The Never-ending Process of Becoming Spiritually Mature (Sat. September 30)
The word of the day is
“mature.” In today’s reading of 1 Corinthians 14:20-25, Paul gives
instructions about the practice of speaking in tongues. In the middle of
this discussion, he lays out a principle for Christians to guide the manner of
thinking of the faithful. He writes: “Brethren, do not be children in
understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature”
(vs. 20).
Childish Behavior
In
effect, Paul says that the Corinthian’s behavior is childish. Like
children, they are boasting that they have the superior spiritual ability to
speak in tongues. In their pride in their spiritual talents, they are
thinking like three-year-olds. St. John Chrysostom says that children are
awestruck with trifles but are not impressed with noble things (NfPf1:13, 14).
Thus, the braggarts in Corinth are inflated with pride because they have
the gift of tongues which Chrysostom calls “the lowest of all” perfection
(NfPf1:13, 14).
Paul
admonished them to set aside their conceit and to be “mature” in their
thinking. Speaking more generally, the apostle advises that believers be
children concerning “malice” (vs. 20). That is, they should have no
acquaintance with what is by nature evil and hurtful (Strong’s #2549,
126). But they should be grown up in the thinking of their hearts (Strong’s #5424,
266).
Spiritual Maturity
But
what is spiritual maturity? The Greek word for “maturity” refers to the
end of a process (Strong’s #5048, 248). When this growth
reaches that final point, the development is complete. It is like a
full-grown tree. In 2 Peter, the apostle writes about such a process of
growth. He advises, “…giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to
virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to
perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, to brotherly kindness,
love” (2 Peter 1:5-7). In this way, we develop excellence (arete)
and perfection (teleios). As we develop toward these
goals, the apostle assures us that we will “be neither barren nor unfruitful in
the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:8).
For Reflection: Becoming
Mature Never Ends
Do we
ever reach the completion of the process of maturing spiritually? Paul
writes, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press
on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of
me” (Philippians 3:12). In the same vein, St. Maximos writes, that things
in the natural world stop growing when they have reached maturity. But he
teaches, “when what has been brought about by the knowledge of God through the
practice of virtues has reached maturity, it starts to grow anew. For the
end of one stage constitutes the starting point of the next”
(Maximos-the-Confessor 2010, Loc 10919).
After
we dig out the roots of corruption within ourselves by the practice of virtue,
the Almighty grants us “other more divine experiences” (Maximos-the-Confessor
2010, Kindle Loc10919). Therefore, our maturation never comes to an end,
neither barren nor unfruitful.
Works Cited
Maximos-the-Confessor,
St. 2010. “Two Hundred Texts on Theology and the Incarnate Dispensation of the
Son of God ” In The Philokalia: the Complete Text, edited by G.E.H.
Palmer-et. al.: Kindle Edition; original publisher: Faber and Faber.
1 Corinthians 14:20-25, add virtue to
faith, maturity is never complete, spiritual maturity, growing in excellence
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