Richard Foster, in his best selling book Celebration of Discipline begins by
noting, “The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent
people, or gifted people, but for deep people.” This is so very true in a
culture where things are “superficial” and “artificial”. Unfortunately this is
the picture of the Church today in our country; Christianity is becoming
shallower “since the beginning of the “Contemporary Church
Is this the kind of Church Christ envisioned when he laid
its foundations by his blood?
Last week we looked at a few traits
of immature Christians or shallow Christians. We also learned that God’s goal
for us is that we all reach, “unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the
Son of God and become mature attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of
Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13) In other words God wants us to pass from immaturity
to maturity; he wants us to grow from our spiritual infancy to spiritual
maturity; from a shallow walk with Christ to a deeper walk with Christ.
If spiritually maturity is the goal
then why are our churches filled with spiritual infants? Why are we not seeing spiritual
maturity? As I was praying early this year that God was telling me that he
wants me and our Church to go deeper with Him and walk towards spiritual
maturity in 2013. I know this would be a hard journey; it can become
uncomfortable along the way but if we persevere the rewards are far reaching.
We become emotionally and spiritually healthy and matured individuals and the Church
as a whole.
I would like to begin with
addressing a few misconceptions or myths surrounding spiritual maturity first
and then give us a few pointers that would guide us in our journey.
MYTHS SOURROUNDING SPIRITUAL MATURITY:
- Knowledge makes us spiritually mature.
Since the age of the enlightenment
movement which advanced knowledge through the scientific method, we have been made
to believe that knowledge makes people mature. How about going to an Ivy League college does
it make some one mature? In 2010 an Ivy League student was sentenced to life
for killing his wife who was also an Ivy League student.[1]
How about attending more
conferences and listening to the best of the best teaching does that make some
one mature? Not necessarily so, though all these things are helpful and can aid
you towards maturity but they in themselves can’t make you spiritually mature. Then
what makes some one mature? I believe it boils down to a surrendered life were
one identifies with Christ in his death and resurrection. The Apostle Paul’s
life exemplifies this surrendered life. Listen to his determination, I Cor 2:2,
“For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him
crucified.” That is what makes someone spiritually mature. A spiritually
matured man is no longer concerned about his rights and opinions but makes
knowing Christ is his chief goal in life.
2. Attending Church
As much as going to a McDonald doesn’t
make you a hamburger that much going to a church doesn’t make you spiritually
mature. It doesn’t mean that we don’t go to church but some how we believe a notion
that just by attending church regularly; giving tithes and offerings; attending
a small group bible study; women’s meetings, men’s group can make us
spiritually mature. For exampleAnnanias and Sapphira were part of the early
church they must have attended Peter’s Bibles study regularly yet they acted
immaturely by lying to the Holy Spirit.
How about Simon the sorcerer who
got saved through Philips ministry; was baptized and even moved very close with
Philip yet he immaturely thought that he could buy the power of the Holy Spirit
with money. You can attend church all you want and be involved in church
activities that doesn’t necessarily make you spiritually mature. That brings me
to the third myth.
3. Being busy for God
makes you spiritually mature:
Almost every one is busy. Whether
a teenager pushing books under a heavy course load or a soccer mom driving kids
to sports while managing a demanding job or a stay at home mom with small
children, a corporate executive, a cab driver, teacher, a pastor, a self
employed, rich or poor, Christian or not, we are over scheduled, preoccupied,
fatigued and at the verge of being burnout. I wonder why such a mad rush. Peter
Scazzero the Pastor of one of the most thriving Churches in New York in his
book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality explains what has contributed to the
busyness among the Evangelical Christians, “Activism is the key explanation for
how evangelicals came to dominate the English- Speaking world from 1850-1900.
Working hard for God, “in season and out of season,” was expected for church
members.”
Somehow we have believed a notion
that the more I publicly do for God the more spiritual I become. So we get
ourselves busy in Church at the expense of spending time with our spouses and children
at home. We may end up busy but barren without finding personal time in His
presence in prayer and quite reflection. So far we talked about various myths
surrounding spiritual maturity. Let me share with you three Biblical principals
for Spiritual Maturity.
I Cultivating a life
of prayer:
You ask any spiritual saints what
was key to their success in life and ministry they would say it was prayer. Prayer
is like oxygen without it we will spiritually die. I can not over emphasize the
need and importance of pray for anyone who wants to grow spiritually.
Psalm
145: 18, “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in
truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and
saves them.” This scripture affirms that God is near when we pray; he hears our
cry for salvation and he fulfills the desires of those who fear him.
Cultivating a life of prayer changes your perspective on life. Whatever happens
to you first you will go before the Lord in prayer. You will talk to God first
about your problems before you share them with others.
My prayer
for each of us is that we humble ourselves, turn away from our wicked ways,
pray and seek God’s face with all sincerity then we will receive forgiveness,
healing and become mature. If one thing I wish for our Church more than any
thing else it would be that we become a people who would know how to call on
our God. No matter what you are going through today I encourage you to start
praying to God and you will notice a change in your life.
2. Cultivating a life of obedience:
We know that through man’s
disobedience we all inherited God’s wrath and punishment; but we also know that
through one man’s obedience we all can receive forgiveness of sins and inherit
eternal life. Salvation is a free gift from God for which you don’t have to do
anything except receive it by faith but everything comes after that largely
depends on obedience. The other day I received an e-mail about a conference
saying that “The conference will be a great benefit to your staff, board
members, ministry directors, and key influencers in your church.” My natural
response to that was Yeah right! Here comes another promotional e-mail.
Don’t get me wrong! I am not
against attending conferences there is place for it, but I believe the need of
the hour for our church is not another conference but “obedience” When we think of obedience unfortunately we associate this with
weakness or letting ourselves down before some body.
But actually
it is a sign of a true disciple of Christ. It is the sign of a spiritually
matured person.The truth is that few of us have learned obedience
growing up, partial obedience and respect at best I guess. By nature we all were born sinners as a
result we are bent more to disobedience than to obedience both to our parents
and as adults towards God and authority figures. When we were saved and born again into God’s
family. God has become our father, we are His children. As we get to know Him better we are thrilled
to discover that God is the perfect parent and that He loves us without limit. Wow! What is your response to the amazing love of
God for you? We want to respond by
saying I love you God and in turn God says if you love me obey my commandments.
We have learned so much over the
years what are we doing with what we have received? It is about time we start
putting those teachings into practice before we look for more. How are we
practicing the principles of forgiveness; esteeming one another; “not
gossiping” humility; loving God and loving his people; generosity; grace; and
servanthood?
3. Embracing
Suffering.
The road to Spiritual maturity is
not filled with roses; there will be thorns underneath the roses. It is a path
of suffering; heartache and struggles. When you go through suffering either you
can resent it and get mad at God; yourself and every one else or you can
embrace it and learn from it and that will lead you to spiritual maturity. When
it comes to embracing suffering Jesus is our model; “Though he was God’s Son,
he learned trusting-obedience by what he suffered, just as we do. Then, having
arrived at the full stature of his maturity and having been announced by God as
high priest in the order of Melchizedek, he became the source of eternal
salvation to all who believingly obey him.” Hebrew 5:8 (The Message)
If Jesus, who is altogether above
us in every way, had to learn obedience through suffering on the earth, it is
no wonder we who are sinful human beings are chastened continually. When we see
suffering coming on our way let’s remember our Father in Heaven is disciplining
us because he loves us. He is teaching us obedience to Himself through all that
we suffer.
In conclusion! As with everything
else in life “if we don’t aim high we won’t reach high.” As Paul would say in Hebrews in 6:1-2, “Therefore
let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken
forward to maturity.” So let’s make “Spiritual Maturity” a goal for 2013 I know
this is a life long process it can’t be done over night however we want to take
some proactive and intentional steps which will move us closer every day towards
spiritual maturity. My prayer is that all of us would grow up and go deeper
with Christ so that our Church will become more emotionally healthy and
spiritually matured. Next week we will learn more about “Emotionally Healthy
Spirituality.” Until then let’s put into practice what we have learned today.
Amen
