One of the most important qualities Christians in local
churches can consistently demonstrate is well-developed Christian character. As long as the unconverted and the
unconvinced see Christians exhibiting baby behavior they will never be moved
closer to Christ.
Reasons Christian
maturity matters:
1. Christian
maturity is a clear Biblical mandate.
“Let all who are spiritually mature
agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make
it plain to you. But we must hold on to
the progress we have already made” (Philippians
3:15-16 NLT). The resources for
Christians that make our church communities supernatural are the Word of God
and the Spirit of God. We have to be
guided and controlled by these.
2. Lack of mature
Christians is a reason for confusion and consternation in local churches.
“For you are still controlled by your
sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other.
Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living
like people of the world?” (1
Corinthians 3:3 NLT). When discipleship
in churches is structured and intentional people will be moved on a continuum
to Christlikeness. Being like Jesus is
the goal of discipleship (Ephesians 4:14-16).
If we are failing to live and behave like Jesus there is a breakdown in
discipleship.
3. Mature Christians can think clearly and Biblically in
the face of escalating complexity.
“From
the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their
relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course
for Israel to take” (1 Chronicles 12:32
NLT). These are complicated times. They require people who are informed by
scriptural truth and who will not waver with each new social wind that
blows. These times also require people
who know how to take Biblical actions.
Wisdom is not just knowing truth; it is being able to apply it and
practice it when confusion predominates.
4. Mature discipleship keeps us focused
on God’s mission.
There are many side eddies and rabbit trails
we can run down, and if we are not growing in Christ we will lack discernment
about where to invest our time and energy.
That is a real problem, because time and energy are limited. If we are not growing in Christ we will
easily give our lives away in pursuit of secondary issues that will not have
eternal significance. John Piper quotes
a poem that appeared in his mother’s kitchen: “Only one life, ‘twill soon be
past; only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Our lives must have a Great Commission focus!
Sadly, it seems more common to encounter people in churches who have not developed properly into mature followers of Jesus than to find those who have. If Jesus is to have the honor He deserves, and the Gospel is to have the priority it deserves we will need to redouble our efforts to obey the Great Commission and “make disciples”!
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