What is Christian Maturity?

[John Tyson]

Grace and peace to you all.

WHAT IS CHRISTIAN MATURITY?

I am curious what folks here thinks defines a mature Christian. I suspect there will be a laundry list of characteristics that define a mature Christian. So in addition to your list of characteristics, please note what you think is the single characteristic that most describes a mature Christian. And if you would, please expound on that single characteristic.

God bless,
John

[antsinmypants]

Maturity in the L-rd:


Being knowledgeable in the Bible and LIVING IT not just talking about living it.. It pours out of everything that they do, and they are working in the "vocation"/ministry that the L-rd has put before us.

These are the things they exhibit:

Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (Galatians 5:22-23)

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. (Eph 5:9-10)

Must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the assembly of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Likewise [must] the deacons [be] grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of an attendant*, being [found] blameless. Even so [must their] wives [be] grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the attendants be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of an attendant well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

*rendered deacon in some bibles (1 Timothy 3)

For an Elder must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men*, that turn from the truth.

*Jewish Fables and Commandments of men -- Rabbinical Writings that are contrary to Biblical teaching (Titus 1)

The aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that [they be] in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, [To be] discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine [shewing] uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. (Titus 2)


I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to preach*, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

*Didakos is used as preaching elsewhere when men are referenced (1 Timothy 2)

[Sojourner]

A mature Christian is one who is God-centered as opposed to self-centered. The Holy Spirit works to transform the believer into the image of Christ. A mature Christian shows characteristics of being Christ-like. The evidence of the fruit of the Spirit is clear. A Mature Christian is one who is able to puts God's will first, perhaps not all the time, but more often than not.

[Patty T]

I think this thread is very timely and look forward to following it.

Chewing on the question right now, but will respond later.


Patty

[MikeJ]

Spiritual maturity involves having a keen sense of discerning good from evil. Heb 5:12-14, For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

According to the Apostle John, I John 12-14, there are three growth stages to spiritual maturity beyond the baby stage; child, young man, and father.

[antsinmypants]

thanks for posting that Mike, I couldn't find it off hand.

[HeIsEnough]

Originally posted by antsinmypants
thanks for posting that Mike, I couldn't find it off hand.

Adding to that, it is certainly someone beyond these elementary teachings. Without having these basics down, one is probably not mature.


Hebrews 6

1Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,[1] and of faith in God, 2instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3And God permitting, we will do so.

[overcomer]

A mature Christian is a person who displays a Christ-like lifestyle that matches up to what God says in His Word and recognizes that there is still much molding needed to be done in his/her life by God.

[cameron222]

Probably Christian maturity is when we arrive in heaven......

I would say that christian maturity is loving your fellow man without exception. If you love everyone then forgiveness and tolerance becomes a lot easier and you will always esteem them above yourself.

Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength. And love thy neighbor as yourself.

[HeIsEnough]

Originally posted by cameron222
Probably Christian maturity is when we arrive in heaven......

I would say that christian maturity is loving your fellow man without exception. If you love everyone then forgiveness and tolerance becomes a lot easier and you will always esteem them above yourself.

Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength. And love thy neighbor as yourself.

:):

I all does boil down to love, doesn't it cameron. The closer we draw to Him, the more His light shines and shows His love through us. We esteem others well because love does "not seek its own."



1 Corinthians 13


The Greatest Gift


The Greatest Spiritual Gift
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,[1] but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

[janh7]

.. I would also like to add that remaining teachable would be a characteristic of a mature Christian....realizing that you DON'T know it all.

[antsinmypants]

Janh7 :thumb

[D'Light]

Ialso believe that a mature Christian still does and will always continue to seek and learn the word.

I think a mature Christian, is disiplined, patient and obedient, and is filled with the Holy Spirt, that everything they do, they focus first on God in all dicisions. They also more likely have the ability to disern good from bad in common daily practice.

[katt]

A Mature Christian is one w/big time self control..

Examples:

Does the 50 year old (who has been saved for 30 years) in your church come in yelling/complaining that he was cut off on his way to church?..

Does He whine because someone got his parking place, pew seat or he didn't get his hand shaken?..

Does he critizise everyone around him?

In his younger days before he found Christ was he known for his knee jerk temper?..Is he still known for his tendency to fly off the handle at the slightest provication?..


If not..you've got a Mature Christian..


What about his social life?..does he have control of his personal choices in that area?..

Etc..


If so..be it he/she..you have a Mature Christian..

A Mature Christian has a self control that is the envy of all those around him/her..

You can see God in the Mature Christian as clear as a Silversmith can see himself in a piece of his work after it has been refined to the enth degree..

[D'Light]

Katt.............good take on that.:thumb

[katt]

Originally posted by D'Light
Katt.............good take on that.:thumb

Thank You..:D:

[DeeLeeKay]

To me a mature christian is one who displays all the fruits of the spirit in abundance. S/he gently coaches(teaches) people how to aquire the fruits of the spirit. Teaches others to be meek and mild and to control the flesh. Teaches others not to judge, but to be discerning. Is someone who does not call attention to themselves, but gently lifts up the Godhead. Changes all who they are around them without knowing it.

[John Tyson]

Grace and peace to you all.

Thank you all for your responses--all very good responses. I asked the question for use in Bible study this last Sunday.

Now here is my opinion as to what charactistics a muture Christian has.
Love, prayer, nearness to God, Christlikeness, humility, kindness, grace, patience, joy, but mostly Love.
I agree with some of the above posters that Love is the most defining characteristic of a mature Christian. As Paul said, we can have faith that moves mountains and have all knowledge, but without love we are nothing. God's love, that love beyond our understanding, seems to be the characteristic that I first notice about mature Christians. Their humbleness is charming, their grace is beautiful, but their love is captivating. That agape Christlike love that gives me the impression that I am in the presence of holiness when I'm near to a mature Christian.

God bless,
John