When does a person stop being a "new Christian?"

[fieldmouse3]

Throughout our Christian lives, we're going to continue to learn and grow in our relationships with God. What I'm wondering, though, is when a person stops being a "new Christian." is there some sort of time frame, or does it have more to do with how far you've come in your knowledge of and your relationship with God? For me, I'd have to go with the second one. I've been a believer all my life, but I've only been constantly putting my relationship with God first for about 5 months now. I still feel very much like a new Christian! :)

What does everybody think?

[Mandy]

That's a good question. I think the answer lies in 1 Corinthians 3. A person could spend their entire lives as a babe in Christ. We grow as we study the Bible, pray, etc. Many do not do these things, so they remain spiritual babes. Becoming mature in the faith has really nothing to do with how long a person has been a Christian.
The book of James is about maturity, so that is an excellent study too.

[Mandy]

I would also like to add that maturity doesn't happen overnight. Spiritual growth takes time and we grow at different rates.

[Dave Ulchers]

But just to contrast with something Jesus said:

"Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven."

and

"I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike."

So in those respects we should always try to be new Christians.

[fieldmouse3]

Mandy - James is one of my favorite books of the Bible! :)

[StogusMaximus]

I don't think we will stop being New Christians untill we are with our Father in heaven. There is always something new to learn, something amazing to witness, someone hurting to comfort, etc.

Our lives on earth will last many years, but compare the years here to the eterntiy we have to face....our days in this human body are but an instant. We will still be New Christians when we are 99 years old.

[Mandy]

Stogus I agree.
We will never stop learning and growing. We will never reach a state of perfect maturity. Yet we are to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.


Fieldmouse,
James is an awesome book, I agree!

[StogusMaximus]

Amen! :clap:

[LouisBooth]

well I think the difference denoted and asked here is mature and immature. I think it has to do with 1. developing their spirtual gifts 2. devling into hard topics that require thoughts 3. be disciplined spirutally and 4. being a missionary inside and outside of your church.

[2002 Christian]

When does a person stop being a "new Christian?"

When does a seedling become a plant?
Doesn't it depend upon growth?

[Mandy]

Yes, but growth doesn't just happen. We grow by being doers of the word and not hearers only.

[MizDoulos]

When does a seedling become a plant?
Doesn't it depend upon growth?

Hi, 2002 Christian ~ Yes, becoming a mature Christian depends upon growth, both knowledge of Scripture and your walk with God (practical appliation of what you know). Bible studies are very important as they point you in the direction of knowing God and what He expects of us. So, in essence, it is knowledge and practice, knowledge and practice, that will bring growth into maturity. Christ said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments." (John 14:15)

If one practices without the proper knowledge (dividing the Word rightly and in context), one can run into trouble and become confused. On the other hand, if one has only "head" knowledge, growth is stunted. It is important to keep building upon knowledge and put into practice what you've learned. As the others have said in this thread, the Christian life is a lifelong process, ever growing to know Christ better.

Louis Booth made some excellent points which will help new Christians in their growth. All of these aspects are needed.

Hope this helps.

Blessings to you,

Pat

[Mandy]

Excellent post Pat! You hit the nail on the head. :)

[MizDoulos]

Thanks, Mandy. As I look back at my own spiritual life, I can see the mistakes I made and want new Christians to steer away from some of them. :pink: :angel:

[Mandy]

Amen to that! :clap:

[Andrew]

I believe that a person is no longer a new Christian when he fully realises that he is no longer under law but grace. The passage I'm refering to is:

Ga 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

ie when he or she knows how to cast out the "bondwoman".

blessings

[celtic_crusader]

Hi fieldmouse,
I remember when a pastor told me that I was no longer a babe in Christ and I asked him why he believed that and this is what he said;

When I met you, you were like a baby needing to be nurtured and given the sincere milk of the word but I can now see that you have grown and now you feed your self and because you feed your self you grow there by. You are no longer a baby but a child who can make there own food and cloth them self.

When we are young, we go to church so we can learn about our father and when we have grown we come to our father our self without the help of others.

Teenage Christians (in the spirit) can get carried away and very zealous but once we mature and grow up and become men (and women) we are no longer fed or taken care of but we actually feed others and take care of others.

[Gerry]

I don't think there is a definitive answer to this question, not one that will satisfy everybody. However I am glad it was asked. It is more than a little interesting to see the opinions expressed. I have found there is much to be learned by listening to the thoughts of others.

[Mandy]

That is very true Gerry.:)

[altya]

When does a person stop being a "new Christian?"

A Christian grow spiritually in three steps, (spirit, soul and body) the same as the natural life, (baby, teens, and adult) A Christian is new until he/she is born again, which is the ‘spirit’ that being re-born. To be re-born is a three step action to be taken and this can go on for years. Repent, be baptized and spirit filled.
The next stadium of growing, the soul, is where our mind is renewed with the word of God and here we are not new Christians anymore.

[Living for Him]

I hope to continue to grow closer to my Jesus and learn more and new things every day. I hope always to be a work in progress.

Lori

[Thunderchild]

While it is true that a person does not stop learning while he lives (and that does not apply only to matters of the faith) - there is a pointer in the Bible to when a person can be considered to have attained an acceptable level of maturity.

When the person no longer needs (the milk) teaching the elementary points of doctrine.

Hbr 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which the [b]first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

Hbr 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

This point can be considered to have been reached upon the development of two inter-related conditions (or is it three?).
1/ the person can not be swayed from sound doctrine by the winds of contrary opinion
2/ the person is demonstrated to be a workman approved of God - both in conduct, and in his ability to properly interpret (and demonstrate the validity of his interpretation of) the scriptures.

[servingtheking]

I think it does depend on growth. A person is a new Christian untill they have developed and matured as brothers/sisters in Christ.

[ZiSunka]

I don't think there is a dividing line of any sort. In fact, I don't think there is such a category. I think that some Christians are more prepared and mature than others, but it isn't a clear line that separates them from the rest of us.

Being a Christian is a journey, a courtship with God. When does a person who's on a journey stop being a tourist? When they get home. When does a fiance start being a spouse? When they get married.

So we are all "new Christians," moving toward the maturity that life, hard work and God build into us.