We all know that we are supposed to train up believers into maturity. We know that at some point in our Christian lives, we are supposed to “look like Jesus”. We’ve all known a mature Christian or two. We may have even been chastised by a few. But when we look at what the essence of Christian maturity is, do we really understand it?
For most of us, Christian maturity equals tenure. You’re considered mature because you’ve been a Christian a long time. You’ve been around the block. If you’re really old, we may even make you an elder in the church (which is not the actual Biblical definition of elder). But if long Christian tenure is the evidence of spiritual maturity then as long as you have wrinkles on your skin, and are still at Church three out of four Sundays, we would think you’re a mature follower of Christ. Are you?
Then there’s the idea that maturity equals ministry. That the more ministry you’ve done or the more ministries you have means that you are a mature Christian. If you’re a pastor or a small group leader, that must make you mature in Christ. And it’s here that we stop. We don’t keep pressing for the fruit of those ministries, we simply feel that if someone is faithful in service, they’re probably spiritually mature.
I’ve got nothing against seasoned saints or servants. But I think we miss the mark when we say mature followers of Jesus look like this and go no further.
I believe that maturity equals reproduction.
A mature follower of Jesus is one who reproduces other followers of Jesus.
We learned about maturity in grade seven health class. A teenager is considered mature, not because they are older, but because they can reproduce. The apostle John’s analogy of little children, young men and spiritual fathers shows us the difference between a young man and a spiritual father is not age, it’s reproduction.
And so, the question every believer must ask as they mature is not just, “do I look more like Jesus today than yesterday?” but also, “am I doing what Jesus commissioned me to do?” Unless you’re discipling someone and reproducing other Christians, you are not mature. It’s not up to a select few to disciple, every believer must disciple others.
Discipling happens from before someone accepts Jesus Christ into their life and thereafter.
So look at the seasoned saints and the worker bees in our church and ask yourself, “are they actively discipling others?” Are they sharing their faith? Are they mentoring? Are they teaching, preaching, and praying for others both in groups and individually? What type of disciples are they reproducing? And are those disciples reproducing other disciples?
Once you define maturity as reproduction, it will change your church. It will cause you to re-evaluate leaders and elders and help you challenge them to reproduce other Christians. You will be so engaged with discipleship that you will actually begin to see your church become a disciple making community.
Imagine if 75% of your church were actively engaged in the discipling of pre-Christians and Christians? What a day that would be.
Jeremiah works as an Effectiveness Coach with the ABNWT District of the PAOC. He is a passionate and creative leader who believes that the church is the hope of the world. He uses collaboration, innovation, and inspiration to challenge churches and their leadership to engage in the only mission Jesus ever sent his church on: making disciples.