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OVERALL QUESTIONS: The very nature of 'Christianity' is to grow in spiritual relationship with God. Not to be 'growing' is to be either 'dying' or dead. Why did God make us? To know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world and to be happy with Him in the next. This simply stated answer is totally all encompassing and non-debatable. Each aspect of the answer is action oriented without any passivity, and especially not an acceptance of a 'status quo' status. ....."I would that you were either hot or cold -- the lukewarm I will vomit out of my mouth!" It is also obvious that we can only truly love someone whom we truly know. We can only truly know what or whom we have actually experienced. And we can only wholeheartedly and lovingly serve Him whom we truly know and subsequently truly love. This is called 'an eternal cycle'. The answer, "to know, love and serve," becomes a virtual command by an all-loving perfect God who has a perfect will and plan for each individual creation. ...."I knew you before you were in the womb". The unalterable conclusion to the question, "Who needs to know?", is that everyone who names him or herself "Christian" is under this command to the extent of their ability and capacity. The "Why" or to what purpose does one have to continually learn derives from the fact that ours is a 'Living Faith'. That is, our first taste of faith is imparted to us at Baptism. Normally, for Catholics, this is shortly after human birth. Because an infant cannot consciously assent, the faith of the Godparents 'stands-in' for the child. Even in the cases of later and adult Baptisms, there is a "Rebirth". ....."You must be 'born again' of water and the Spirit to enter the Kingdom of Heaven." -- An invitation into a faith j-o-u-r-n-e-y. Just as with a human life which needs to be fed and nurtured, so also does this new spiritual life require feeding and nurturing during the earthly pilgrimage. The will and perfect plan of God for each individual is not knowable or attainable without constant spiritual input. Once again, stagnation and status quo are tantamount to spiritual death. A basic answer to "What do 'they' need to know?" is, 'Whatever God wants them to know!' We have a 2000 year history which provides direction and discernment both through the corporate Church and the individual witnesses and sharings of the Body Of Christ. A living faith implies an expanding faith. Each person's human estate does influence what they know and what they are willing to know or learn. 'They' must be motivated to realize the importance and the benefits of following the Divine Command, ...."Become ye perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect." Once again, not an option. It would seem obvious that, 'God, being a God of order', also extends to the order, the extent to which each person is to know and experience God and humanness. Knowledge for the sake of knowledge is not wrong unless it intrudes upon one's duties and/or relationship with God by denying or delaying His will and purpose for us. Because of the differences in 'the human estate', the priority attached to the varied areas of spiritual learning and growth will have to be almost individually assessed and determined. Some of these areas are: prayer and prayer life, faith and the works and actions which faith fosters and causes, repentance and conversion due to sin and the sin nature of each of us, interior love of God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and the preparation and training to carry on the 'great commission' to the extent and degree of each person's human estate. Then there are areas which take on their own priorities when one's relationship with God is being 'perfected'. e.g. Stewardship and lovingly giving back to God a portion of what He has given us -- time, talent, blessings and finances; understanding the depth of God's intent when Jesus taught, "what-so-ever you do for the least of these, my brethren, you do unto Me"; Our love and participation in the liturgy and sacraments; and, as an overall spiritual life, to learn to praise God with our hearts, hands, voices, resources and all of our hearts by "Seeking first the Kingdom of God .........!" Assuming that all those attending weekly Mass, and all those who still call themselves 'Catholic', are validly Baptized, scripture identifies them as "Born again of water and the Spirit." After a simple count and assessment of a 25% to 30% mass attendance: an observation of some attitudes and participation (or lack of) in liturgical and worship opportunities; and the loss of reverence (again, by some) for the things of God, His will and His House, rare would be the priest, shepherd or teacher who would rejoice over the spiritual condition of the sheep. In fact, "leaving the other ninety-nine to go in search of the one lost", of itself, would be a full-time job. It is the ministry and task of the priests, teachers, parents -- everyone to motivate and help each other to spiritually grow, but the fact is that not everyone, or even very many, are prepared or spiritually growing enough to 'pass it on'. To compound the problem, each parish or community has such a varied membership that it will take a 'master plan' to 'grow' everyone. A logical starting point would be to try to reach into each person's existing personal relationship with God and try to help them establish a greater reality about a God who knows them personally, and that He has a plan and purpose for each 'Child of God' from birth until death. That because He is perfect, we can depend upon His plan to be perfect and Trustworthy.
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