When Growth is Not Good

Recently I heard my good friend, Steve McAllister, who preaches at Northside Church in Pompano Beach present a lesson on spiritual growth. At the conclusion of his lesson, he quickly made a point that not all growth is good. Then bulleted some passages proving that point.

Coincidently, yesterday’s post was about growth. When I heard Steve’s concluding points, I decided to follow up my post, “Growth is Fundamental” with this idea.

In the financial world this is often called “negative growth.” It sounds like an oxymoron. But it refers to an economic decline over a stated period of time.

Spiritually speaking, it is possible to be going the wrong direction. To be in decline. To experience “negative growth.” Here are three Bible examples.

#1 When our hearts grow dull, we’re experiencing negative growth.

“For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.’”(Matt. 13:15)

This is a quote from the prophet Isaiah describing the sad spiritual condition of ancient Israel. Jesus said the Scribes, Pharisees and religious leaders had grown into this perilous condition as well.

The word dull means “to thicken,” or “to fatten.” The NIV renders the word “calloused.” Paul also uses this quote in Acts 28:27 to describe those Jews who rejected and refused to hear the gospel of Christ. It speaks of those who willfully and deliberately shut out the truth from their minds and hearts.

Has your heart grown dull? Fat? Calloused? Closed? Unwilling to allow the Word to penetrate your heart? And germinate and grow?

Like the Pharisees we may have allowed traditions, opinions, and personal prejudices to affect our receptivity to Truth, thus causing the heart to grow dull.

#2 When our love grows cold, we’re experiencing negative growth.

“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” (Matt. 24:12).

We instinctively know what it means to have a cold heart. Cold hearted people are distant and detached. Religiously, this begins by failing to grow in our love for God. When our love for the Lord grows cold, it will also impact our relationship with other people.

Cold hearted people find it difficult to feel empathy and sympathy. They keep their distance physically and emotionally. . They lack concern and compassion for the problems others may face. They’re usually self-centered. They are insensitive. Unresponsive. And unmoved.

Cold hearted people weren’t born that way. Christianity doesn’t produce a cold heart. And it’s not the fault of the church. They simply experienced negative growth.

Here’s a question for the cold-hearted person to consider. “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (1 Jn. 3:17).

#3 When we grow weary doing good, we’re experiencing negative growth.

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Gal. 6:9-10)

Spiritual burnout is a common malady in the Lord’s Church. Burnout “is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands.”

We may grow weary by the wickedness in the world, by the amount of work to be done, or the indifference of others. Yet, we are urged not to grow weary. Similar commands are issued in 2 Thessalonians 3:13 and Hebrews 12:3.

“Don’t lose heart,” the apostle encourages. We can overcome weariness, by staying focused on Jesus. Keeping our priorities in line. Seeking the mutual support of other brethren. And realizing that one day harvest time is coming.

What about you my friend? Are you growing spiritually? Or are you experiencing negative growth?

–Ken Weliever, The Pracherman