A Mature Point of View
Php 3:15.16 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
There are a great deal of different points of view among immature Christians, but less so among mature Christians. As Christians mature in their walk with God through study and application of the Bible, prayer, fellowship, outreach and good works, they develop a common point of view, which is that of Christ. "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature" Eph 4:11-13 But don't presuppose age or institutional position to be necessarily indicative of maturity. Plenty have pledged allegiance to denominational positions or forms and refuse to mature out of them.
Maturity doesn't come simply with knowledge. Going to seminary may increase knowledge but may do nothing for one's level of maturity. Maturity comes with applying the knowledge of God, which is why Paul tells us to live up to what we have already attained. That is, put into practice what you know. Jesus said, "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." John 14:21 Thus revelation of the knowledge of God is a function of obeying the Word, putting it into practice.
Php 3:15.16 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
There are a great deal of different points of view among immature Christians, but less so among mature Christians. As Christians mature in their walk with God through study and application of the Bible, prayer, fellowship, outreach and good works, they develop a common point of view, which is that of Christ. "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature" Eph 4:11-13 But don't presuppose age or institutional position to be necessarily indicative of maturity. Plenty have pledged allegiance to denominational positions or forms and refuse to mature out of them.
Maturity doesn't come simply with knowledge. Going to seminary may increase knowledge but may do nothing for one's level of maturity. Maturity comes with applying the knowledge of God, which is why Paul tells us to live up to what we have already attained. That is, put into practice what you know. Jesus said, "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." John 14:21 Thus revelation of the knowledge of God is a function of obeying the Word, putting it into practice.
