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Condescending to our Imperfections
- 01/12/07
- 20
Last week I posted a quote from Jim Elliff on the subject of "zealous immaturity." Writing about those who seek God's will in a way that he feels is unbiblical, Elliff writes "God may use the sincere individual who gets his guidance the illuminist's way. He may bless him. He may honor his faith more than his method. I am quite sure that God always condescends to our imperfections. And if there is immaturity, we must realize that God will often use in our zealous immaturity what he disallows in our maturity." This quote was tremendously encouraging to me and has given me much food for thought. As I considered this I was reminded of something that happened not too long ago.
A couple of years ago, on Father's Day, my son spent his morning in the preschool program of the church we were attending at the time while my wife and I enjoyed the service. When the service was over, my son came bounding into the auditorium just overflowing with excitement, holding something behind his back. He came to me and told me he had a surprise just for me. With a flourish he presented a little pencil holder he had made for me that very morning. It was made of an orange juice can covered with bits of road map. A sticker on the read "Nick's dad must 'Obey God' and follow his directions. Acts 5:29."
If I had looked at my son's creation in a way that was purely objective, all I would have seen was a monstrosity - something that made a mockery of pencil holders. The bits of paper covered only a portion of the can and most of them were loose. The liner on the inside of the can was peeling away because of the moisture it had been exposed to. Had I seen nothing but a pencil holder, I would have thrown it away in disgust.
But I see more than a pencil holder. I see an expression of my son's love for me. I see the effort he put into it and know that he did the best he could. He was incapable at only four years old of making a work of art worthy of a gallery. So while this gift may be a monstrosity, to me it is beautiful. I have never met a parent who would throw away such a gift, expressing disgust at the flaws in it. Every parents understands the joy of receiving such gifts. Every parent understands this kind of zealous immaturity.
Yesterday evening my two son and daughter decided to do some painting. Though they had a great time and found an activity that kept them busy, they utterly destroyed the kitchen. They attempted to keep paint on paper, but by the time they had finished their fun, the kitchen was covered in browns, blues and reds. Realizing the mess they had made, they attempted to clean up. They went to the sink and washed their hands, the pots the paint had been in, the paintbrushes, and everything else that had come in contact with the paint. This just made things worse. The kitchen, messy though it was, was better before they began to "clean." But I could hardly hold this against them. I was glad that they had made the effort and had attempted to clean up their mess. They were proud of what they had done and I was proud of them for trying to help us out. I was proud of their zealous immaturity.
Like you I love to bring gifts to God. Whether it is a portion of the finances He has blessed me with or whether it is my time or talents, I love to present my gifts before my heavenly Father. I know that if He viewed these gifts objectively, he would see little more than the monstrosities they are before His perfect standards. He would see the selfishness in my heart as I give money to Him, knowing that I often fret that I will not be able to pay bills or that I often give money wishing I could use it to buy something for myself instead. He knows that my heart is not perfectly pure as I bring my gifts of worship to Him. He knows who I am. Yet God accepts these imperfect gifts. As a loving Father he accepts the ragged, misshapen little pencil holders I bring to Him and gives them a place of honor on His desk. He knows my imperfections, He knows I am only dust, and He knows that through my gifts, faulty as they may be, I seek to bring honor and glory to Him. He knows my immaturity, but He also knows my zeal.
It was almost three years ago that my son made me that little pencil holder. It still sits on my desk. I still love and treasure it for it reminds me of my son's love for me and of his excitement in bringing a gift to his father.
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Comments (20)
I am currently reading through the Bible in its entirety (something I've never done before) and I am almost finished with Leviticus (yes, I have a long way to go). I just read yesterday about how God killed Aaron's two sons for offering up to God "unauthorized fire" (Leviticus 10). It seems back then He was not as condescending to imperfections. I'm having a hard time understanding why.
TH
I, too, have been thinking about this quote:
"...God will often use in our zealous immaturity what he disallows in our maturity."
While that sounds real lovey-dovey and nice I'm not certain that it's accurate or Scriptural. If someone can point me to a reference I would appreciate it.
God saved me back in 1984, and I had no idea what the Bible was, really. I look at the book of Romans, and thought it was about the Roman Catholic Church, which is where I went to for the first year of my conversion.
I was quite immature in many ways. I was more a flood light for the gospel, and made some wrong decisions.
As the Word of God shaped my heart, and the Spirit of Christ loved me with His tender discipline, I grew, and became the child of light He desired me to be.
Jabbok
I don't think there's an actual verse for this, but I'm sure it's biblical.
There's no such thing as instant maturity. God is very, very gracious with His children. And as we grow we put away childish things, little by little, year by year, and season by season.
However it's no less grace. od's grace is always sufficient, and it's only by His grace that we do any righteous things. By grace through faith, and He receives all the glory.
Very good post.
Jabbok:
The quote to which you refer is, as you say, swell - but it is not very wise or even biblical. Heb 5.14 says,
"But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil."
God is not a cosmic magician who rewards our immaturity by transforming foolishness into an acceptable course of action; neither is the Bible a magical book that will point us in the right direction if we simply flip to a random page. Apart from profound retardation, vascular degeneration, or a close-head injury, there is no excuse for continuing immaturity.
God has given us the Holy Spirit and His written word so that, among other things, we need not be immature, foolish, or presumptuous.
Tim:
I like the story you tell very much (it is warm and tender, reminiscent of when my daughters were young). I don't see, though, how it has anything to do with the inane comment of the first paragraph.
Todd:
Keep reading.
I thought that was a beautiful story. Jabbok, see Psalm 103: 13-14: "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust."
If God won't use immature Christians, then we're all screwed.
A wonderful and touching analogy, Tim, and one with which any parent can identify. I wrote about some of my own experiences on my own blog last week, quoting this very passage from yours. I can relate to the joyous enthusiasm of a child to please a loving parent, out of innocence and a true loving desire to please, not out of a selfish pride.
I think there is a difference between immaturity and innocence, if one looks upon immaturity as intentional, in a sense. Nor do I mean by innocence that any of us are not sinful by nature, because of course we all are, child or adult. By innocence I am trying to convey a sense of naievity or inexperience or at least, well-meaningness. The exact words are difficult to find. Perhaps it involves the kind of absolute trust and total dependence of a child upon a parent, as must our relationship be with our Heavenly Father. This kind of innocence and trust may have been what Jesus was referring to when he said, "Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." (Mk 10:15)
I believe there must be a diffference between the naive, innocent and well-intentioned gift of a child, and the unauthorized fire offered in Leviticus 10. We are not told the state of the hearts of Nadab and Abihu, but I think we can assume that they knew they were not to do what they did, but they did it anyway, deliberately.
Now we live in the age of Grace, so not every disobedient act is punished by instant death, but make no mistake, we will be judged, even believers, on our actions, at the end of the age. Some of us, even though we have been saved, may receive quite the comuppance.
Take Care
"God will often use in our zealous immaturity what he disallows in our maturity"
1. Notice the word "often." It is not a given that God will bless zealous immaturity, it just speaks to His grace and kindness that He so often does.
2. Think Corinthians. Paul commends them and thanks God for them and proceeds to correct just about everything they do! This is Biblical example enough, I should think.
3. Remember discipline. Sometimes our immaturity needs to be checked, not condoned. "Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness." (Hebrews 12:9-10)
A great post, Tim. I, too, am so thankful that the Lord is willing to accept what so often comes from well-intentioned hearts. Would that we more often gave others the same space to grow in grace!
The Jim Elliff quote seemed lacking or lopsided. We should be careful to take the whole counsel of the Word of God.
These are wonderful verses given in a comment above:
Psa 103:13-14 “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. (14) For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.”
And, this verse also tells me a truth that is for my benefit:
Pro 27:12 The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.
Amen!
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Psalm 103:8
This verse came to mind as I was reading the comments. I had to look it up and found that the OT states basically this description of this verse more then eight time. Try using bible gateway and search "gracious compassionate". I found it quite encouraging.
I'm still looking for the "Mature Christian"
Let me see those hands...
What's that, oh, you can only point to others you've known. No one's pointing at themselves, and those that have been pointed to can only point at others.
Like the above mentioned Dandelion, once you think you have it, it purposefully dissipates to multiply itself and to deflower the arrogance of thinking we could have it.
One of your most stellar posts. To god be all the glorym
Since I am one of the ones who specificaly asked, regarding "God condescending to our imperfections", I felt I should chime in.
That God condescends to us would seem to be an obvious statement, and a glaring biblical truth. To have any dealings with us, being who He is, there is nothing else He could do. True, He views us through the sacrifice of His Son, and in this manner is willing to overlook our sinful nature while we grow and mature; as much as is possible in this world, and in the time alotted to us. But there is a reason that He chose to define His relationship to us in terms of "family, marriage, children, sons and so on..."
The evidence of this is found through out the NT. Someone mentioned that God seemed to be less willing to condescend to us in the OT. I would say that there was a "yes and a no" to that. In those days he dealt directly, and definitively, with His people. Active and direct disobedience got an active and direct response on occasion. Yet, how often did Hs speak to His prophets, and the leaders of His people, in angry frustration at their behavior, only to relent, mostly or completely because someone stood up for them.
God has always dealt with us and viewed us in the realm of children. Children who He expects to grow up. As scripture says in Eph 4:15 "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." Tim's description of how he views the gifts of his son is a fairly accurate view of how God views us, in many ways. Not all. I wouldn't presume to know the full mind of God, but scripture gives us a fairly broad view of God as a father who loves His creations dearly. Look a Malachi 3. Here we have people who have known God's law for, probably as long as they have lived. God justly tells them that they are robbing Him. What?! He's not destroying them, or causing a plague, or giving them a massive punishment...even though they are actually accusing Him of doing nothing even when they do right. But what does God do? He tells them, look...bring me the tithes, and I'll prove you can trust me in this...test me, He says. What does He say in the end? If you can't do this, then in the end you will see the difference between those who obeyed me, and those who didn't.
In all of that, I see a father who is trying to find a different way of dealing with His disobedient children, instead of punishing them, as is His right. Is and does God act as a father to us? I'd say yes. Does He put up with a bunch of junk from us? Yes. Does He overlook things, choose to use our faltering inept attempts at labor in His service, and still cherish us. Again, yes.
I'd say, condesention to our imperfections, is a must for the job He has given Himself as our creator.
Surely the Incarnation was the ultimate condescension to our imperfections?
Direct scriptural confirmation of Christ’s tolerance of the spiritually immature can be found in the story of Luke 19: “Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” Christ didn’t turn to Zacchaeus and derisively whisper “Psst, Zacchaeus...don’t let your right hand know what your left hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3). Instead, he announces the salvation of God for Zacchaeus’ household.
A certain published parenting educator makes a helpful distinction between foolish and childish actions in a child. After all, “foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child” (Prov. 22:15). And don’t God’s children all too often epitomize foolishness?
“Foolishness in the heart means a child is attempting to act wise without benefit of accumulated wisdom and experience...A child is not acting childish when he or she is disobedient – the child is acting foolish. And the child is not acting foolish when he or she makes innocent mistakes but is acting childish. In BOTH CASES the child is in need of correction, but the method of correction is different because the heart is different.”
One more quote from yet another author, although I might quibble with his use of the word ‘enjoys’...
“God enjoys the sincere believers when they are still immature...God sees immaturity very differently than rebellion...God enjoys me even before I’m mature. He enjoys me while I’m struggling, and that pushes me to maturity.”
Thank God for his longsuffering and gracious nature.
My parents still use the pencil holder I made in the third grade...and I'm 56 years old!
I've been waiting a long time to share that little bit of information.
Tim,
I wept as I read your post. Thank you for your beautiful portrayal of God's love. I am so thankful that God accepts my fumbling efforts to serve Him. He sees as beautiful what would be trash from an objective standpoint. I fully expect and pray that He will correct my faults and that as time goes on I will get better at it. Under His instruction and correction, my gifts to Him will become more beautiful. It is the same as when our children grow up, their gifts become more beautiful (objectively). When your son is 8 and makes a gift for you I would expect it would be more (objectively) beautiful than this pencil holder. And when your son is 16 and makes a gift it should be even more (objectively) beautiful. Assuming the same loving heart is behind each of the gifts, they will all be equally beautiful in your eyes. However, if the gifts did not get "better" (useful, beautiful, etc.) as your son grew then I think you would be disappointed. I believe it is like this between God and I. He knows when I am giving Him my best. If my best is (objectively) ugly, He still loves the heart that produced it. It is kind of like the widow's mite. As my capability (or maturity if you prefer) increases - which He brings about through His instruction and correction - He expects my best to get better.
Sorry for the long post. This post profoundly touched my heart. Thank you again Tim.
Kids are a blessing partially because we love them so much that when they say or do something we actually listen. Great one Tim.
Josh
"...the word of God is not bound."
--2 Timothy 2:9
Tim,
It's the first time I've commented and I have to say thank you, thank you, thank you for such a beautiful post. I echo the sentiments of another who said we should give others the same room to grow in grace and not look down on them.
That gives me peace too. How can I accept my humane limitations? If God stays at his level of perception and intelligibility, am I left alone in my imperfections to taste the meaninglessness of what i feel, and experience in this life, due to the fact I am not omniscient or intelligible enough to understand? I don't get peace in that. I am sincere; if ANYONE LEARNS TRUTH, I sure as heck think it's me! And I agree so much with that individual you quoted. How can I contravene and contend against what I feel? Must I be dishonest with what I feel due to my imperfections and human ignorance? If the holy spirit is truly screening my convictions... that answer is a no due to the fact I am sincere, and since that thought gives me only umbrage.