In rural Florida there are destinations which are often overlooked by tourists. These are called fish camps. These camps have been described as: “. . . typically family owned [businesses which] give you an experience of being part of the family with all of the benefits of local knowledge. There are fish camps in all eight geographic regions of Florida with a wide variety of fishing and lodging choices.”
Therefore, the visitor gets the benefit of learning the local holes and hotspots where fish spawn and practically jump into your net. Perhaps you get tips on tying lures, casting flies and, of course, you are regaled with fishing tales about the big ones that got away.
Many Texans are also familiar with the term Fish Camp. Each year, Texas A&M University (TAMU) in College Station sponsors an event for incoming freshmen. In fact this year, my grandson will be attending. The event, which lasts several days, is designed to orient new students on a number of different themes, including TAMU traditions, leadership, self-improvement, and interpersonal relationships to name just a few.
Other college and universities across America understand that new students just out of high school are high risk students in danger of failing or not fitting in and therefore failing to thrive and dropping out, unless they can successfully integrate themselves into academic life. At the University of Oklahoma, the University College (UC) is an organization where beginning freshmen are shepherded so they don’t get lost in the transition from secondary education to higher education. In the UC, mentoring programs are established between students and faculty. Strategies for academic success and broader life skills are discussed, as student support systems are developed. Many colleges and universities require that students take learning framework or discovery courses to prepare them for the rigors of academic life.
When a person first becomes a Christian, there are no fish camps to welcome him, and few resources that the “young Christian” is aware of. Many times, there is little or no follow-up to see how that new convert is progressing. These young Christians (whatever their chronological age) are as vulnerable to dropping out or falling away as students starting their college career are, though for different reasons of course. This essay is designed to identify those hurtles facing Christians beginning their faith walk (and the solutions to these hurtles.)
The apostle Paul writes in II Corinthians 5:17 “anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new creation.
The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (New Living Translation.) Too often though, it is hard for a new Christian to leave their old life. Some of the problems in that person’s old life might deal with unhealthy and unwise activities (e.g. drugs or alcohol), or spiritual, self-defeating relationships (e.g. friends with benefits.) Some new Christians discover that their family and friends are not at all enamored with the peace and happiness a person finds when Jesus comes into their life. These skeptics may have personal enmity towards God, themselves, or have fears that you might change in some way–and you will–or that they will lose you or their influence over you. But these issues must be confronted quickly, or like a vine wrapped around a tree that will eventually strangle the life out of that tree, they will impede a new Christian’s spiritual growth and development.
Paul further says in Romans 8:4 that through the power of the resurrection, this new creation “should walk in newness of life.” The question is, how is this journey accomplished, especially in a world where we are constantly bombarded by a culture that is at war with God and those Godly virtues we need to appropriate and cultivate?
There are four basic concepts that promote Christian growth: prayer, spending time in God’s Word, fellowship and worship with other Christians, and witnessing to others about what Christ has done for you.
Prayer
Some might think that the Creator of the universe is too busy to spend time listening to us burden Him with the everyday drama of our lives, but in another passage, Paul tells us to “not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6.) God is very interested in our lives, just as you as a parent are in the lives of your children. Paul also writes that we should “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians 6:18.) In fact, we should even “pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17.) How is this possible? When do we go to work, or sleep in that case? This is done through a type of prayer called prevailing prayer, where you are focused on an important issue (such a sick child), and it seems as if every breath and sigh become a prayer in and of itself. You focus on your child, and your prayer becomes a sort of “subtext” or compliment to the image.
Prayer is then nothing more than speaking to God and providing an appropriate interlude for Him to reply to you, else you are monopolizing the conversation. He may reply in any one of a number of ways, either by providing unexpected insight into a problem you are struggling with, or by bringing to mind a Scripture verse that directly addresses your concerns, or by speaking to you in that “still, small voice” that Elijah knew. Part of praying successfully is being able to hear God speak, and this takes a bit of training and experience, because the devil sometimes seeks to distract you during prayer with some thoughts of his own. Often you may feel like your face is to a wall and you’ve not getting anywhere, or that your prayer has become mechanical. It’s important at times to “pray through” this impediment or try a different angle when you pray. Don’t give up! It may take a while for an answer, as spiritual giants such as Daniel learned. Daniel prayed about a problem for three whole weeks before an angel appeared with the answer. When he saw the angel, Daniel wondered: “What took you so long?” In any event, the angel explained to Daniel “Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.” The delay was because Satan had hindered the angel in the spirit realm from reaching Daniel, and it was only after “reinforcements” arrived that the message finally got through (Daniel 10:12, 13.) I try to be honest with God when I pray and tell Him if I don’t feel like praying or if I’m angry about something as well. He’ll understand. Keep the channels of communication open.
Reading God’s Word
Have you ever read a book that you enjoyed, and then as quickly as possible read all of the other books in the series? You wanted to discover all you could about the characters, or the author. Or perhaps you were planning to take a trip to an exotic destination, and you spent every waking moment reading up on your destination and planning your trip. Well, as a Christian you are headed to an exotic destination, perhaps not quite as hot as where you might have wound up otherwise, but much more pleasurable, and this is a good time to “read up” all you can about your voyage.
Find a translation that is comfortable for you to read, like the New International Version. Don’t let anyone suggest to you that there are “missing” books in the Bible or that there are errors or contradictions. These assertions can be easily refuted or are irrelevant.
Fellowship and worship
Fellowship with other Christians is of vital importance. Your Christian peers form an important support system for you, and they can provide you with a font of empathy, encouragement, and enthusiasm. The writer of Hebrews notes: “We should not stop gathering together with other believers, as some of you are doing. Instead, we must continue to encourage each other even more as we see the day of the Lord coming (10:25.) One of the devil’s most effective ways to rob a Christian of his joy and effectiveness is to isolate him from the community of believers. Worship is important because we’re able to give God praise. In worship we bring ourselves under the authority and auspices of a shepherd (pastor) who counsels us and assures us that our sins are forgiven. Also, during worship we commune more intimately with our heavenly Father.
There are different reasons to read the Bible. David writes “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11.) Suppose your destination requires a trek through a jungle, where deadly snakes lurk and poisonous fruit abound? You’ll need to know how to identify and avoid these threats, and how to administer first aid to yourself if bitten or infected. So, the Bible is like a survival manual. It is also a training manual. Paul writes to Timothy that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (II Timothy 3:16.) God does not often tell us personally what to do when it’s already written down. The answers to basic questions such as “Must I forgive others?” or “Do I need to pray?” or “Is Jesus the only way to heaven?” are all written down for you in Scripture.
Witness
It’s hard—and not advisable–to repress what God is doing in your new life. Some around you may even notice that there is something different about you. Jesus says that Christians are the light of the world (“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” Matthew 5:14-16.)
Suppose a young woman met a wealthy, handsome young man who thought the world of her, and wanted to take him home where he was a Prince among his countrymen. Intelligent, devoted, witty, he spent every moment convincing her of his commitment and devotion. How could she not tell her friends about this?
So, there are four underpinnings to growing and thriving as a Christian, and if you observe and practice these, you’ll go far in your faith.
