Forcing meat down a baby's throat...

[dogfight!]

now that just doesnt make sense. You could choke that kid!

[dremarshall]

now that just doesnt make sense. You could choke that kid!

I know right! Chew it up 1st!

[Nahledge]

Yeah that's crazy. Solid food is for the mature.

[dogfight!]

I know right! Chew it up 1st!

Or better yet, some

[Psalmist]

you'll are hilarious....but it is the truth....but there are very FEW mature Christians in the church buildings, let alone on this board

[dogfight!]

you'll are hilarious....but it is the truth....but there are very FEW mature Christians in the church buildings, let alone on this board

Hmmm, so why are we trying to stick a pork chop down their throats?

[ctide]

you'll are hilarious....but it is the truth....but there are very FEW mature Christians in the church buildings, let alone on this board

i would say, there are many mature christians on this board

everyone is growing, NOBODY has arrived... but there are solid brothers and sisters on this board, even though they aint perfect, they are good famz

[Shock~Therapy]

i would say, there are many mature christians on this board

What do you base that on? Talk and speech mean little. Lifestyle means everything. I cannot tell whether someone is a mature christian based simply on their responses on this board but I can tell whether they are immature. A person can know every scripture verse and be a master theologian but still live a depraved lifestyle. So, I ask you again, how do you know there are many mature christians on this board? Have you personally witnessed their walk with Christ beyond what they are typing on a message board?

[ctide]

What do you base that on? Talk and speech mean little. Lifestyle means everything. I cannot tell whether someone is a mature christian based simply on their responses on this board but I can tell whether they are immature. A person can know every scripture verse and be a master theologian but still live a depraved lifestyle. So, I ask you again, how do you know there are many mature christians on this board? Have you personally witnessed their walk with Christ beyond what they are typing on a message board?

yes, i have

i have seen how people respond to conflict, and have seen how people respond to attack

[Shock~Therapy]

yes, i have

i have seen how people respond to conflict, and have seen how people respond to attack

Yes. That is how I can tell if someone is immature, but speech alone is not enough for me to gauge whether someone is mature. Only those who lifestyle I've personally witnessed outside of this message board are the only ones I can say with confidence whether they are mature christians or not.

[ctide]

Yes. That is how I can tell if someone is immature, but speech alone is not enough for me to gauge whether someone is mature. Only those who lifestyle I've personally witnessed outside of this message board are the only ones I can say with confidence whether they are mature christians or not.

no doubt brother... please permit me to give ya a "for instance"

if i go off and call you a jerk and say you dont know anything, nobody likes you, blah blah bahl


if you respond with kindness and are humble... that is evidence that you are mature (at least in that area of your life)

i have seen folks, Azriel is a perfect example, who have been accused of things and mocked & yet they always ALWAYS respond with love and humility.

I can say with as much confidence as i would about my own brother, Azriel is a mature christian. So is Gstyles, savedbygrace, quietstorm... ect

Not only that, I have know the 3 mentioned for years and have seen them mature alot.

[Shock~Therapy]

no doubt brother... please permit me to give ya a "for instance"

if i go off and call you a jerk and say you dont know anything, nobody likes you, blah blah bahl


if you respond with kindness and are humble... that is evidence that you are mature (at least in that area of your life)

i have seen folks, Azriel is a perfect example, who have been accused of things and mocked & yet they always ALWAYS respond with love and humility.

I can say with as much confidence as i would about my own brother, Azriel is a mature christian. So is Gstyles, savedbygrace, quietstorm... ect

Not only that, I have know the 3 mentioned for years and have seen them mature alot.

Yes I completely agree, it does give evidence hinting towards maturity but it is not enough to go simply on that. I've seen some backwards stuff before. I've seen people put on a display of mock kindness and gentleness when they are among other people but when you look at their personal lifestyle and their family, you will see the exact opposite. I am not saying that your belief that they are mature is unfounded by any means. What I am saying is that someone's personal walk and witness means more than any amount of words that they use.

[ctide]

Yes I completely agree, it does give evidence hinting towards maturity but it is not enough to go simply on that. I've seen some backwards stuff before. I've seen people put on a display of mock kindness and gentleness when they are among other people but when you look at their personal lifestyle and their family, you will see the exact opposite. I am not saying that your belief that they are mature is unfounded by any means. What I am saying is that someone's personal walk and witness means more than any amount of words that they use.

again, i agree with you

but of course people can be fooled by their own spouce & kids, should we never call anyone mature?

you cool homie, i think of you as a mature believer as far as i can tell

so based on what i see on the message boards, we got many mature christians & we also got our share of youngings and foolish folks also

but thats life

[BlackCalvinist]

There's a difference in being a babe and being childish, though. Some people shake their bottles in your face and refuse to grow or want any parts of growth and use 'babe' as an excuse for immaturity.

God doesn't save people for them to remain spiritual babes. So if you've been (supposedly) walking with the Lord for several years, you shouldn't be complaining about solid food.......

[ctide]

Some people shake their bottles in your face and refuse to grow

well said

[dogfight!]

well said

and there are those who shake their drumsticks in front of babies and don't give them time to grow.

[Shock~Therapy]

and there are those who shake their drumsticks in front of babies and don't give them time to grow.

yup that is true as well. This brings up an interesting point, should we take the view that after a certain number of years of being saved that someone should be ready for meat? Don't well all grow at different rates? Some of us have gone through life circumstances that have given us the opportunity to grow in Christ much more rapidly by how we responded to those circumstances. Others have fewer of those experiences.

[Deadmanwalking]

Look I'm inclined to give my opinion. But doesn't anyone notice that when opinions are brought up we all run around in circles?

Every Christian does grow @ a different rate. So how do we know when it's time to give more solid food? Let the Spirit near witness. Honestly, we're all full of him but it seems we'd rather talk amongst ourselves to find solutions rather than just listen to the Lord. You know a tree by its fruit. Likewise you'll know when a person is ready by the maturity they show. And while in some cases the responses on this board are indicative of maturity, the sneaky thing about online communities is that anyone can masquerade as someone they're not (and that does include expressions of false humility).

In the end, I'm just saying that we're trying a little too hard to figure things out on our own and listening to ourselves way more than we're listening to the simple and practical wisdom that the Holy Spirit is trying to whisper to us. Slow to speak, quick to hear. Seriously. For real.

[4Sight Sounds]

and there are those who shake their drumsticks in front of babies and don't give them time to grow.

I see your point.

But you got to be careful. If you keep the Eph. 4:29Eph. 4:29Eph. 4:29Eph. 4:29Eph. 4:29Eph. 4:29Eph. 4:29 on the lower shelf, you'll be raising kids all the time.

Matt. 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

IMHO, it seems that there is far more formula bottles than barbaque being served up ....so many have been conditioned to engage the "heart and soul" only.

[dogfight!]

I see your point.

But you got to be careful. If you keep the Eph. 4:29Eph. 4:29Eph. 4:29Eph. 4:29Eph. 4:29Eph. 4:29Eph. 4:29 on the lower shelf, you'll be raising kids all the time.



IMHO, it seems that there is far more formula bottles than barbaque being served up ....so many have been conditioned to engage the "heart and soul" only.

Yeah, but it happens on both fronts. I see more of people trying to teach Calculus 3 before pre-algebra is being taught. Its like an unbeliever trying to understand Timothy Brindle after he's been listening to Dem Franchise Boys. Not to say God couldnt use the music in this sense but more often than not they need to start off with milk. Not watered-down but the basics of our faith. Like you posted, Love God with all.

I've seen many self-proclaimed theologians totally skipped the milk and the basic foundations of their faith and it reeks Its like a tall building that looks tight, but w/no solid foundation. Hurricane Rita comes in and the building is no more.

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.