There is so frequently this push: Mature! Grow as a Christian! A good question to ask in response is, 'Why?' I think that asking that makes a lot of sense. Christian maturity takes a lot of work. And if there isn't a good reason to do all that work - guess what? You aren't going to do it. So, why?
I think that it will help to answer another question first: what is Christian maturity? I suspect that being a mature Christian is equated by many with knowing your Bible, being able to pray well in public and maybe the ability to converse about the Gospel with people who aren't Christians with a view to helping them to become Christians. (Or to use that guilt-producing language: doing evangelism.) And while they may seem to be quality abilities, life without them isn't so bad, right? And that's why I think it's important to be clear on what Christian maturity is.
To be sure, when a Christian is maturing that greatly affects his habits and skills. Such a person knows his Bible and can explain it because he has established certain habits like reading it daily. But none of that defines Christian maturity. Christian maturity has to do with certain qualities of the soul. Developing habits and skills are the means to such a goal, but they are not the goal.
So, what are these qualities? Here are a few in no particular order. A mature Christian has a sense of calm even in the midst of turmoil. That calm might be shaken upon occasion, but it is regained relatively quickly. A mature Christian is warm and approachable. People are drawn to him because they can see that calmness, among other things. There is also a gentleness in the mature Christian's interactions with others, and this is still there even when provoked. And yet, this gentleness is set aside at times because this person can be quite passionate. There are things that stir his soul.
He has these qualities because, for one thing, he understands life, at least to some extent. That is, he understands some things about who God is, who he is and what people are like. Out of that comes a love for God, being at peace with himself and a concern for the people around him. This is a partial list, but it's a start.
He has these qualities because, for one thing, he understands life, at least to some extent. That is, he understands some things about who God is, who he is and what people are like. Out of that comes a love for God, being at peace with himself and a concern for the people around him. This is a partial list, but it's a start.
There are counterfeits of these and similar traits in the lives of people who are not Christian, but that is all that they are - counterfeits. And sooner or later, that fact becomes known. Counterfeits always fail. But there is the reality of these traits in the lives of some because God put them there. There are some who are mature Christians.
So, it's true that Christian maturity takes a lot of work. Is it worth it? Well, it really seems so to me. The mature have lives that really are worth living. And it is these whom God uses most powerfully to change the world.
For a future post: What do you have to do to become mature?