Mature Christians

I have been asked to speak next wednesday on the topic of being a mature young christian adult.

I have fumbled over several ideas, unable to decide the best path to take. It's like trying to describe things such as love, the importance of prayer, or hope. Or, the workings of one's own heart.

What is maturity? Silencing the child within? I pray not, for if it is so, I never want to mature. Perhaps, it is putting away childish things? But what then, are childish things?

Is it being full and complete? If so, what does that mean? Does it mean you never long, that you are never lonely? If so, maturity has not yet found me. Perhaps, it is letting God fill you when you are empty. Realizing the world can never (consistently) fill you. Sure, you may experience an emotional high, a satisfaction from circumstances, but you will also cry in despair because of them.

Is being mature being old? If so, then there is no hope other than waiting for life to pass you by. I'd rather not wait until I'm old and gray and the spark and vigor of my youth have faded.

What great things can be accomplished by an energetic, young, and mature christian!!?

The verses that jumped out to me when I was searching for maturity in the Bible, and the words that are used to explain either maturity, the fruits of maturity, or what the lack of maturity looks like are;

—James 1:2-6 (New International Version)

—Trials and Temptations

— 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

This passage gives a few clues on what maturity may be, and how one can achieve it. It is being able to rejoice in the face of trials, because you have learned that God is trustworthy, and that through this trial you will grow in faith. That you develop preserverance, and this will make you more mature.

Maturity is realizing you don't have all the answers to every problem you will face. It is knowing whom to take your questions to, and knowing what to ask for. Wisdom. It is trusting that when you ask for a good gift like wisdom, that it will be given to you. It is believing that when you ask for wisdom, when you are firmly rooted in your relationship with Christ, that you will become wise. It is trusting that God is leading you. Wisdom is not external, wisdom is an inner phenomenon. It is the small voice in your head directing you. It is knowing God has inspired your thoughts.

Being mature is believing and not doubting that God wants what is best for you.

The second passage,

—Ephesians 4:12-14 (New International Version)

—¹¹ Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. ¹² Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. ¹³ This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.¹⁴ Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

Let me note, that I realize this is a letter to a young church--however, I believe the advice is applicable to young christians.

In these verses, we see that being mature is being responsible. Doing what God has called you to do as members of the body of Christ--as the Church. The church is to equip people to do His work. Mature christians come together in unity of faith and knowledge. They work together. The are one. The do this, not in order to have friends or respect among men, but in order to live up to the standard of Christ's life and character. Maturity is knowing what you believe, so that you will recognize counterfeits when they present themselves. It is not falling for every sales pitch you hear. It is knowing what is truly of value and protecting that truth in your heart--regardless of the popularity of the truth.

One note I wanted to make was about the idea of unity. How unified do you feel? How often do you consider the well-being of your fellow believers. Are you currently thinking about the well-being of the individual nearest you? Do you strive to live in unity with them? Do you put aside "yourself" in order to hear them out? Do you take of your mask, and let your heart be exposed to those around you?

A saying I come back to over and over again, is that a true Christian community cannot exist under the pretense of perfection. Are you willing to be imperfect? Maturity calls for us to be an imperfect, broken and stripped of pride, united people--who come together and bind each others' wounds with the good news of Christ, with the unending love and care provided to use by a endlessly wise, everlasting God. Maturity is knowing when we do not have the answers, and knowing whom to turn to.