Rick Warren: Spiritual maturity takes time

Renowned evangelical leader Rick Warren said that spiritual growth takes time just as everything in God's creation does, and through this, Jesus uncovers areas not yet surrendered to Him.

The megachurch pastor wrote on his blog on Monday that a Christian's spiritual journey also takes time to fully grow. He likened this to the usual process of adulthood and even to the seasonal maturity of fruits.

Pastor Warren believes that even when Christians think they've already committed everything to God, Jesus allows problems to enter their lives in order to reveal areas that are yet to be surrendered to Him.

The senior pastor and founder of Saddleback Church asserted that Jesus wants a total surrender, not just a "foothold."

"Jesus demands that we surrender all of our life to him," wrote Pastor Warren. "He doesn't want a small portion of who you are. It's like this — when you're trying to climb out of a river that has a steep bank, you have to get a foothold on something to start the climb. And once you get the foothold, you can climb up the bank and walk all around."

The New York Times best-selling author of "The Purpose Driven Life" assured readers that while surrendering everything to Jesus might mean struggles and battles to overcome, Christians can rely on God's promise that he will finish the good work He's started.

The pastor quoted Philippians 1:6 NIV, which reads, "And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."

Christian rock star and Korn guitarist Brian "Head" Welch also reminded Christians that God's process of changing a person's lives does not always happen overnight.

Welch pointed out that Christ's process "isn't like fastfood" and that it could take many years or even decades before one can finally see God's work.

He used this argument to reprimand Christians critical of transgender people. Welch believes that such attitude only drives people away from Jesus and could even destroy whatever work God is already trying to do within that person's heart.