"Staying" fit...

I had an epiphany last night as I was working out, unfortunately it wasn't that I no longer crave Oreo cookies. Instead, I realized that no matter how hard I work out, I really am just trying to "maintain" my level of fitness... Every year it seems I have to work harder to stay as flexible, as strong, as fit as I was twenty years ago. Sorry to bum you out if you've never thought about that...

Here's another "bummer" I have observed in ministry over the years. People who are relatively "young" in the faith are more likely to tell their friends about Jesus than those who have been "Christians" for years. They tend to be more passionate, more joyful, more flexible, more likely to serve others than those you have been in church for twenty years. It seems like so many times followers of Jesus start out healthy and fit and somehow church "sucks the life" out of them. Shouldn't it be the opposite? What's the answer, should we warn those who are new to the faith to stay away from churches?

What if we as "church people" are completely "off" when it comes to "spiritual maturity"? What if Christianity isn't a "union shop" and "seniority" isn't the measure of "maturity"? What if those who "sit around" in church for twenty years "just learning" aren't "growing" but are instead atrophying ? What if instead of trying to encourage new followers of Jesus to act more like "dried up" old church people, we warned them that they would have to "work out" in acts of service, joyful living, faith, etc. to maintain their "flexibility" and passion for Jesus. What if those of us who are "older" in the faith would be a little less proud of the knowledge and wisdom we have gained over the years much more serious about maintaining our "childlike" faith and love for Jesus? As usual, I don't have an "answer" yet...but I am definitely going to keep thinking about this. How about you?