Pastor Tom's Community

Maturity is not guaranteed by age.

I am meditating on maturity.

We can grow old and still remain stuck in childish notions, habits, and patterns. At the same time, some people begin to mature remarkably early. They embrace who they are. They acknowledge their pain and struggles. They decide to move forward. They open themselves to the grace of God.

I have much more thinking and writing to do about maturity—especially the biblical understanding of becoming complete, whole, and fully formed in Christ. For now, I will simply whet my appetite with a few observations.

I see maturity and immaturity across the entire spectrum of ideology and personality.

People with whom I agree on important issues may press their convictions in childish ways. Meanwhile, people with whom I profoundly disagree may express themselves with mature, gracious, and reasonable words and manners.

Agreement is not maturity.

Being right is not maturity.

Age is not maturity.

Maturity has something to do with how we hold our convictions, how we treat people, how honestly we examine ourselves, and how willingly we continue to grow.

I see childishness in myself—in some rather important areas. I also see signs of maturity in others, sometimes where I least expect to find them.

Today, some young people challenged me to grow toward greater maturity and completeness in the One I follow.

Imagine that—an eleven-year-old and a nineteen-year-old serving as my teachers!

Perhaps maturity begins when we become humble enough to learn from anyone.

“Let no man despise thy youth.”
—1 Timothy 4:12, KJV