Ephesians 4:14-16
14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:14-16–ESV)
No longer children?
A child will react spontaneously, with immaturity and sometimes even with recklessness. They also will trust easily. A childlike faith has advantages, but that faith better be well placed. Much harm comes to children as a result of this quality. Part of the hardness many adults live with comes from this school of hard knocks. In Proverbs1 Solomon wrote that lips which speak knowledge are rare indeed. Such lying lips are not loving lips, not godly lips.
The ability to place one’s trust in something is crucial. The body of Christ is built on the principle of putting others first. That results in a helpful community. Trust is well-placed if placed in Christ and Christ-centered communities.
Infants in the ocean?
Children and infants in the ocean? How is that for an analogy.
When Paul looked at life, sometimes he saw an ocean. When he looked at people, sometimes he saw desperation. He was not the only one who saw the trouble, fear, and pain of humanity. Wicked leaders did too and where there are needs there are opportunities. Some people would blow up winds of doctrine, cunning, craft and deceit to catch struggling people. The end result would not be helpful but harmful. The immature would be caught in those waves. They would be tossed by those philosophies. Perhaps these false-leaders could be viewed as evil versions of apostles, prophets, pastors, and teachers.
Why do you think Paul saw children, waves, tossing to and fro? Probably it was from poignantly recalled experiences. Paul was shipwrecked four times once spending a day and a night on the open sea (2 Corinthians 11 mentions three of the four wrecks). Sometimes survivors may find their way to a lifeboat, but often it is debris, planks, or anything that will float. People on planks are tossed to and fro by waves. They may try to stick together, but that is often impossible. I may type this, and you read this: Paul experienced this. Those events left him with strong memories; memory-winds that would blow a shape around other things in his life.
There are those who will say nearly anything to boost their plans. Altruism will be printed on the menu, but the kitchen will never get the order quite right.
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