Mature in Christ
December 7th, 2006 | by Scott |I’m preaching on Colossians 1:28–29 this Sunday. The title is “Be Mature.”
So, I ask you, dear readers: What is a mature Christian? What do you think that looks like? What are the characteristics of of a complete, or mature, believer?
Don’t just cop out and say that he looks like Jesus. Give me some real feedback here.
23 Responses to “Mature in Christ”
By Jon on Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
Not only one who appears to keep his tongue in check. It is easy to bite your tongue but to control your mind so that you don’t have to bite your tongue. To me that shows maturity.
By Scott on Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
Great point–the tongue is an uncontrollable force as James tells us.
What else?
By Tracy on Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
Doesn’t laugh at fart jokes?
I think think that being able to forgive and to say I’m sorry has to be a big part of that. Now if I could only get “Growing up in the Lord” by Accapella out of my head.
By KS on Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
One who can admit when he/she was wrong and openly ask forgiveness (I haven’t even come close on that one yet).
By Jeff on Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
Cries without weeping;
Talks without speaking;
Screams without raising his voice?
Maybe:
Completely humble - in the sense that there is no grasping for what is not rightfully his/hers; but also no denying or being ashamed of what possessing what is rightfully his/hers - no false modesty;
Always and intensely present - in the sense that the full intensity of his/her person is focused in the present moment and on the person in front of them - no worry; no long-term planning; not pretending to listen only to form a rebuttal, but engaged with the moment they are in;
Unthreatened by others - in the sense that there is no coveting of what others are or have; that there is no wish to make others like him/herself;
UNAFRAID - this probably sums up all the others - or is at least a result of the first (humility); no need to prove themselves for fear of rejection; no need to manipulate, convince or judge others for fear of his/her own doubt or insecurity; no worry over the future because the future is surely in God’s hands and there is nothing there to fear.
By Scott on Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
I’ve spent the last two weeks talking about humility. I think that is the springboard to maturity–at least in the context of Philippians 2.
Here is what I get from Paul in Colossians 2:
Courageous–no fear as Jeff said.
Knit together in love–in community
Wise
Discerning
Firm
Walking in Christ
Thankful
By len on Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
Using Paul’s prayer in 1:9-13 here are some thoughts:
Patient.
Has no concern for what others thinks of him, but is concerned with pleasing the Audience of One.
Fruitful.
Growing in knowledge of the Lord.
Strengthened with the power of Christ.
Wise in spiritual matters.
Aware of what God’s will is for his life.
I love the book of Colossians!
By Jeff on Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
I still go back to Nouwen’s analogy: We are all of us walking between the house of fear and the house of love. Some are walking one direction; others - the opposite. All of us may be at different points along the path. But the path to freedom and joy is the path toward the house of love. Love and fear are opposites - mutually exclusive. Perfect (complete) love is the absence of fear. Complete (perfect) fear is the absence of love.
By Jeff on Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
Lewis would argue, Tracy, that the fact we laugh at fart jokes - and get spooked around corpses - is evidence that we are physical creatures who, because we are also embodied souls, are both surprised by and ill-at-ease with our corporeal existence. Thus, every ghost story and every fart joke is an apologetic for our dual natures.
Or, it could be that it’s just really funny.
By jasonk on Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
I’m teaching in my Sunday School class…oops, sorry, we call them Discipleship Communities now. Anyway, I’m teaching from the book of Daniel, and how he and his three buds were ones who stood firm on their faith, and how we can do the same.
So tonight I am going to write on my blog about this very thing–what makes a person a “good Christian?” I thought about something I heard someone say recently, “I am a vegetarian. 23 hours a day.” That describes me. I eat cereal for breakfast, a turkey sandwich for lunch (20 minutes), and maybe a steak or a burger for dinner (30-40 minutes). But other than that, I am a good vegetarian.
People say, I am a mature Christian–I don’t smoke, steal, cheat on my wife, kill, or cuss…MOST of the time. Then you’re not a mature Christian, any more than a 23 hour a day vegetarian is really a vegetarian.
Daniel’s life is proof that it is not necessarily how you act that indicates your level of maturity, but how you REact to certain situations.
Daniel reacted with discernment and discretion when faced with his own death. How we react when the wheels fall off is what really indicates how mature or immature we are.
By greg on Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
this is no joke”…
By Jon on Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
why is it so funny that you can blow air out of your rear end and everyone does it but when you do it around other people (most of the time) you get embarassed?
By John on Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
I saw this question and drew a complete blank, so since it was lunch I went out and took a walk and still mostly a blank. Oh it’s easy to give the stock answers about how they act and lead in their church, home, etc. How they read and know and quote their bibles.
But that’s not the true answer and the answer is most surely not some of the most high profile media type Christians such as Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson and Joel Olstein and all the others. No it’s the ones we rarely see, it’s the person who stays living in a trailer park when they can afford more because she reaches out to the families and children there to share God’s love. It’s the people who regularly go and work at a food kitchens, women’s shelters, the streets, and a multitude of other places without ever telling anyone else what they are doing. In a very much more visable act it’s the Amish who after the school shooting went to the shooters family and his funeral and not only forgave but offered comfort.
Can all these traits be found in anyone person, most likely not we are too flawed but a mature Christian will exibit many of them and realize the ones they are lacking in.
By Scott on Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
John, I think you are hitting at something here. Our stock answers gravitate toward the personal, more individualistic aspects of maturity. But Paul gives this idea in Colossians 2:2 that it comes when we are knit together in love.
There is a communal aspect, how we live with the other that is essential.
By Doug Freeman on Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
Scott, Let me know if you find the complete, mature christian. I have not reached that stage and will probably never will. I see and read about folks who feel they are already there.
By matt elliott on Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
Thanks a lot, Tracy. Now I’VE got “Growing Up in the Lord” stuck in my head. PLEASE don’t mention “Roll That Stone Away” or I’ll *really* hate you.
By Scott on Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
Lord, God Almighty gonna roll that stone away.
I gotta song in my soul and i wanna let it out
i’m singing about heaven, it’s a wonderful place.
Great times, great times.
By Scott on Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
By the way, Matt, since you are hating on AVB: What’s your tag say?
By GKB on Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
I’m with Doug…
By justin on Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
“People say, I am a mature Christian–I don’t smoke, steal, cheat on my wife, kill, or cuss…MOST of the time. Then you’re not a mature Christian, any more than a 23 hour a day vegetarian is really a vegetarian.”
That just made me think of Derrek Webb (who I saw live last night andrew peterson, sandra mccracken et al) when he sings
so what must we do
here in the west we want to follow you
we speak the language and we keep all the rules
even a few we made up
come on and follow me
sell your house, sell your suv
sell your stocks, sell your security
and give it to the poor
what is this, hey what’s the deal
i don’t sleep around and i don’t steal
i want the things you just can’t give me
I guess that kinda talks about being a mature christian as well…
By Corey on Dec 12, 2006 | Reply
Scott- Your sermon Sunday on this was GREAT! Isn’t there different grades of maturity? It sounds like in this blog, we should switch ‘mature Christian’ to a ‘perfect Christian’. I don’t think anyone will ever become perfect. It doesn’t matter how long you walk with Christ. Paul is a great example. Jesus was the only perfect human and he is the one we strive to be. We will always fall short, until we go home with Jesus. This doesn’t give us reason to give up striving to be like Jesus.
By Jon on Dec 14, 2006 | Reply
How did the sermon go? No PodCast?
By Scott on Dec 14, 2006 | Reply
It was good–I thought. Just been lazy with the podcast.