Is Jesus Hip with Retro?

I am reading through First and Second Peter right now. This morning I got a spot in 2 Peter chapter 1 that stopped me in my mental tracks. I watched Peter lay out a road map of spiritual growth which brought me to an interesting point.

In verses 5-7 he lays a process that is not a works based faith in Jesus, but logically paints a picture of the growth we go through as we pursue Jesus.

Stage one: Respond to God's promises

Stage two: Supplement faith with a generous provision of moral excellence

Stage three: Increase in knowledge

Stage four: Grow in self-control

Stage five: Develop patient endurance

Stage six: Grow in godliness

Stage seven: Evidence of brotherly love (some translations suggest love for other believers)

Stage eight: Watch as this brotherly love transforms into a sincere love for everyone

The breakdown itself was quite thought provoking. But, the thing that really nailed me between the eyes this morning was this; Peter makes OUTWARD love for people the sign of a mature follower of Jesus. This is not a simple and shallow "love" that leads us to sing songs about holding hands and drinking Coka Cola. This is a deep, substantive and MOTIVATIONAL love that causes us to abandon self and live for others.

I was hit with the epiphany that in most cases we live a retrogressive picture of spiritual development. As we grow in spiritual maturity we grow in our love of "church". So much so that we rearrange our lives around the schedule, programs and facility of a church. We love being with other followers. We create sports leagues, schools, programs and even coffee shops WITHIN the church. We squash the passion in new believers who desire so deeply to take this new found truth to the world by running them through intensive discipleship programs which ultimately leverage all of their time and talent within the walls of the church. Rather than moving from arrows in love to an arrows out love, we move backward. We move inward.

Jesus sends.

Peter says that when we give ourselves fully to God, strive to live godly lives, grow in knowledge, see the fruit of the spirit emerge in our lives and grow in love for other believers we will ultimately develop a motivational love for all people.

There is a world of people who have yet to find their way back to God.

It leaves me wondering today...

Is retro hip with Jesus?

Is he cool with us leading people to the end of loving other Christians?