Are we treating infants like grown ups

[violakat]

Sometimes when I come across threads, it seems like people expect every single person to behave the same way, despite the fact that some of the Christians may be infants in the Faith. And sometimes it seems like it's worse on those who didn't even grow up in the Church. And then when they don't live up to are standards, we start to doubt their Salvation. How do we combat this?

Also, I'm going to include a poll, because I'm curious if this is just something that I'm seeing, or if it really is widespread.

For this poll, I'm going to suggest that 2 years or less are new Christians.

 

[pwrnJC]

I'm an 'old school" Christian, meaning there is NO such thing as a 'gay CHRISTIAN", or a 'SHACKED UP" CHRISTIAN, or a "SMOKED UP" CHRISTIAN! Our bodies, minds, hearts, and all that is within us and without us should be walking reflectors of JESUS CHRIST to this world. GOD is not honored when people claim a relationship with His Son, JESUS and hold on to any of our old bad habits.

 

[violakat]

I'm not referring to staying in sin. I'm talking about people treating others as if they should know everything immediately.

For example, would you treat a two week old baby the same as a 50 year old man? Unless you are insane, or the 50 year old man is feeble, you don't. So why does it seem that sometimes we treat someone who has just gotten saved the same as we treat someone who has been saved for 20 plus years?

 

[Lynx]

The only thing really you can do is be aware of it yourself so you don't do it. There's no way you can stop everyone from doing this, and they WILL do it. Especially those who are not christians, but have the oddest notion about what christians should be. New christians come under double fire from that kind of person.

An occasional timely message from the pulpit on the subject helps though.

 

[Lynx]

One thing I should mention... one of the worst things a longtime christian can do is assume it is his job to bring a new christian up to speed.

Yay, we got a new soul in the fold! Now here's the list of rules you're supposed to conform to, and you need to make all these changes NOW! Hey you're a Christian now aren't you?

That isn't our job. But I've seen some new Christians driven away by overzealous people with spiritual measuring tapes. Leave them alone, God works on them in His own time. They'll clean up before long.

"What if they don't?" That's not your problem, and it's not really your place to make the call.

 

[violakat]

Kim, you were one of the first people to come to mind while I was writing this.

 

[seoulsearch]

Kim, you were one of the first people to come to mind while I was writing this.

Wait a minute, Vi... is that because you think of me as an infant and have to fight the urge to treat me as such???

(Love you, girl! )

I'd write a serious answer but lately, everyone else seems to already know what I'm going to say... and they say it in a much better way!

On second thought, if you're planning on feeding me and putting me down for a nap... Sold!!!

 

[Olerica]

I think if we focus on our own planks rather than anyone else's splinters, we'd all be much better occupied.

THAT SAID: If/when people ask questions, I think we should give a gracious response based on a Biblical standard, and when our opinion is based on our own opinion and/or experience - I think we say that.

BUT? GRACIOUSLY.

 

[violakat]

Do you remember a certain conversation we had several years ago in regards to girls who had never been to church before and how they dress, and the potential reactions they received? By the way, did you ever do your experiment?

Wait a minute, Vi... is that because you think of me as an infant and have to fight the urge to treat me as such???

(Love you, girl! )

I'd write a serious answer but lately, everyone else seems to already know what I'm going to say... and they say it in a much better way!

On second thought, if you're planning on feeding me and putting me down for a nap... Sold!!!

 

[seoulsearch]

Alas, no. And my partner in crime is married, so I wouldn't have felt right dragging her along.

So Vi... what are YOU doing this Sunday???

(A long time ago I wrote a thread about how conduct an experiment with a friend... in wild hair, tank tops and miniskirts, too-obvious makeup... and visit several area churches we'd never been to before. I was curious as to the kinds of reactions--and judgments we would get.)

The discussion was about how some new Christians grew up not knowing how to do things like "dress properly" for church... and how other Christians will jump all over them because of it. It's funny how things like this are also very relative.

I know of several churches in my old hometown in which, if you weren't dressed to the nines on Sunday, you would be seen as a loose woman or pagan man. I've also known of some people who were told to go home when they didn't arrive in a 3-piece suit or fancy dress.

Vi, I would still love to try my experiment.

All I need is a partner in crime. *wink, wink*

 

[zeroturbulence]

I once gave an infant my compact sized KJV bible and she immediately opened it up and began reading it upside down. I looked on in shock for awhile before I finally said, "show off!" and walked away...