Seasons of Faith: A Centered Approach to Spiritual Growth
Is light a wave or a particle? According to quantum physics, the answer is yes—it is both. This paradox reflects a deeper truth: many aspects of faith also exist in apparent contradiction. J.I. Packer referred to such paradoxes as "antinomies"—not simply opposing ideas, but reconciled opposites from God’s perspective.
So, is faith developed organically or in stages? The answer, again, is yes. Let me explain.
The Seasons of Faith Development
The concept of faith developing in seasons is deeply rooted in Scripture and Christian history. In Romans 14, Paul distinguishes between those who are strong in faith and those who are weaker, emphasizing different levels of faith maturity. Similarly, in 2 Corinthians, Paul describes immature believers as "babes," implying that certain attributes categorize individuals at different stages of faith development. However, Paul does not present faith growth in rigid, clearly defined stages. When we attempt to force faith development into fixed categories, we do a disservice to the fluid nature of spiritual growth.
Faith grows and matures, but not in a linear, stair-step fashion. Western thinking, shaped by Euclidean geometry and "bounded set" theory, tends to categorize people neatly into distinct groups. This mindset has influenced the church, leading to clear-cut classifications: you are either a member or not, an elder or not, saved or not, on staff or not. These binary categories have become tools for measuring spiritual commitment, engagement, and maturity.
A Shift to Centered Set Thinking
By contrast, "centered set" thinking, which underlies fuzzy logic and adaptive learning systems, offers a different perspective. Instead of measuring whether something belongs to a category, centered set thinking focuses on direction and movement—what something is becoming. It asks, "Is this moving toward Christ or away from Him?"
Take an apple, for example. A bounded set thinker would categorize it as either an apple or not. A centered set thinker, however, would consider whether it is becoming more or less of an apple—whether it is ripening on a tree, being eaten, or decomposing. This framework allows for greater nuance and acknowledges the dynamic nature of growth.
Applying this to faith, the key question is not whether someone is a disciple or not, but rather, "Are they moving toward Christ?" Similarly, it’s not about whether someone is using their spiritual gifts, but whether they are growing in their use of them. This perspective also extends to salvation—we trust that God knows the moment faith becomes real, but our concern should be the direction a person is heading, not the labels we assign.
Faith Development Through History
Throughout church history, faith development has been described in various stages. St. John of the Cross wrote about six or seven stages of faith over 600 years ago, and countless theologians—including Dallas Willard, A.W. Tozer, C.S. Lewis, Eugene Peterson, and N.T. Wright—have explored the seasons of faith growth. Most agree that spiritual growth is both organic and relational, and while different seasons of faith exist, they are not strictly linear or unidirectional.
However, in the last few decades, some models of discipleship have imposed rigid bounded set classifications based on behaviors. These models categorize believers into fixed spiritual "levels," which I find inconsistent with both Scripture and my own study of faith over the past six decades. Faith development is not about fitting neatly into predefined boxes—it is about movement, transformation, and relationship.
A New Approach to Measuring Spiritual Maturity
I am currently working on an instrument with North Point Community Church to assess spiritual maturity. In designing this tool, we have deliberately moved away from a rigid, stepwise approach. Instead, we focus on stages of heart and mind direction—acknowledging that individuals may move fluidly between stages and that different aspects of faith may develop at different rates.
This instrument does not seek to label people or confine them to a single stage of faith. Rather, it serves as a snapshot—a tool to help individuals reflect on their spiritual journey and assess their direction. Ideally, it should be used annually to provide insight into where one is heading in faith. However, this assessment is best undertaken within a loving, accountable relationship with someone who can serve as a guide and mirror in the journey of spiritual growth.
In the end, what matters most is not whether faith can be measured in rigid categories but whether we are continually moving toward Christ. As Jesus Himself taught, faith is a journey, not a destination. The key is to keep walking.
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