Christian Living

Are You Under the Wing of a Mature Christian Or Are You Just Winging It?

by J.W. Phillips
01/24/25
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Are You Under the Wing of a Mature Christian Or Are You Just Winging It?

There will be times in your life and mine when the difference between obedience and disobedience may very well hinge on somebody’s example.

While principles are good, and promises are great, and the workings of the Holy Spirit are indispensable, still, there are those times when a flesh-and-blood example can mean so much.

To see someone we know—a person who is both venerable and vulnerable—rise to meet a challenge that could have resulted in defeat is inspiring.

Just to know that courage didn’t die when Paul did, and that love didn’t expire when John passed away, is very encouraging. Especially when we see these virtues lived out in a believer we know.

How much steadier our growth would be if we were under the wing of a more mature Christian—someone who knows what the Word of God has to say about every major doctrine and every major area of life.

What a tremendous benefit could be ours if we could draw close to someone who doesn’t have to be propped up or wound up, because the Spirit of God is renewing this person day after day (II Corinthians 4:16).

This benefit would be highly valued because this person didn’t relate to us in a sentimental way (love without truth) or in a legalistic way (truth without love), but in a biblical way—speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

Wanting to Be Encouraged
The disciples had Jesus; Timothy had Paul—so who do you have?

Is there someone Spirit-led and Word-bred tuned in to your needs? Is there someone who will furnish needed nudges and private promptings whenever you begin to fail, or to fall away?

How important such a person can be!

Imagine what it would be like if someone like that invested himself or herself in your life.

Consider the mistakes that might be avoided, the dry spells that might be averted, the increased progress that might be achieved, the greater vision that might be transmitted.

The encouragement that comes from a superior example would enable giant leaps in one’s track record for obedience.

The search for models and mentors, people who could serve as examples to us, should reasonably begin in the church.

In undertaking this search, attempting to discern who can help us and who can’t, we should be mindful of three classifications of Christians—children, young men, and fathers (I John 2:11-14).

The need is for the fathers to become examples of encouragement. Godly examples!

But where, oh where, are the fathers?

Failing to Find Encouragers
Unfortunately, “gospel-lite” churches are littering the landscape today; and the damage they do is not easily calculated. An obvious one is the small number of fathers in these churches.

This outcome shouldn't surprise us because pabulum preaching stunts a church into carnality, as do wrongly conceived small groups and fill-in-the-blank discipleship groups.

When I was a young boy growing up in Florida, I attended annual family reunions where there was an abundance of food and people. My grandmother on this side of the family was one of thirteen children, ten who lived into their 90s and beyond (she lived to 104, as did both of her parents), so we often had triple digit attendance. But the one member of my extended family that I most remember is Cousin Harold.

Cousin Harold’s parents would cut his food for him, put a spoon in his hands and promise him a nice automobile ride after lunch if he ate all his dinner.

Should this promise not secure the desired response soon enough, they would proceed to feed Cousin Harold, urging him to open his mouth big and wide so the spoon (now an airplane) could safely land.

This Harold, with something of a chuckle, would then do; and pretty soon he would make the “airplane” land in his own mouth, a feat we cousins were obliged to admire.

All this probably wouldn’t have been that memorable to me were it not for the fact Harold was forty years old!

As it turned out, the only thing wrong with Harold were his parents—they just wouldn’t let their little boy grow up!

Failing to Recognize Encouragers
Not only is the search for examples of encouragers frustrated at the top, it can also be frustrated underneath.

We do ourselves much harm if we incubate in self-chosen isolation, resisting the healing touch of others.

Samuel Chadwick, the English pastor and professor, illustrated this point by telling the story of a musician who visited the Cathedral at Fribourg. When this musician heard the great organ, he went into the organ loft and asked to play it.

The old organist in jealousy for his instrument at first refused but was at length prevailed upon, and allowed the stranger to try what was claimed to be the greatest organ in Europe.

After standing by in an ecstasy of delight and amazement, he suddenly laid his hands on the inspired musician and exclaimed, “Who are you? What is your name?”

“Mendelssohn,” replied the player.

“Mendelssohn!” Oh… oh! With tears in his eyes the old man exclaimed, “And can it be that I had so nearly refused to let Mendelssohn to touch this organ?”

If we in the church fail to recognize the example of one who can mean so much, we will forfeit the help that could have fortified us.

How we need examples of encouragement!

Are you one?

Do you want to become one?

Does your church have a number of people like this?

You are more likely to become one by welcoming, and not resisting, the participation of a more mature influence upon your life.