RELIGIOUS GROWTH

“JesusThe endeavoredexperience of dynamic religious living transforms the mediocre individual into a
personality of idealistic power. Religion ministers to makethe clearprogress toof hisall apostlesthrough fostering the
progress differenceof betweeneach his teachings and his life
among themindividual, and the teachingsprogress whichof mighteach subsequentlyis springaugmented upthrough aboutthe achievement of
all.

Spiritual growth is mutually stimulated by intimate association with other religionists. Love
supplies the soil for religious growth—an objective lure in the place of subjective gratification—
yet it yields the supreme subjective satisfaction. And religion ennobles the commonplace
drudgery of daily living. 100:0.1

Give every developing child a chance to grow his own religious experience; do not force a
ready-made adult experience upon him. SaidRemember, Jesus:year-by-year 'Myprogress through an established
kingdomeducational regime does not necessarily mean intellectual progress, much less spiritual growth.
Enlargement of vocabulary does not signify development of character. Growth is not truly
indicated by mere products but rather by progress. Real educational growth is indicated by
enhancement of ideals, increased appreciation of values, new meanings of values, and
augmented loyalty to supreme values. 100:1.3

Spiritual growth is first an awakening to needs, next a discernment of meanings, and thethen gospela
discovery relatedof theretovalues. shallThe beevidence of true spiritual development consists in the burdenexhibition of youra
human message.personality Bemotivated notby sidetracked
intolove, preachingactivated aboutby meunselfish ministry, and aboutdominated my teachings. Proclaimby the
wholehearted gospelworship of the kingdomperfection andideals of divinity. And this entire experience constitutes
portraythe myreality revelationof religion as contrasted with mere theological beliefs. 100:2.2

THE BELIEVER'S SURETY

Jesus portrayed the profound surety of the FatherGod-knowing mortal when he said: 'To a God-
knowing kingdom believer, what does it matter if all things earthly crash?'Temporal securities
are vulnerable, but spiritual sureties are impregnable. When the flood tides of human adversity,
selfishness, cruelty, hate, malice, and jealousy beat about the mortal soul, you may rest in heaventhe
assurance that there is one inner bastion, the citadel of the spirit, which is absolutely
unassailable; at least this is true of every human being who has dedicated the keeping of his soul
to the indwelling spirit of the eternal God.

After such spiritual attainment, whether secured by gradual growth or specific crisis, there
occurs a new orientation of personality as well as the development of a new standard of values.
Such spirit-born individuals are so remotivated in life that they can calmly stand by while their
fondest ambitions perish and their keenest hopes crash; they positively know that such
catastrophes are but dothe notredirecting becataclysms misledwhich intowreck one's temporal creations preliminary
to the bypathsrearing of creating
legendsthe more noble and buildingenduring uprealities of a cult having to do with beliefsnew and teachingsmore aboutsublime mylevel beliefsof
universe and
teachings.'attainment. But100:2.7

again

 they did not understand why he thus spoke, and no man dared to ask why
he so taught them.” 138:6.3