Growing Pains
Baxter is big now.
I knew it would happen, but I don’t think I realized how quickly he would transform from the 8-pound puppy I brought home to the almost-40-pound dog that he is now. (Don’t worry, he still has growing to do – another 20 pounds’ worth at least, if his parents are any indication.) As expected, his new size has come with new challenges, not the least of which is attempting to keep the truly insane amount of hair he sheds off of the furniture. It is much harder to keep up with him running, much more of a challenge to keep him from reaching things on shelves and tabletops, and a much more even fight during tug-of-war. In many ways, having him around has gotten harder.
I love every second of it.
Even though he has grown to the point that daily challenges are presented, I am thrilled by it. I’ve always wanted a bigger dog, and I definitely have my wish now. It is also true that, even on days when he does really dumb stuff, he is more of a companion to me than he was when he was a puppy. He’s not quite as needy of my time and attention as he used to be, and he’s much more comfortable now that he’s been here a while. He challenges me, yes, but he challenges me in ways that force me to see my capacity to keep up with him and be the person that he needs me to be. It’s not always easy, but it is always worth it.
Which leads me to my question: Do I feel the same way about the church?
Obviously, we all want bigger and more diverse congregations – who wouldn’t? However, it is also the case that bigger and more diverse congregations come with bigger and more diverse challenges. Keeping up with everyone becomes harder. The presence of conflict becomes much more common, and dealing with that conflict is often a much more temperamental ordeal. The innate desire to try and please everyone makes organizing and leading anything that much more intense – and since we can never please everyone, someone usually ends up disappointed. In the face of these obstacles, it is easy to wish, openly or secretly, that our congregations weren’t as big or as diverse as they could be.
If this is a mindset you have struggled with (as I have), I invite you to get to know one of the newest converts at your congregation really well, and to continue to build a relationship with them as they spend time adjusting to their new role as a Christian and member of the church. Over time, you’ll notice that their sense of companionship with you and with other members of the church becomes much more natural and more edifying. You may be asked some hard questions – and even help deal with some hard situations – on the front end, but you will begin to see them come into their own and develop independence in their faith. You will be challenged, yes, but you will be challenged in ways that force you to find the capacity of your own faith and your ability to be the person that the church needs you to be. It won’t always be easy, but it will always be worth it.
I should note that I don’t intend for this comparison to cause any insult to anyone who is a new convert themselves – far from it. The new converts I know are some of my absolute favorite people and are by no means “lesser” in any way. If you fall into this camp, you should know that you are a big part of the reason that those of us who have been here for a long time are still here, and your energy and perspective are a great encouragement to all of us. You are just as worthy of the gospel as you were when you obeyed it, and you are even more well equipped now to pursue a relationship with the Lord and to help His church succeed. It won’t always be easy, but it will always be worth it.
Whether you are a new Christian or an old one, the church needs you. Let’s help the kingdom grow together.
“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation – if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” ~ 1 Peter 2:2-3
AUTHOR: Luke Tatum
