“The clergy profession is fundamentally self-defeating. Its stated purpose is to nurture spiritual maturity in the church - a valuable goal. In actuality, however; it accomplishes the opposite by nurturing a permanent dependence of the laity on the clergy. Clergy become to their congregations like parents whose children never grow up, like therapists whose clients never become healed, like teachers whose students never graduate.” ChildrenSelfSpiritualPurposeGrowsParentGoalChurchGrowing UpTeacherStudentsOppositesValuableAccomplishProfessionPermanentMaturityGraduatesClientsNurtureDependenceHealedNurturingTherapistsCongregationClergyActualitySpiritual Maturity Author:Christian Smith
“The key to maturity is time and community. Discernment and godly wisdom develop in a community that spans generations. The church is called to be this place where the [God's] Spirit uses normal patterns and rhythms of the Christian life in a community, so that we may bear fruit like a well-watered tree. Despite common appearances, the church is the place where God's new creation is coming into existence and being sustained by the Spirit like a great vineyard.” WellsMayUseChristianSpiritCommunityChurchCommonExistenceGenerationsTreeCreationKeysBearsNormalFruitPatternsAppearanceChristian LifeDespiteRhythmMaturityGodlyDiscernmentVineyards Author:Michael Horton