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            If you were listening Sunday January 15th, in that morning message, this “movement”, “Growing Back to God”, was said to describe the ministry of John the Baptist as he was preparing the way for Jesus.  John’s overall message was a call for “repentance” as a first step in our salvation.  He was speaking to Israel, the chosen people of God.  The Baptist was not the first servant of God to make this call and he is not the last in the Scriptures.  John discerned and confirmed those who answered the call with water baptism and declared that the “Chosen One”, the Messiah & Redeemer, who followed him would baptize with the Holy Spirit.   Wow! 

I, your pastor, was struck by the call to “Grow Back” to God rather than simply “Go Back”.  If one simply “goes back” to a place, the expectation is that everything will be the same as it was.  Neither you nor, the place to which you have returned, have changed or are different.  Thus, we are left only to begin again, stuck in the same circumstances, doomed to repeat all the errors of our ways.  “Going back” then, does not fit within John’s plea to the people of Israel.  Remember, he called for “repentance”.  Repentance is having regret, shame, remorse or sorrow and being penitent, atoning, performing an act of contrition or apology!  Some change in the manner of living is expected, even demanded, when true repentance occurs.  To put it simply … Something has to change, allowing and causing growth.  The status of your life must change to encourage and contribute to growth.  Let there be no misunderstanding.  John was, and I am, speaking of a change toward moral righteousness, i.e. Spiritual Growth toward being, the desire of God’s heart, His child.  Growing is new life, with all of its wonder and possibilities. 

What concerns me is many people, inside and out of the Church, are unwilling to change or make any such effort.  Some preachers go so far as to suggest you do not need or have to change, that God and His Church can and should “Accept you just as you are!”  This is a False Teaching, a lie of Satan and is an act of deceit and corruption, foretold by the prophets and declared by the Apostle Paul in his letter to Timothy [II Tim. 4: 3&4]. 

       “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. 

         Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great

         number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They

         will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”

A person comes back to God when under conviction they become aware that something is wrong and lacking in their life.  They realize their need of salvation; they are heading toward death and destruction and recognize their own inability to do what it takes, to save them self.  They come to understand that a change must be made and that Jesus is, has prepared, the only way and solution to their dilemma with a desired positive outcome.  A decision to believe, trust and follow Him [Jesus] is the heart or hub around which the change in life is made.   The baptism of the Holy Spirit, which comes through faith in Jesus as the Christ, is an essential part of this “growing back to God” process.  It convicts, teaches, strengthens, and directs the walk of the believing disciple of Jesus.

 Our Society today is, and many Churches are, full of people who are unrepentant, demanding acceptance without change of life.  They see nothing lacking in their quest for the things of the world and no fault in the “different lifestyles” they choose to live.  They deny or ignore the reality of approaching end times and the consequences that will have to be faced.  They are in control of their own destiny but not in the way, they think.  Unaware of their dire circumstance and the need of saving, they do not believe or take seriously the truth that Jesus is the only one who can redeem them.

In the verses that proceeds and follow those quoted above, Paul gives the faithful follower of Jesus an unqualified charge. [vs. 2 & 5]

       “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct,

         rebuke, and encourage with great patience and careful instruction.

         … But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the

         work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”

These words, and all others in Scripture on the same subject, make it clear the Church, the Body of Believers, must not change or conform to the world, its societies, cultures or politics.  Rather we must understand for ourselves and show to them [the seeker or potential convert] that growth, finding our way back to God, cannot happen without repentance, i.e. change.  Turning new ground, removing the rocks, fertilizing, planting, watering, hoeing, weeding and keeping the enemy at bay [those who would devour the seed or pluck up the tender young plants]  are the hard work, at changing the environment, so the planted seed will grow.  It is hard!  However, the alternative is far worse!  May we be one in God’s Spirit as we work together, and “Grow back to God” through Christ!

~ BROTHER EARL STOVALL