Different Levels

     Nothing seems to irritate us more than the behavior of other Christians.  And I'm sure that our behavior often irritates other Christians as well.  The problem is that we don't see them as God sees them.  In every group of Christians, there are believers at different levels of spiritual growth.  Some are still babes in Christ--and how long they've been Christians has little to do with it.  Some are growing and their growth is evident to all.  Some are mature saints and daily demonstrate their love for Christ, confident of His love for them and motivated to encourage others to love and trust Him more.  The trouble comes when we don't accept that growth is a process.  Just as you can't instantly be mature adult human beings, so you can't instantly be mature Christians.  It takes time.  What we must do is allow God to give us the patience necessary to love each believer where he or she is spiritually.  Yes, we need to encourage them to continue to grow and pray that God will teach them to grow in grace and in a knowledge of Him, but we are not the manufactures of growth in another believer's life.  God alone is.  We are the demonstrators, the examples of those whom God is working in to conform us to His image.  When we are constantly critical and judgmental of other Christians because they are not where we think they should be spiritually or not growing as quickly as we would like them to grow, we are on dangerous ground.  Just as a child becomes frustrated and defeated by constant negativity, so the child in Christ will feel those same emotions, emotions that undermine healthy spiritual growth and intimate relationships.  We will become those who cause others to stumble and fall in their spiritual growth rather than those who encourage them to continue on to maturity.  Instead of being irritated by other believers, we need to be those who encourage others in their struggles toward maturity and love them unconditionally right where they are, just as their Father and their Savior loves them.  That sense of being accepted in the Beloved--and by His other kids--will do more to promote spiritual growth than anything I know.