The Dangers of Not Growing

APPLICATION ARTICLE | Reagan McClenny | Lufkin, Texas

2 Peter 1:5-7 describes “adding” important qualities to our Christian character. Some people describe this list as a ladder with each quality as a rung, but that can leave the wrong impression. These are not qualities that we work on one at a time and leave one “complete” to move on the next. Instead, a better image is of a single instrument playing, and another and another are added in perfect harmony until a full orchestra is playing. So, when all the instruments are added, is the process complete? I would suggest that the process is only beginning in earnest! A high school orchestra has (basically) all the same instruments as a professional one. The primary difference in the quality of their performance is a matter of growth.

As the father who cried out to Jesus, “Lord I believe, help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24), there is still growth to be had with each quality even if we possess some measure of all of them. Peter makes this truth clear as he continues.

2 Peter 1:8 “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing…”

Peter is describing growth in these areas and emphasizing that growth is a prerequisite to everything he will speak of next. Of all the issues we might have in our Christian walk, we might not view lack of growth as a major concern compared to more explicitly “sinful” problems. Still, this text tells us that the dangers of not growing are real and serious!

Think of lack of growth as a spiritual heart attack. It is not a singular, isolated incident but is caused by and reveals several things in our spiritual health. First, there are the immediate symptoms that tell us something is wrong. Then there are the underlying causes that we must address. Finally, there is the future prognosis about any changes we may need to make.

The Immediate Symptoms:

Lack of Growth Makes Us Ineffective and Unfruitful in the Knowledge of the Lord Jesus—”they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (v8b)

It stands to reason that if these things are NOT in us and growing, we WILL be barren and unfruitful (even in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ).

Peter has made it clear already at the beginning of this epistle how important the “knowledge of the Lord Jesus” is to our Christian life (v2-3). He will go on to warn about false teachers who subvert this knowledge and lead people astray with deceptive words, even those who have “escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2:20).

This knowledge, as incredibly powerful and important as it is, is not enough on its own. Amazingly, even if we “know” all about Jesus, we will still be worthless and unfruitful if we stop growing. Vines defines “barren” as “idle, yielding no return, because of inactivity.” A suggested synonym is “unemployed.” We aren’t DOING anything in our service to God because we’ve stopped growing! God always wants us to be effective and productive in His service, and He provides the tools necessary for that continued growth (Matthew 13:20-23; Luke 13:6-9).

Isn’t that what Peter is saying in 2 Peter 2:20-21? Instead of growing, progressing, and producing, these brethren regressed to what they were before they were Christians. They had the knowledge, so what was the problem? The main problem was that they didn’t grow to the point that they could see the emptiness of the false teachers’ allurements and resist them. As a result, there was no “adding to” and “increasing” in their faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love!

While lack of growth is dangerous in and of itself, it is also symptomatic of other, deeper problems. Thus, it becomes diagnostic of other dangers.

The Underlying Causes:

1. Spiritual Blindness and Nearsightedness—”For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind” (v9a)

Much has been made of Peter’s unusual word order here, but I suggest it fits with the progression of Peter’s thoughts regarding the inability to see.

When we are blind, we can’t see our current condition. Spiritually, those who aren’t growing have stopped seeing themselves the way they really are. They have a perception of their own righteousness based on the past (“I have become a Christian,” “I’ve worked for the Lord before,” etc.), but they don’t see their present weakened condition. A lukewarm, lackadaisical approach to our spiritual life, where we rest on our laurels of perceived faithfulness, causes us to stop growing (Revelation 3:15-17).

When we are nearsighted, we can’t see very far off. If we have nearsighted eyes, we can only see what is right in front of us. If we have nearsighted hearts, we can only see the physical things of this earth (that are right in front of us) and not things of a spiritual nature. We can’t see things that are afar, things that are coming, the things in the future.

Growth inherently looks to the future. We ask questions like, “How can I get better?” and “What can I do next in service to the Lord?” but Christians who stop growing stop looking to the future. If we stop looking to the future, we don’t consider what we should be doing next, what is coming next, or even the judgment (which is spiritual in nature). After describing this coming judgment later in the epistle, Peter says, “Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; (15) and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation…” (2 Peter 3:14-15).

But it’s not just that we can’t see the present or the future when we aren’t growing; we don’t see the past clearly either.

2. Spiritual Forgetfulness—”…having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.” (9b)

When we are forgetful, we are “blind” to the past. Specifically, we forget the cleansing of our sins that came as a result of God’s grace! We forget what Jesus has done for us. Peter’s letter was all about “reminding” these brethren of what they should have already known (2 Peter 1:2-4, 12-14). His final reminder is about growing in grace and knowledge instead of forgetting that Jesus is our Lord and Savior and the Christ!

2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”

By this grace, we have escaped the corruption, depravity, and pollution of this world (1:4, 2:20). We have escaped from those who live in error through the knowledge of Jesus Christ (2:18). Not only does God’s grace provide an escape, but we are also given “entrance” into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord (1:12).

Spiritual forgetfulness causes us to lack any gratitude for God’s grace. Look at what God has done for you! Remember it well. Such gratitude is one of our strongest motivators for growth.

Not growing isn’t just dangerous and revealing; it is also predictive. It invariably leads to something else if left unchecked.

The Future Prognosis:

Continued Lack of Growth Precedes A Coming Fall from Our Calling and Election—”Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” (v10)

Again, the opposite is true. If we DO NOT do these things, we WILL stumble and fall! Literally, “suffer a reverse.” I was a faithful Christian, but I reversed course and went back to sin (as in 2 Peter 2:18-20, above).

2 Peter 3:17 “You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked…”

Thank God Peter does not just express growth in terms of danger but also in victory! If we grow in the qualities Peter lists in 1:5-7, we will NEVER STUMBLE with a spiritual perspective and an appreciation of God’s grace. Only growing Christians can achieve such lofty heights and obtain such precious promises!

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July 2021 | GROW magazine