A Failure to Thrive

A Failure to Thrive

‘ A Word From the Pastor’

Last week, I wrote of the admonition the apostle Peter issued in his letter; “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18) Building on this principal I am compelled to ask about our (Christians) failure to grow in grace and knowledge and our failure to thrive as the church did in the letter of ACTS.

In the medical field, there is a term that describes the inability of an individual to grow. “A Failure to Thrive” is a medical diagnosis and for children can be defined as “when their weight or rate of weight gain is significantly below that of other children of similar age and gender.” For adults, a failure to thrive describes a “state of decline that is multifactorial and may be caused by chronic concurrent diseases and functional impairments.” This “failure to thrive” condition can include depression, decreased appetite, poor nutrition, and inactivity.

I am convinced that our culture can accurately be diagnosed with “A Failure to Thrive.” Peter's admonition to grow in the grace and knowledge has been lost in many churches and altogether ignored by the culture in general. Contrarily, we are growing in self-gratification, greed, hatred, breaking down all barriers established and instituted by God for our own good and protection and we are bounding headlong into human degradation.

To many, the Bible contains conflicting messages. For instance, how can we read about all the killing and destruction of life in the Bible yet one of the Ten Commandments states emphatically, “Thou shalt not kill.” Sometimes what we read in the Bible does not make sense from our present day perspective. There are many cultural, dietary, legal and spiritual concepts in the Bible that are difficult to relate with. We wrestle with difficulties and spiritual truth but they are not impossible to understand and to adjust our lives accordingly.

Paul issues a firm command to Timothy to “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing (applying) the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) In his letter to the believers in the city of Corinth, Paul explained the events found in the Old Testament or Hebrew Scriptures and why they were recorded, “Now these things happened as examples for us…” (1 Corinthians 10:6) I believe our nation has a severe case of a “Failure to Thrive.” Why? Perhaps we need to look no further then our local churches. Most churches are not thriving because most of the people in churches are failing to thrive in their own personal relationship with Christ. Why? May I suggest what the prophet Jeremiah wrote — “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) More about this next week. If you desire to grow and thrive no matter the circumstances, study the Bible, learn Christ's teachings, get involved, serve others, humble yourself before God and He will lift you up!

Clayton Adams is pastor at Earle First Assembly of God. You can e- mail him at cpalaa@ yahoo. com, or find Earle First Assembly on Facebook.

By Clayton Adams