Ich Bin Kein Kindergartener.

But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe. After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (Acts 14:19-23)

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias (Zechariah), of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years. (Luke 1:5-7)

The lives of Zechariah and Elizabeth show us that good, righteous, blameless people might go through much of their lives waiting for their prayers to be answered. The phrase "they were both advanced in years" (Luke 1:7) implies that, in terms of human ability, it was too late for Elizabeth and Zechariah to have children. They might have even believed that God's answer to their desire was "No", were it not for the proclamation made by the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:13).

Beyond delayed answers to prayer, the mature Christian might also experience incredible pain and hardships in ministry. We have the example of the apostle Paul, who was pelted with rocks by his fellow Jews who sought to kill him because of his faith in Jesus (Acts 14:19). We have the example of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was shot to death before he reached his fortieth birthday. The mature Christian knows that bad things happen to good people, and does not shirk that reality. The immature Christian works very hard to avoid experiencing bad things.

Pastor Sam, in this past Sunday's sermon, used a harsh but relevant term that describes the plight of immature Christians: "Kindergarten Theology." It is the notion that Christians who obey God should have a life of smooth sailing, with quickly answered prayers and shielding from hardships. But it seems that the pattern Scripture reveals is that Christians are called to do very difficult things, and are called to remain faithful to God while engaged in these difficult tasks.

Zechariah and Elizabeth had the difficult task of remaining faithful in ministry while living in a culture that associated barrenness with being under a curse. I wonder what it was like for Zechariah, in his ministerial post, to have to read Scriptures about children being a blessing. Or to preside over baby dedications.

Paul had the difficult task of remaining faithful in ministry while some people were trying to kill him, and while other people were openly compromising the faith Paul lived for. He himself testifies:

"Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?" (Second Corinthians 11:24-29)

 

The Christian faith is no place for kindergarten theology. The believer who is bound to kindergarten-level thinking will shut down and throw in the towel when life gets challenging. We who are mature in the faith are called to contend, to fight, to stand, and to work. Contend, even when it seems that God is not hearing us or helping us. Fight, even when it looks like our lives are under a curse. Stand, even when we are being pelted with rocks (whether literally or figuratively) by the people who are supposed to be our siblings in the faith. Work, even when your work is unappreciated. Do what you have been called and ordained to do.

 

In due time, God will appear in power with His response to the deep prayers of our hearts.

 

But as for me,

I will watch expectantly for the LORD;

I will wait for God of my salvation.

My God will hear me. (Micah 7:7)