What We Are Missing in Spiritual Maturity
Post-modernity has propagated a plethora of pitfalls for the Christian faith, both on a practical level and in the realm of ideas. Immaturity is an important consequence of this philosophy. While there are biological components to the life stages, more often they are matters of cultural construction. Since culture shapes maturity and post-modern standards are wholly arbitrary, godly maturity increasingly is lost in our culture.
This arbitrary form of standards has bled into the Church. As a result, Christians do not require as much of themselves or others as they have in previous generations. The result has been an increasing spiritual immaturity evidenced by a lack of involvement in the Church. This paper will address the following: 1) to demonstrate reasons behind this lack of maturity in society in general and in the Church in particular; and 2) to encourage corporate manifestations of personal sanctification.
Maturity and Immaturity in a Post-modern Culture
With no absolute standard to hold him accountable, modern man has little incentive to mature past adolescence. Parents expect their children to mature into adolescence, but can hamper further maturity by over-provision. While this over-provision rises out of a good-hearted, sincere desire to provide a firm foundation on which their children can build their adult lives, work and personal effort are too often left out of the equation. This fosters a sense of entitlement and laziness. Because post-modern culture does not contain an absolute standard for maturity, adolescents are leaving the home with no incentive to mature further than required in their home. Thus, the minimum that is required to function in society has now become the only cultural standard for adult maturity. This only breeds more immaturity.
In contrast, the Bible is replete with absolute standards for mature, healthy adulthood. In the Bible God tells us repeatedly how to live a fulfilled mature life. The entire book of Proverbs is one commendation after another of wisdom, and one command after another to seek wisdom with all earnestness. It also shows the pitfalls and inevitable results of foolishness. Throughout His ministry Jesus revealed God’s standard for mankind in what He taught and how He lived. Paul continually exhorted the Church to show signs of spiritual maturity. The whole of the Bible not only gives an absolute standard for mature adulthood but also mature Christianity. Mature faith will insure mature adulthood.
Personal Sanctification and its Corporate Manifestations
Christian maturity is a topic that has been given much attention since the birth of the Church. However, with the rise of post-modernity, Christian maturity has focused increasingly on personal sanctification. Personal sanctification is necessary and proper, but in focusing on inner sanctification, often the corporate manifestations of maturity are conspicuously absent from the discussion. This is due to an increasing regard for the autonomous self in post-modern culture. By focusing solely on the individual aspects of maturity, Christians are short-circuiting corporate maturity and growth.
Personal sanctification should produce corporate maturity. There are at least three tangible manifestations of corporate maturity: 1) Tithing, 2) Volunteerism, and 3) Spiritual Gifts. These three veins should be the natural over-flow of personal sanctification, and yet many churches struggle due to anemic tithing, lack of volunteers and squandered talents. Christians sometimes fail in this out of sheer apathy. Even more significant, however, is that often they have not been shown why and how they should be involved.
(a) Tithing
Tithing has always been an integral part of worship. Cain and Able brought their sacrifices before God. Abram gave one tenth of the spoils from his battle with Chedorlaomer to Melchizedek, the “priest of God Most High” (cf. Gen. 14). Tithing was required of the Israelites in the Mosaic Covenant. During the early Church, Christians not only gave a tenth, but all that they owned to the Church.
God doesn’t need our money, but we desire to give back in worship because we recognize His blessings. Malachi 3:10 calls for God’s people to bring all the tithes in to the store house and see if God does not bless them for their faithfulness. Data by Christian Financial Concepts in the September 2000 issue of SBC Life show that 50% of church members give no money to the Church, 30% give 20% of the money taken up, and 20% of church members give 80% of the money taken in by the Church. This statistic, while disheartening, is true and must be remedied.
The early Church was known, even by their enemies, as generous givers. Tithing properly is the automatic response to realizing that everything a person has comes from the Father. Each Christian must strive to tithe faithfully. Anything less will stunt personal sanctification.
(b) Volunteerism
Another manifestation of personal sanctification in the Church is volunteerism. Time is truly the most valuable commodity for anyone. Schedules are written out weeks in advance due to the overwhelming demands for a person’s time. The critical question for Christians is whether one or more of these activities should be secondary to the Church. An honest look at a Christian’s schedule will usually show preeminence given to entertainment and relaxation over ministry.
Mature Christians show what is most important in their lives by how they spend their time. Because most churches suffer from a dearth of volunteers, positions are widely vacant. Christians need to contribute their time to the Church at every opportunity especially by using the talents God has given each of them.
(c) Fruits of the Spirit
The Father has given every one specific talents and interests–it is part of what makes people unique. Fruit is produced when a Christian uses his talents and interests in service to the Kingdom. Service includes work among the body, but also entails a biblical transformation of work outside the Church. These talents were given to each individual for a reason, to edify the Body and to worship God. If Christians do not involve their passions in their worship and service to God, they are wrongfully hoarding them. Neither does it accord with Scripture when the Bible does not influence their passions outside the Church. Paul states in Romans 12:6, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them” (NKJV). Not only will worship issue from exercising talents, but the Body as a whole will be served. All talents and passions must become subject to the body of Christ for true, personal sanctification to flourish.
Conclusion
The absence of absolute standards for mature adulthood is evident everywhere. The primary source to combat this trend must be a biblical understanding of maturity. Within the Church, personal sanctification must produce corporate fruit to become a reality. Tithing, volunteerism, and the giving of talents must be seen as necessities. Furthermore, a biblical understanding of maturity will influence the culture at large. Those who are mature must exhort others to keep their hand to the plow and their eye on the row. Maturity should beget maturity in others, but it requires the mature to model this for others. Those who have no guidance from an elder must work diligently to blaze their own trail. Whatever its progression, the natural consequence of personal sanctification must be demonstrable in word and deed.
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