How We Grow

1: Ception

Lets talk about words for a moment.

A word can have a suffix or a prefix.

Ception is not an actual word its what is called a Root.

The root word ception means “To grasp or understand”.

And this carries different means depending on what prefix we put in front.

For example:

The prefix “Con” - from Latin which means “with”.

So Con-ception.

With - understanding.

“Let me explain this con-ception of mine.”

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The Prefix “Ex” - From Latin “out of”.

So Ex-ception.

Taking out - understanding.

“Everyone stand up with the exception of xxx”

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The prefix “De” - From Latin “away from”.

De-Ception.

Away from - understanding.

What out for the Devils Deception.”

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Now i want to highlight a very important Prefix:

Per.

Per is a prefix that means through.

Per-Serverence is the ability to go THROUGH hardship.

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Per - ception.

Through - understanding.

“What is your perception of sport?”

Perception is not the same as reality.

It can be, but it is not necessarily the same.

For example: Can 2 people have a different perception of the same event?

Yes!

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Perception is closely linked to understanding, memory and meaning.

What we see or think when we are presented with reality boils down to our memory of experiences.

If you have no experience with an object or a person or even a reality then you will not have deep perception of it.

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Experience gives you a better context for understanding meaning.

The Bible makes this very clear:

Job 12:12 BSB

12 Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life.

Why?

Not because they have necessarily studied more but they have experienced more and if they were diligent in their growth, they should use their experience to help others understand.

NB:

I warning regarding experience:

Our experiences give our beliefs meaning but NOT validation.

ie: We do not subject the bible to our experiences, its the other way around: We subject our experiences to the bible.

So as important as experiences is, it is NOT a higher authority of truth than scripture.

So experience does not bring Authority to scripture, it brings meaning to scripture.

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Now Lets talk about Growth:

In the same way we grow emotionally, mentally and physically from infant to adult, so to must we grow spiritually.

2 Peter 3:18 NASB 2020

18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

And much like the health of our natural growth depends on us achieving certain developmental milestones so too does our spiritual and perceptive growth.

While all children are different and mature at vastly different rates there are milestones which if not attained, do indicate possible developmental difficulties within that child.

For example:

Physical growth and development

Most children by age 5:

Have gained about 2 kg and grown 4 cm to 5 cm since their fourth birthday.

Thinking and reasoning (cognitive development)

Most children by age 5:

Know their address and phone number. Recognize most letters of the alphabet. Can count 10 or more objects. Know the names of at least 4 colors. Understand the basic concepts of time. Know what household objects are used for, such as money, food, or appliances.

Emotional and social development

Most children by age 5:

Want to please and be liked by their friends, though they may sometimes be mean to others. Agree to rules most of the time. Show independence. Are more able to distinguish fantasy from reality. But they enjoy playing make-believe and dress-up. Have distinct ways of playing. Some children play in rough or physically active ways. Other children of the same age are more likely to engage in social play.

Language development

Most children by age 5:

Carry on a meaningful conversation with another person. Understand relationships between objects, such as "the boy who is jumping rope. "Use the future tense, such as "Let's go to the zoo tomorrow! "Often call people (or objects) by their relationship to others, such as "Bobby's mom" instead of "Mrs. Smith." Talk about or tell stories. They have little or no trouble being understood by others.

What exactly do these milestones represent and why are they so important?

Because these milestones show that a child is learning to understand the world and reality.

Thus understanding is vital for their ability to as accurately perceive the world as possible.

Does this apply to Spiritual Growth?

Are there also Spiritual Growth Milestones that we ought to reach?

I absolutely believe so and the bible is very clear:

Hebrews 5:12 NASB 2020

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the actual words of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

Notice: “By this time you ought”.

That is By this time you have reach this spiritual developmental milestones.

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Now here is where things get interesting: While each developmental stage of growth is important -

What is equally important is the mechanism that moves individuals out of one developmental stage to the next.

So a big question is:

What is the mechanism God has ordained to move us from one stage of maturing to the next?

The answer will surprise you:

Its the ultimate question:

What makes a bird, safe in the nest, mouth fed decide one day to jump to its possible death?

What causes this change in the bird?

The answer: Frustration.

And its this frustration that is found in each developmental stage that aught to “push us out the nest” that is: The safe worldview that did indeed help us at one level, it now frustrates us.

This frustration is from God!

But its not an evil frustration, its us outgrowing our previous understandings and worldview.

Romans 8:19–21 NIV84

19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

Notice what the texts says:

God subjected all of creation to frustration so that the person can be liberated from their childish aka underdeveloped worldview.

Like Paul said:

1 Corinthians 13:11 BSB

11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I set aside childish ways.

In this passage we see that God has indeed ordained us to go from one level of thinking to a more mature level of thinking.

But here is the catch:

For the bird to actually come to the point of growth it MUST SACRIFICE the once safety of the nest.

In the same way, our FRUSTRATION with a worldview must become great enough that we are willing to sacrifice that way of thinking, a way of thinking that once brought us much comfort.

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What is the difference between a child’s mind and a grownups mind?

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Lets go back to Paul:

Why does Paul no longer think like a child?

The simple answer: Experience and wisdom.

Developmental Stages NOT SANCTIFYING stages.

It is vital that we do not make the mistake of “ranking” these stages of growth.

Yes maturity is better than immaturity: But an immature infant is NOT less valuable that a mature adult.

Immaturity is only sinful when its artificially extended past its time due to irreconcilability and neglect.

It does not help the kingdom when a mature person gets frustrated with an immature person who is still growing.

You do not have the same expectations!

Ephesians 6:4 NASB95

4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

How do we provoke our children to anger?

By expecting them to be disciplined when they have not learned discipline.

Buy expecting them to know instruction which they have never been taught or learned.