Last week we began to address how we might evaluate church bodies for their spiritual conditions. This is necessary to mature as we should. However, we must do this with the Holy Spirit and not with a critical, judgmental attitude, which can be more destructive than constructive. Keep in mind we are evaluating the Lord’s workmanship. When we criticize and judge the Lord’s body, we are criticizing and judging His work.
He is the One building His church. Though His work may be perfect, He does not have perfect materials or people with which to work. Nor does He have perfect craftsmen—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers whom He has given to equip the body to do the work of the ministry. They also must mature in their ministries. Even the greatest apostles begin as immature apostles and must mature in their ministries like everyone else.
This maturity factor applies to everything. Just like a new baby does not look like it will when it grows up, neither does a new church. So, while a two-year-old in diapers is fine, a fourteen-year-old in diapers may be a problem. A mature four-year-old is still four years old. A body of believers, like any organization, goes through phases of maturity, just as individuals. We should not expect a young church to be as mature as an older, more established church. However, those that are on the right path should be making notable progress.
The Lord judges with far more grace and mercy and is far more patient than we are. This does not mean He compromises His standards, but rather establishes an atmosphere of balance between tolerance and discipline. He gives people room to make mistakes without condemning them, so they can mature in a way that produces inner strength and change.
As tolerant and patient as the Lord is, spiritual immaturity is one of the greatest challenges of churches in our time. Even some of the oldest, most established churches are filled with spiritual babies in Christ. People who have been serving the Lord for many years are still wearing spiritual diapers. The Lord said, “Woe to those who nurse babes” (see Matthew 24:19) in these times, or we might say, “Woe to those who keep their congregations in immaturity.”
A recent study was published to compare the maturity age of Americans who could provide for themselves and live on their own. In the mid-twentieth century, that age was nineteen; today it is over forty! Could this also reflect on a lack of maturity in the body of Christ? Clearly, maturity and age are not the same.
If this slow rate of maturity is a problem in our church bodies, what can we do to change this? Many books have been written on this. Have we read them? They can be helpful. It would be wise to begin with books by authors who have seen fruit borne in this. If possible, visit their congregations and learn what they are doing. One common principle among congregations that are maturing is they make maturing a basic responsibility of all Christians, and maturing in Christ is honored in the church culture.
If we cannot find a church that is mature to our liking, this may be a great opportunity to grow in what we are called to be by helping others through the maturing process. By this, we can establish and experience koinonia fellowship with the Lord and with others in a special way. If we are maturing ahead of others we are called to be linked with, we should see this as an opportunity to grow in our gifts and ministries by helping others.
Of course, to do so requires a leader that allows this. An immature leader may be intimidated by people who start functioning in their gifts and ministries. Instead of rejecting these leaders, we should consider how we can establish trust with them, so they will allow and ultimately promote this. New Testament leadership and ministries are teams, not individuals. That is why team building is a foundational gift for both in the body of Christ.
True ministry does not just gather living stones but builds them together into a temple for the Lord (see I Peter 2:5). Thus, a fundamental evaluation for a congregation is: Are the people bonding together in koinonia fellowship and effectively functioning in the gifts and ministries the Lord has given for building and maturing His church in Him?
© 2023 Rick Joyner. All Rights Reserved
