We are either cursed or blessed by the leaders we have chosen.
Rather than choose leaders, learn to recognize the leaders that God has chosen.
Maturity in Christ is necessary for recognizing maturity in Christ.
Maturity in Christ is not only about consistent moral and social behavior. Even more importantly, since we will most certainly sin, it is about the humble ability to deal with our sin at the foot of the cross. It is about confession and repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation, despite the embarrassment, despite the judgment, despite the loss of social status. Simply because the cross, and our relationship with God is more important to us than anything else. Period.
Understanding God´s goal of reconciliation in Christ through our holiness and ministry is an essential ingredient in recognizing spiritual maturity in Christ.
Maturity in Christ is not always wise, not always safe, and, certainly, not always appreciated, even, and often especially, within the church.
Maturity in Christ is a thorn in the flesh to leaders who value peace and the status quo above the ministry of reconciliation and spiritual unity of the church which can be messy and difficult and forces us to pray fervently for one another.
Maturity in Christ is often seen as immaturity to the worldly minded because it is vulnerable, transparent and, even, confrontative by it´s very nature, as it should be.
Without maturity in Christ, a leader is, at best, a wise and able manager, at worst, a barrier to spiritual growth for themselves and others.
Maturity in Christ is about the centrality of the cross in a life of humility and grace with a focus on pleasing God above all.
Maturity in Christ engages in spiritual warfare with humility and grace even when others claim that there is no humility and grace in our spiritual warfare.
Maturity in Christ is prophetic because it challenges the status quo in pursuit of the abundant life of true reconciliation with God and man in spiritual unity.
Maturity in Christ is priestly because it labors in prayer for the very ones it challenges prophetically, including itself.
Maturity in Christ is kingly because it shows the path to abundant living in its own example of holiness, grace and life ministry regardless of popular opinion.
Maturity in Christ is about the humble confession of sin to God and one another. It is not merely apology, but rather admitting that we were in rebellion against God, or in ignorance or blindness, but still missing His mark, in our behavior towards others.
Maturity in Christ is about a lifestyle of repentance in the context of the fellowship and spiritual unity of believers, the only true marks of the presence of the Holy Spirit individually and corporately.
Maturity in Christ is about forgiveness, even when the other person doesn´t ask for it, or confess and repent of it, not because the sin doesn´t matter, not just because we should love one another, but because the payment for that sin was the cross and we accept it as sufficient for ourselves and others.
Maturity in Christ is about reconciliation and spiritual unity in prayer, worship and kingdom work, a true unity of the heart where we determine to see, value and treat the other in the Spirit and not in the flesh, even if they continue to live in the flesh. To see them as God sees them, in Christ, as their true selves, blameless and without spot or blemish before the throne of God.
Maturity in Christ is about the value and centrality of the cross which will always be opposed fiercely by the enemy with whatever strategy he can devise, within and without the church, even, and especially, through those Christians and leaders who have fallen into the trap of placing politics and power and their own personal pride and “rightness”, often without realizing it, as more important than the life of repentance and the goal of reconciliation, which are the only true marks of spiritual maturity.
The Desert Warrior
Reflections by Bert A. Amsing
Copyright © 2012 by vanKregten Publishers. All rights reserved.
www.desertwarrior.net info@desertwarrior.net
Footnotes and references included in original manuscript.
