Levels of Christian Maturity

There is this cliche saying that age is not maturity.

That’s how it is in Christianity. The number of years that someone has been a Christian is not a measurement of maturity. I’ve seen people puff their chests and say, “I met the Lord in 2002. I’m counting 20 years in the Lord.” 

Phew, now wait a minute. You met the Lord or He met you? 

For the record, someone can be 20 years in Christ and still be a baby in Christ. No hard feelings, but it’s true. Maturity is growing and attaining the stage of being responsible. It’s like that in the circular world and Christianity. Note the phrases, growing and being responsible. 

1 Corinthians 13:11: “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”

• 1. The first step to Christian maturity is the baby step. You know how cute lion cubs or puppies are, and how their mothers shield them. That’s how God shields Christian babies. Christian babies, in this context, refer to those who have just been saved and are ‘fresh’. God embraces them with his warmth, and just like babies when they fall and rise, God cleans them up.

1 Peter 2:2: “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

• 2. The second is young steps. This is one of the most crucial steps, and at this point, Christians can easily slip back into oblivion. A minister of God once said teenagers and youth are the most irrational creatures he has seen, and there was no lie in what he said. Many people don’t grow beyond this step because, with the little knowledge God has given them, they think they have known it all, and then their growth gets stuck up. 

Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

• 3. The third stage is the adult steps. I call this stepping out in style because at this stage we would have bent our disobedient attitude from the previous stage. At this stage, we have a strong relationship with God already and we know Him. We would be submissive, but it gets trickier because this is where most Christians relax and get comfortable. We’ll be like, “I’m okay here, Lord.” 

2 Timothy 2:2: “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”

• 4. The fourth stage is the giant steps. This stage is when one has grown to the stage where one knows God and wants to show God to other people. Here, we become spiritual fathers to people, and hence, parents. We’ll have babies too. I hope you grab that. For example, Paul was a spiritual father to so many. He wrote the epistles in the New Testament. We learn from his letters and teachings. We still benefit from him today. 

1 Timothy 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

Know that in Christianity we keep growing every time. No one can reach the peak of maturity in a single lifetime. Remember, to grow continually in spiritual knowledge is a gradual process.

2 Peter 3:18: “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

Amen?