One need not believe in the claims of the Bible for those claims to govern one’s life. Indeed, there are many who refuse to accept the very idea of God’s existence. Even so, all people, believers and non-believers alike, are subject to their Creator and His control over His creation.

As life begins, so does the process of development. From the very point of conception (syngamy), the human being begins to develop in many different ways. If one refuses to accept God as Lord over all, he or she is limited to considering development as only what can be empirically observed and measured. As a result of the ability to observe and measure these areas of development, Christians and non-believers alike are typically able to accept the idea that these developmental areas exists. While non-believers typically associate these developmental changes to some natural phenomena, most true believers accept the claims of scripture; God governs his creation.

Many people may be surprised to find that the Bible documents the idea of developmental stages. This is not to suggest that God has studied the works of modern psychologist and social scientists. In fact, the opposite is true. If modern developmental theories reflect any accuracy at all, it is because they contain, at least in part, some reasonable observations of the mighty work of God.

The Bible documents the idea of developmental stages in many passages. 1 Corinthians 13:11 provides one of the clearest references in scripture to a developmental process. Other passages that support the idea of developmental stages are Job 12:12 which tells us that wisdom is with the “aged men” and Luke 2:52 which tells us that Jesus Himself continued “increasing in wisdom and stature.”

The Bible centers much of its content concerning developmental stages around the idea of wisdom and faith. While the biblical idea of developing one’s faith is clearly a good thing, scripture seems to have two ideas, held in tension, about what it means to develop wisdom.

Wisdom

Wisdom is an ever increasing understanding of God’s creation that is found in all people whether or not they are believers. Wisdom is reflected in the lives of believers and non-believers alike (Eccl 7:25, Prov 3:19-20, Exod 1:10, 2 Sam 13:3). While wisdom can come directly from God via the Holy Spirit, it is more readily obtained through one’s exposure to God’s creation and general revelation.

Isaiah 11:9 reveals that the Earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord, but Paul tells us that some know God but fail to honor Him as God or give thanks to Him (Rom 1:21). Their hearts were “darkened” as their thinking became more and more futile.

The author of Proverbs cautions us that Man’s wisdom cannot be trusted and that we must rely on the God who created all things rather than man’s limited perception of God’s creation (Prov 3:5). Man’s wisdom simply does not begin to compare to God’s (1 Cor 3:18-20, Job 5:13).This thought is also echoed in 1 Timothy 6:20 as Paul warns Timothy not to leave his “faith” seeking after what some wrongly call knowledge and also by Jeremiah when he questions the “wisdom” of a man who rejects the Lord (Jer 8:9).

In direct contrast to this man-centered wisdom, there is a wisdom that comes from God. Luke 10:21 and Matthew 11:25 tell us that God reveals true wisdom and insight to those He chooses. He does so through the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:8-9). While the Holy Spirit can and does impart wisdom in some instances, Christian wisdom typically occurs along side of maturity in Christ (1 Cor 2:4-6).

Paul tells us that this wisdom is greater than wisdom that does not acknowledge God as its source and does not pass away in time. While unbelievers can obtain a certain level of wisdom, it is incomplete. The unbeliever is unable to understand spiritual things. These things are revealed and explained by the Spirit of God (1 Cor 2:14, Eccl 8:17).

Paul tells us that wisdom given to humanity by the Holy Spirit is greater than humanities wisdom apart from God and does not pass away in time. While unbelievers can obtain a certain level of wisdom, it is incomplete. The unbeliever is unable to understand spiritual things. These things are revealed and explained by the Spirit of God (1 Co 2:14, Eccl 8:17).

While wisdom develops in all people, Romans 1:22 cautions that man’s wisdom can cause one to think more highly of his or her self than appropriate. Proverbs 3:7 also cautions us not to consider ourselves wise but flee from evil.

In light of the fact that wisdom can be manifested as either good or evil, It may come as a surprise that scripture seems to give only one option as the origin of wisdom. Wisdom begins with the “fear of the Lord” (Job 28:28, Ps 111:10, Prov1:7, 9:10, 15:33, Isa 33:6).

Timothy Paul Jones defines the “fear of the Lord” as the “awe at the recognition that there is more to life than my eyes can ever see—there is an order that is not perceived easily or immediately” (Jones 2008). Jones says that this fear is so “because it is that sense by which even the pagan recognizes that he or she is not ultimately in control” (Jones 2008).  The fear Jones is talking about brings one to a point of understanding his or her own humanity. This wisdom brings one to a place where he or she is confronted with the question of God’s existence and authority. It is in this place where every man or woman must act in faith and choose to accept the Lord for who He says He is or, understanding his or her decision, reject Him as those referenced in Romans 1:21.

From these passages one must conclude that wisdom is the level of understanding initiated by one’s “fear of the Lord” concerning God’s created order. Wisdom is found in some degree in every person and develops as the person matures. Wisdom develops at different rates and ultimately reaches different levels depending on the individual.

Faith

The second biblical subject that reflects developmental stages is faith. While wisdom, even the wisdom of believers, leads one to a deeper, though limited, understanding of God’s creation, faith leads one to a further understanding of God Himself. Believers and non-believers alike exhibit some form of faith, yet only believers have the kind of faith described in scripture.

Christian faith has several components. First, one must understand and believe, at some level, that in which he or she is placing faith. In Romans, Paul tells us to confess and believe that God raised Jesus from the dead (Rom 10:9). The author of Hebrews suggests that we must believe God exists (Heb 11:6), but James suggest that even the demons believed (Jas 2:9). Faith requires one to believe, but belief alone is not enough.

Timothy Paul Jones captures the second component. Jones suggests that biblical faith requires a “life-changing allegiance” to Jesus Christ. Faith requires change in one’s life, or increasing conformity to the image of Christ as defined in scripture, in response to one’s belief in Jesus and His claims. While one’s wisdom may be increasing, without increasing conformity into the image of Christ, one’s faith is suspect (Heb 10:39). Thus, one who is developing faith will also increasingly reflect Christ in his or her actions (Rom 1:5, John 3:36, Heb 11:17-30, Jas 2:17, 26).

Hebrews chapter 5 communicates a developmental expectation for believers. Verse 12 specifically conveys the idea that believers should develop wisdom and faith with the passage of time. Even the apostles sought to increase their faith (Luke 17:5).

Biblical Model of Development

All of humanity is in the process of development. While there are many areas of development that are common to humanity, the following model will focus on the development of wisdom and faith.

From the point of conception, humanity begins the process of development. At this point physical development is extremely quick while other areas of development proceed slowly. God’s presence is known even in the womb (Ps 139:13-16). Children are born with an innate sense of God’s existence. Wisdom has not yet begun because the brain is not physically developed enough to conceive the world around it. The ability to acknowledge God does not exist.

At the point of birth, the individual encounters God’s creation and general revelation in a conceivable fashion for the first time. The brain is still underdeveloped, so the ability to make sense of creation and general revelation do not yet exist. Social and cognitive development are just beginning. This excludes the relationship with God. Though unknown to the individual, God established this relationship in the womb.

The fear of the Lord that leads to wisdom is an aspect of God’s general revelation. As a child experiences God’s creation and general revelation, he or she develops various levels of understanding concerning what they have experienced. This understanding can be called wisdom. Eventually the individual’s understanding brings them to a point of decision. This may occur at anytime, once the child has developed to the point of truly understanding what it means to believe. At this point, however, the person must decide if he or she will accept the Lordship of God and seek to conform into His image or refuse it and continue to make decisions for him or her self. One that refuses to “fear the Lord” will seek to replace Him with something else. Typically, in today’s society, man seeks to replace God with himself.

Without biblical faith, man’s wisdom is only a limited understanding of what God has done. It offers no complete or eternally significant understandings. Since this wisdom is built solely on God’s general revelation it ultimately serves only to condemn those who choose to deny God.

Those who seek to follow God in faith, couple their understandings from creation and general revelation with God’s specific revelation as revealed through scripture and the Holy Spirit. This coupling provides validity and correction to man’s imperfect understanding of God’s work. Those who refuse to accept God’s guidance are condemned to trust in their own faulty understanding of God’s work. This ultimately stifles one’s development and the consequences are devastating.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Carlson, Greg, Tim Ellis, Trisha Graves, and Scottie May. 2006. Perspectives on Children’s Spiritual Formation. Ed. Michael Anthony. Nashville: B&H.

Grudem, Wayne. 1994. Systematic Theology. Leicester: InterVarsity Press.

Jones, Timothy Paul, pro. 2008. WWWLifespanWeek06. Louisville: PowerPoint Slides.

________. 2004. Basis of James W. Fowler’s Understanding of Faith in the Research of Wilfred Cantwell Smith: an Examination from an Evangelical Perspective. The Religious Education (Fall): . http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3783/is_200410/ai_n9470051/pg_7/ (accessed July 30, 2008).

Wilhoit, James and John Dettoni. 1995. Nurture That Is Christian: Developmental Perspectives on Christian Education. Grand Rapids: Baker Books.