Maturity is the state of being fully grown or developed. Spiritual maturity then is the state of being fully grown or developed spiritually. The words “spiritual maturity” are on the lips of many, many church leaders. They are used to define the goal of Christian churches all over the world. But according to a recent Barna research study, these two words are virtually indefinable for most people, including church leaders.
Spiritual maturity is a prize in a race that every Christian runs. It is the prize that inspired the name for this blog!
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24 (NIV)
Great! I’m ready to run! Which direction do I run in exactly? Where is the finish line? How do I claim my prize?
In our case, the prize is challenging to define because it is multifaceted. Spiritual maturity involves being transformed at several levels. It is these levels I want to look at in the next few posts. Though many sections of Scripture speak to this topic, I’m going to use two main ones in discussing this transformation. The first is in the middle of the Psalmist’s pleading with God in Psalm 86:
Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you. Psalm 86:11 (NLT)
The second is toward the end of Paul’s theologically rich letter to the church in Rome:
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 (NLT)
Tune in tomorrow for a look at the first level of transformation!
