One primary distinction that separates children from adults is that children do what feels good and adults follow a plan.  Curious little ones go from one thing to another living in the moment. Those mature adults among us however plan for things such as lunch tomorrow and retirement in thirty years.  

Members of the church should define the description of mature adults who understand their place in life and plan for eternity by obeying God’s commands. It is unfortunate that many once mature Christians have reverted to spiritual childhood. Such childish behavior can be seen in congregations that embrace instrumental music, fellowshipping denominations and abandoning other clear Bible teaching.  It is the reasoning for such actions that is the most shocking.  

One such congregation, in Brentwood Tennessee, was recently featured in the Tennessean newspaper. The reasons given for leaving traditional Bible teaching was that Churches of Christ used to think they had all of the answers and that had become an embarrassment. If the Church of Christ thought they had it right it meant that others had it wrong lamented the preacher of this congregation. Therefore they have sought a more progressive approach by using musical instruments in some worship services and offering line dance lessons to the community.  

This particular congregation is one of many that have strayed from the teaching of the Bible for childish reasons. Childish in that musical instruments in worship and other like pursuits are designed to make for what feels good rather than following the clear plan laid out in scripture. Like Paul wrote to the Corinthian church “when I became a man I put away childish things” (1 Corinthians 13:11) we must ever follow the plan of God as mature Christians.