New Believers Come with Baggage

This shouldn't be a surprise, but to some it is. Christians often think that everyone thinks like them, has the same moral and ethical values and boundaries, and have some knowledge of what it means to be a follower of Christ.

While that might be partially true for many of those returning to their relationship with Christ after running from him and doing their own thing for a number of years, it is often not the case for many making their first time decision to follow Christ by giving their lives to him.

Jesus said it was the sick who need the physician, and I see that to be true over and over again. When people come to Christ for the first time, they don't have any idea what they're getting into. Some are living sinful lifestyles, some have no social understanding or boundaries, some carry the baggage of years of hurt, or of hurting others. Others carry guilt or the baggage of a religion they were "involved" in, but never understood.

So how to we change these people into mature believers? WE DON'T!

Let me clarify. Our job is to love them in Christ, teach them to get to know Jesus and pray for him to work in their lives. We aren't their judge, but that doesn't mean that we condone sin. We need to coach them and mentor them along the way, and allow the Holy Spirit to convict and reveal his purposes in their lives.

2 Timothy 2:2 says that we need to teach God's truth to others who will be able to teach others also. In other words, we need to reproduce what God has done in our lives into the lives of others, who will reproduce what God has done in their lives in the lives of others who will do the same.

We need to lead them toward maturity, and let God change them. Everyone has a part, the person needs to learn to feed themselves and seek God, God will continue to touch their hearts and fulfill his purposes in them, and we need to be humble servants who love and care for those God brings our way.

Working with new believers can be messy, but it is so rewarding! There is nothing like seeing the light turn on when someone hears from God in their life. We simply need to help them learn to hear from him every day, and we need to make sure that we are doing the same!