The Mark of Christian Maturity

Reflections for this date are based on the following scripture passages:
1 Corinthians 7	1 Corinthians 8	1 Corinthians 9	Leviticus 10	Leviticus 11	Psalms 43

Am I a mature follower of Christ? If so, what is the mark of my maturity? Is it my knowledge of scripture? Is it my freedom from the legalism some try to place on our walk with Christ?

Paul, in chapters 8 and 9 of 1st Corinthians speaks indirectly to this question of Christian maturity. The issue he addressed directly was regarding meat offered to idols. There were new Christians in the church who had come out of idolatry and felt it improper for them any longer to eat meat that had been offered to idols. It was a matter of conscience for them. On the other hand, those in the church who had been Christians longer and were more aware of the teachings knew there was no command of the Lord forbidding them to eat this meat. Therefore they had no compulsion to refrain from eating this meat. Once the meat had been offered in idol worship it was then sold in the market at a lower price than other meat. Were these Christians who struggled financially to turn down meat that was more affordable just because less mature Christians thought it was wrong?

It is this question that comes to the point of Christian maturity. It is the same point Paul makes in chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians in which he said, "If I speak the languages of men and of angels, but do not have love, I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal." (1 Corinthians 13:1) In other words, anything that we might do as a Christian that is not motivated by love becomes ineffective. Though we might have liberty in Christ to do a certain thing but we exercise that liberty knowing that another Christian will be hurt by it, we are not demonstrating Christian maturity. Though we may have received a gift from the Lord to serve Him in a very effective way, but we do not exercise this gift in love, we are not demonstrating Christian maturity.

Any measure of spiritual maturity that does not include the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. - misses the mark.