joy and entangles us in a miserable life of comparison.
James 4:1-4.
“What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
What do you crave?
What is your appetite? What vices are in your life?
Some fill their lives with drugs, lust, tech, or money. Freedom to do whatever you like brings bondage, Christ brings freedom. The Cycle of Addition asks, “What’s wrong with me? What can fix me? How can I get it? We attempt to substitute God with temporary things that bring disappointment.
1 Peter 2: 1-3 challenges this cycle.
It literally tells you to “taste and see.” It puts God’s ways directly up against the world.
It looks at your 3-year-old convenience store microwave burrito and says, “how about a home-cooked meal?” It echoes Psalm 34:8 “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!” Nourishment brings health, contentment, and growth.
Isn’t it funny that we fight God over our appetites constantly?
We need to “grow in our salvation”
The text mentions Pure spiritual milk. Remember how much babies need milk for nourishment? Many of us are so spiritually hungry and malnourished. We need to start our discipleship journey that begins with this milk and leads to meat as described in Hebrews 5: 12-14.
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Maturity is crucial for our development and we are all called to be disciples.
Francis Chan lamented, “we reduce discipleship to a canned program, and so many of the church end up sidelined in a spectator mentality the delegates disciple-making to pastors and professionals, ministers and missionaries.”
Dallas Willard said, “discipleship is the process of becoming who Jesus would be if he were you.”
David Platt said, “making disciples of Jesus is the overflow of the delight in being disciples of Jesus.“
“Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.“ – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Why Does This Matter?
So many Christians live in defeat and never reach their God-given potential.
Delayed adolescence and casual Christianity promises freedom and excitement. Unfortunately, it not only does not come through on its promises, it limits you to an empty, unhappy, immature, unproductive life.
The Gospel offers spiritual growth and eternal life while the world offers distraction, disappointment, and death.
