How Do We Help Strengthen New Christians?

[nChrist]

Brothers and Sisters,

I ask this question because there appears to be a huge problem in this area. I've heard many new Christians say that they had no idea where to start and began to feel very confused shortly after they were saved.

Does your church have special study sessions for the babes in Christ? Some might not even be familiar with the term, "Babe in Christ", so I want to explain it. When a person is saved, a new birth happens inside of the person, and there is a new presence in their heart, the HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD. A unsaved person is known as a natural man or woman, a lost person under the curse of sin and death. Many portions of the Bible also describe the unsaved person as the "old man" and the saved person as the "new man". The "new man" is in JESUS CHRIST and wants to follow the gentle leadings of the HOLY SPIRIT in their hearts. The Bible states something that all Christians already know: there will be a battle between the "new man" and the "old man of the flesh" for the rest of our lives. We were weak and dependent on others when we were physically born. Others cared for us, fed us, and protected us as we got bigger and stronger. "Milk" is one of the most common foods to help the little one grow, and this is a perfect illustration for a new Christian.

A new Christian really is born again as a different person in CHRIST, and they are weak and dependent on others. It is wise to feed this new Christian "the Milk of the WORD" and help them grow stronger and mature. It obviously isn't a good idea for a new Christian to jump right into the most difficult portions of Scripture because they aren't ready for it. Some people confuse the term "Babes in Christ" with their physical age instead of their spiritual age. So, it's quite common for "Babes in Christ" to be in their 50s, 60s, 70s, etc. The question is what do we do to help them grow stronger and mature? Do you remember what it was like when you were a new Christian and confused about so many things? Did your church make reasonable efforts to help you? If so, please describe what they did.

It is my opinion that this problem is HUGE, and many churches don't appear to be even aware of this problem. It's very depressing for a new Christian when they don't get the teaching they need at their level of strength and maturity. There is even talk by Evangelists that their only job is to bring people to JESUS, and someone else must worry about teaching them. I've even heard some people question why the new Christian needs any special help at all. Then we wonder why when general statements are made that there appears to be a huge number of weak Christians who don't know very much about the Bible. How could they be anything but weak if nobody tries to help them with graduated levels of teaching?

Is your church trying to address this problem? If so, please tell us about it so the ideas can be shared with many churches. Do you use structured material designed for various levels?

Do you have a mentoring program of some type where mature Christians have already volunteered to assist new believers? If so, please tell us about it.

Does your church attract and keep new Christians, or are new Christians just too much trouble?

Love In Christ,
Tom

John 1:1-4 NASB  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.

[john909]

All too often, what you describe is the norm, not the exception. People who suddenly find themselves alive with the Holy Spirit desire to be with others who feel the same level of excitement. They usually don't get what they want. They see people going to church out of habit, or fear, or because their husband or wife or kids go.

New Christians should immediately enroll in a small group that is studying the Holy Scriptures, and that is led by a pastor, priest, or senior elder. Such groups should never be led by all new Christians. They get lost, bored, or fearful.

New Chrisitians hould be encouraged to leave their old lives behind, even if it means they lose friends. This is the hardest part. Satan hates when the Holy Spirit brings new elect members into the fold, and he will work overtime to get them to gp back into their evil ways.

New Christians are like newborns or toddlers -- you have to school them constantly until they get their own balance and footing. This comes with wlking circumspectly with other Christians and praying constantly for God's will for their lives, and not their own.
To become a Chrisitian is to become a slave of Christ, and this is the most difficult and trying thing for people. Christians have freedom in slavery to Christ, while non-Christians have permissiveness and are literal slaves to sin, and are dead in trespass.

New Christians should be encouraged, nay -- required to attend the aforementioned Bible course. You cannot walk circumspectly with God unless you know His will for you, and you cannot know His will for you unless you know His Word and pray to Him constantly for guidance. New Christians should also be taught that prayer is not something one does only when one is at home kneeling beside one's bed, but a constant silent, in the heart prayer asking God to show you His will. Becoming a Christian is an inward change of heart (because of the Holy Spirit) and an outward change of direction (walking the circumspect path of God's will). It's difficult, you miss out on earthly things, but you store up riches in heaven. I'll be poor here anyday to be rich in heaven.

Now, some churches have almost no small groups, no Bible study courses, etc, but they can be started. Also, no one says you have to go through your local church. Depending on where you live, there are any number of people who would be willing to form a Christian group.