“Orientation”

“One of the most wonderful things about knowing God is that there’s always so much more to know, so much more to discover. Just when we least expect it, He intrudes into our neat and tidy notions about who He is and how He works.” Joni Eareckson Tada

Overview

After making a public commitment to following Christ, now we begin to orient ourselves to new life and faith. Think of other areas of your life. We go to new job orientation, new school orientation… how could faith be any different? This stage is where we begin to build a foundation of our knowledge of God and the historical Christian beliefs. This step is facilitated by engaging with a faith community/church and also seeking relationships with those who can help teach you basic truths about Christianity. You’ll also receive beginner tools for how to read and study scripture on your own. Someone at the end of this stage should be able to answer questions like: Who is Jesus? What is the Trinity? What are the major plot points in the Bible? How do you read the Bible? The focus is learning ABOUT the faith so that later you can EMBODY the faith.

Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8)

Levels for Stage 4:

  • Knowledge of God

    Increased understanding of the Bible and basic Christian theology. Has the ability to recite major stories of the Bible on their own.

    Baseline: Grasps the overarching biblical narrative and practical implications of Christian living.

  • Spiritual Disciplines

    Increased regularity of prayer and other exercises. Evolved from monthly encounters with God to ~weekly.

    Frequency: 3-4 times a month

  • Service of Others

    Occasional random acts of kindness and service. Participates when invited by the church. Only occasional attention to their neighbor outside of faith settings.

    Frequency: Bi-monthly

  • Church Engagement

    Regularly participates in small groups + Bible studies.

    Frequency: Attends 2-3 times a month

  • Witness to Others

    Very little expected at this stage. Perhaps is willing to share with very close friends, family, or those INSIDE the church.

The “Orientation Stage” found in Scripture:

  • Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me.

    Psalm 25:4-5

  • ...you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

    2 Peter 3:18

  • All the people assembled with a unified purpose at the square just inside the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given for Israel to obey.

    Nehemiah 1:1

Spiritual Diet during
this Stage

  • The greatest need during this stage is someone who can mentor and disciple the new believer. Simply being a part of a church community is not enough. A mentor can not only teach you the basics of Christian faith, but answer questions as they arise. Preferably this is someone who is at least a couple stages ahead in their journey.

  • Another discipline needed during this stage is biblical and theological study. These opportunities can be offered by a local church (i.e. Sunday school, small groups, etc.) or can be found outside the church through books, podcasts, and online resources. Much like we do during any other big life change, it is vital that we learn both the extent and the implications of following Jesus.

  • It is vital during this stage that we expose ourselves not only to Christian teaching, but Christian action. During this stage, entry level participation in things like service projects, mission trips, and volunteering in the church will help ensure your faith is growing in both the head and the heart. It will help ensure we do not become theologically rich, while spiritually poor.

Sample Exercises

  • It is vital during this stage to not only grow in one’s knowledge ABOUT God, but also growing one’s relationship WITH God. During this stage, the believer should try out several different morning prayer practices. These practices can follow a particular prayer liturgy (i.e. Book of Common Prayer) or devotional book. Or they can be a simple exercise of making space to both speak and listen to God each day. While the believer may not complete this exercise every day, this stage is about forming new habits that will be sustained for the rest of their life.

  • In most churches, there are ample opportunities for both of these. Studies are typically temporal in nature and meant to address a particular topic (i.e. a book of the Bible, a theme in scripture, etc.). Meanwhile, small groups are often an ongoing group of friends where you can find care, support, and different perspectives on matters of faith. Identify areas in your knowledge of God that feel most feeble and start there!

  • This phase is not only about getting oriented to God, but also the gifts and graces that God has put inside YOU. Many traditions have their own Spiritual Gift assessments that will help you find out which gifts God has given you and how you can use them inside and outside the church! This is a vital part of “new Christian orientation.”

Trap #4 to avoid:

Cerebral Christianity

Another trap you will want to avoid is placing too much emphasis on the cognitive aspect of faith and ignoring the practical. As you will see in stage 5, it is one thing to know what you believe, but it is another to embody what you believe. Sometimes Christians can become overly fixated on learning more information about God that we forsake the transformation we are supposed to undergo. In a word, we opt for breadth rather than depth. The danger with only an intellectual faith is that it not only harms the believer but also their ability to witness to the world. When others see someone who preaches a Gospel that they aren’t willing to live, it can potentially push others farther away from God. (See the story of Rich Young Ruler in the Bible.)

Resources

For more information about this stage of the Christian journey, use the link below!

Stage 4