Hi Paul....

You just asked the "mother" of all the questions on Christian growth.  "What is Maturity?"  That's a super dilly to try to answer.  I guess when it pertains to everyday life, one would say it comes to age.  Are we "mature" at 18, 21, or 25?  You will get a different answer from anyone in each of those age groups...it's them, of course!!

I have heard sermons in church about "milk-drinking" vs. "meat-eating" Christians as it pertains to reading the bible and prophecy.  And I've just spent the last couple of hours trying to see if there were any profound statements explaining this on the internet.  There aren't many answers out there.  However, I did find one link that seems to come as close as I feel the answer might be:

http://www.articlesbase.com/religion-articles/5-keys-to-spiritual-maturity-494356.html


I can't speak for anyone but myself, but I think it parallels life.  As children (babes) we started learning the basics....reading, writing, arithmatic, etc.  As we gained knowledge, we started to narrow our pursuits to our own individual talents.  That is, assessing ourselves for what was our career goal for life.  Then we progressively increase our knowledge in that area of interest.  Then we become "experts" in our own field of study....

Isn't it the same for a Christian?  As "babes" in Christ we start seeing the new world we're "born again" into....but we don't have a clue what to do with it.  So, we read the basics every day in the bible.  As we "grow", the Holy Spirit gives us "gifts".....some as teachers, some as prophets, some helps, etc. (I Cor.12:28-31).  Nobody is gifted with all of these t! hings, but most are gifted with one.  I guess we determine our own "gifts" by what we love to do for our Lord in our Christian walk.  A mature Christian learns and practices as much as possible about what he/she knows the best.  (I, personally, absolutely LOVE studying prophecy).  Maybe our individual gifts, once they are realized in us, are our journey(s) for what we will do in the MK.  Maybe maturity is not sticking our thumbs into everyone else's pie, so to speak.  None of us can know everything.  Immaturity may be not knowing enough but still trying to tell someone else what to do in some cases.  This causes much confusion, especially to the ones who really are "babes".  They get five different answers to one question....and only one can be correct.  That's frustrating to the new Christian.

But, if each of us had determined their own field of expertise, and strengthened their knowledge in that one area....and THEN! gets together with lots of other Christians who had done the same thin! g in their own areas.....what a wonderful exchange of information could be achieved.  But, I guess maturity is admitting to one's shortcomings as well....and then stepping aside for ones who know more.   "Babes" just get angry and have temper tantrums when someone calls them wrong.

This is as much as I could come up with on this subject.....and if you have any other input, please spill it forth.  This subject is highly lacking in much information.  My ideas are from raising my own children and seeing what happens in life....otherwise, I am clueless.  I got this clue from you saying you'd love to be a teacher of kids.  And that's something I would absolutely hate to do.....but I really admire anyone who can do it.

I'm a "Senior Citizen" and I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up!!!

With agape love,

YsiC

Arlene