I have begun teaching a Sunday Bible study class to a group of adults; with ages ranging from 50 (me) to 65 and older. They are a great group of believers who have been in the church for most of their lives. They are faithful church attendees as well.
Together, we have been discussing how our faith intersects with the culture we all inhabit. That many times our church has missed many valuable opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with those living outside our church walls. My intent through this teaching was to demonstrate to them of the need to be "culture makers" as Andy Crouch discusses in his book Culture Making. That we indeed are called by Jesus to influence the culture via the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Last Sunday after our time together, one of the ladies from the class came to me and said, "you are teaching some deep stuff in our class!" I wasn't sure how to take her comments. Was she complimenting or complaining? I asked her what she meant. She replied that "I have never discussed or even thought of the world outside of our church door, or for that matter how much the culture we live in influences us." I might even speculate that many mature churchgoers feel the same sentiment as this wonderful lady, wife, and grandmother. After some further discussion, I pointed out the fact that as a wife and grandmother, she has an important mission; to grow in these areas as a follower of Christ.
This idea that we grow as followers of Christ--even as we mature--is almost a foreign idea to many of those who have been in the church as faithful attenders. I believe that many of our mature followers of Christ have reverted to the notion that they have learned all there is to learn. With this frame of reference, I can understand why to this lady, some things can seem to be "deep stuff" indeed.
To bring the point home to her, I asked her how old her granddaughter was. She replied, "she is four-years-old." I then offered to her the idea that she has an important task in helping her granddaughter discover Jesus Christ; to help her one day find her own faith. Her witness to her from her experience is invaluable to say the least. In addition, I also pointed out the effect she could have on her daughter in the same manner. "You know, you're absolutely right," she answered.
As leaders and teachers in the church, we need to be available and willing to point out (in love of course) to those with the same mindset, just how important growing and maturing in Christ in fact is. We never stop growing. To do so would be disastrous indeed.
