Do You Know Any Mature Christians? (April 7, 2013)

After years and years of running into immature Christians, who many of them have been believers for a long time and ought to be teaching others the godly way, it is a breath of fresh air when you meet a spiritually mature Christian. I must say though, they are rare and far between.

Mostly what you encounter is immature believers, including church pastors and ministry leaders who are like babies needing milk and cannot eat solid spiritual food. These immature believers never got rid of the evil behavior in them, but instead, they are still being controlled by their sinful nature, as they continue to walk in deceit, hypocrisy, judgmental attitude, jealousy, quarreling, and all kinds of unkind speech. Instead of craving pure spiritual milk that can make them grow, they are keeping themselves busy with caring for the riches and pleasures of this life, and so they never grow into maturity! (See Hebrews 5:12, 1. Corinthians 3:3, 1. Peter 2:1-3, and Luke 8:14)

Now, let's look at the qualities of a Mature Christian:

A mature Christian believer is a solid food eater who is always busy encouraging and equipping God's people, the body of Christ, to do God's work. He never seeks personal glory.

A mature Christian, through training, has the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong, and doesn’t feel rejected or offended, or get bitter or unforgiving.

Unlike an immature believer, a mature Christian is not tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching, or easily influenced when people try to trick him with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

A mature Christian speaks the truth in love, and is growing in every way more and more like Christ who is friendly and merciful.

A mature Christian relies only on the power of the Holy Spirit, and speaks with words of wisdom. Not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or the rulers of this world who are soon forgotten.

A mature Christian is gentle and humble, and knows how to help another believer who is overcome by some sin back onto the right path. He does not think he is too important to help someone. He does not have a hidden agenda or any ulterior motives.
(See Ephesians 4:11-16, Hebrews 12:14-15, Hebrews 5:11-14, 1. Corinthians 2:4-6, and Galatians 6:1-3)

If you have these qualities mentioned above, we would love to know you! If not, we pray that you will become mature. (2. Corinthians 13:9 NLT)