Big Babies
Babies are really cute. I think small children are the best members of my congregation -- they have tremendous faith, wide-eyed wonder, and boundless enthusiasm. Everybody loves little kids.The only happy ward in the hospital is the maternity ward (or, I suppose the dental ward -- if they use laughing gas.)
Someone once asked the evangelist, D. L. Moody, how many converts he had at a meeting. Moody replied, "Two and a half." "You mean two adults and a child?" "Of course not!", the evangelist exclaimed, "I mean two children and an adult!
"Yes, babies are cute -- but "big babies" aren't so cute. I don't know if I even have to explain "big babies." You know 'em when you see 'em.
Big babies are the grown ups who have grown past child-likeness (love, laughter, freedom, energy) but still are infected with child-ishness (self centeredness.)
A big baby is the person who screams at a clerk for accidently overcharging. He's the one who honks his horn impatiently, or sulks when he doesn't get his own way. A big baby throws temper tantrums. She's the one who insists that everything has to be her way or else! Big babies are big in gossip, complaining, and negative thinking. They are small in graciousness, compassion and understanding.
Here are three common characteristics of newborn babies: Their lives are characterized by helplessness, sensitivity, and unfulfilled potential.
Helpless, they have to depend on others to take care of them. The only time they move forward is by another person's energy. Big babies are helpless too. They sit around waiting for other people to meet their needs. Instead of being proactive, they sit around and wait for their ship to come in. The ship never arrives -- and they whine because it doesn't. Here's my theory -- if you aren't paddling the canoe, you don't have the right to complain about the direction it's going.
Babies are sensitive to sounds, light -- all kinds of things. The slightest noise can wake up a sleeping baby. Big babies are extra sensitive too -- They over-react to every little bump in the road -- All you have to do is look at them the wrong way -- Watch out! Here comes the volcano! Thar she blows!! Little problems are major disasters when viewed through the lens of immaturity.
A baby is, by definition, a bundle of unfulfilled potential. When I have held my children in the first hours of their lives -- my heart was flooded with all sorts of dreams and hopes for them. If a baby stays a baby for several years -- something is terribly wrong. Big babies are stunted in their emotional and spiritual growth -- instead of trying to become all they were created to be, they shrivel into the comfort zone and stay there.
It's time to grow up! Let's drop the emotional pacifier and pick up a hammer -- to build tomorrow!
Our church is a very small/survival mode church which has had the same people holding the same offices for 40+ years. If someone else gets elected, these individuals pout until they again get their way. Then they complain because they have to do all the work. If children throw tantrums, they will continue with this mode of behavior as long as they are rewarded with getting their own way.
ReplyDeleteI like this analogy, it holds merit to some degree, but I don't believe that it truly protrays immature Christians in the right light. Maybe a better analogy would be that the child has grown into an adult, has the capabilities and skills to effectively function as an adult, recognizes that he/she is an adult yet still chooses to act as a child.
ReplyDeleteIf we can use this analogy then there are only two logical steps that can be taken to stop this distructive behavior. Either some form of drastic and purposeful intervention must take place that Christian in a new and uncharted direction, or the Christian must come to the understanding that the answer to continued and fruitful growth comes only from careful and consistent study of the Word of God, sort of like what happened in Nehemiah 8:5-12 when Ezra OPENED the book, READ the book, and UNDERSTOOD the book. ( Yup - I'm a Wesleyan - I think in three-point sermons).
The other side of the coin is that sometimes God uses things that we don't understand or want to admit or acknowledge could ever come from God in order to shake us from our stupor of selfish living. For me, it took closing down my church and being outside of the pastorate for 6 years (and counting) before I began to recognize that I serve a God who is willing to do anything to gain my attention and adoration.
Back to the baby analogy, I'm afraid that alot of churches and Christians are under the impression that the church and their Christian experience is designed to work within the confines of their life when in actuality it's God's World - we just get to play in it for a little while.
Thank you anonymous for your comments. I enjoyed reading it, especially your ending thought.
ReplyDeleteBack to the baby analogy, I'm afraid that alot of churches and Christians are under the impression that the church and their Christian experience is designed to work within the confines of their life when in actuality it's God's World - we just get to play in it for a little while.