They weren’t growing, and they weren’t acting like responsible followers of Christ, able to deal with their problems by standing fast in the faith of Jesus. Paul chided the Corinthians as “babes in Christ” who hadn’t matured in the Lord one whit since his visit. His exasperation with them is palpable as you read through this epistle.

By the time he wrote his letter, Paul reasoned that the Corinthians should have been showing more marks of maturity – holiness, purity, generosity, forbearance, and dignity in worship. Instead, they were acting like a bunch of middle-schoolers with the teacher out of the room. The word translated, “be brave”, in our text actually means to “act like a man”, to “be mature” or “act responsibly.”

None of which the Corinthians were doing, even though they’d had plenty of time and opportunity.

In the same way, the Church in America could hardly be described as a mature community, one that stands fast in the Word like a grown and dignified adult, pursuing its work diligently and making a solid impact for the Lord. My wife’s beloved Bible teacher used to moan over the vast majority of Christians who, she insisted, “will arrive in heaven in the same delivery blanket in which they were born again.”

Unity

Paul wrote to the Ephesians about the true character of a healthy, growing church. He said nothing about numbers of people, size of budget, variety of programs and facilities, or whether or not it had a great worship band. He emphasized two characteristics – unity and maturity – which are in short supply in America’s churches today (Eph. 4.11-16).

By unity Paul meant real oneness, visible oneness, oneness that took the form of joining together in worship and ministry and sharing resources readily and generously to meet needs everywhere. Jesus taught us that such unity is essential to a believable witness (Jn. 17.21), and Paul cautioned us that we’ll have to work hard to attain and keep it (Eph. 4.3).

Today little unity is visible among the churches in any community, and lots of division characterizes individual congregations, just as it did in Corinth.

Mature believers and congregations link arms in ministry, join together in worship and prayer, use their tongues for mutual edification and prophetic witness, and share freely and happily of their resources to help churches and people in need.

Such unity among churches in America exists, but it’s hardly the norm.

Maturity

Mature churches, Paul wrote, are impervious to the changing winds of doctrine and culture. They are communities with real discernment where every member understands he or she has something to contribute to the growth and wellbeing of the whole. Ministry is every believer’s calling, and in mature churches pastors and teachers equip church members to live the serving life of Christ in their own Personal Mission Fields, and to take their place in the work of building-up the Body of Christ.

Moreover, mature churches reflect growth in love for God and neighbors, increasingly richer and more consistent manifestations of the resurrection life of Christ.

Finally, churches that are growing into the full measure of the mature stature of Christ, as His Body, will increasingly lay aside the trappings of adolescence and the preferences of the secular world to enter more richly and fully together into the upward prize of the high calling of God in the Savior.

Many churches today have become overrun with the kudzu of pop culture. All their worthwhile activities have to be above all “fun” for everyone involved. They work to create a “brand” in the community and market that brand by every available means. They have turned their worship services over to bands, vocal groups, klieg lights, drama, and comic-pastors who work as hard to entertain as to instruct. Meanwhile, spiritual adolescents of every age pew-up for a junk-food gospel each week, rather than the firm teaching and sound doctrine that fill, guide, and empower mature believers.

We are babes and adolescents as churches, when the times in which we live demand brave and responsible followers of Christ. It’s time to reflect deeply on Paul’s charge to act like men, not babes or adolescents, in our practice of the faith.

Next steps

How would you assess the state of “unity” and “maturity” in your church? What can you do to help your church “grow up”? Talk with a church leader about these questions.

Additional Resources

Download this week’s study, Hope for the Church.

Sign up for ViewPoint Leaders Training and start your own ViewPoint discussion group.

Need vision for a revived church? Order a copy of T. M.’s book, Preparing Your Church for Revival, from our online store.

And men, download our free brief paper, “Men of the Church: A Solemn Warning,” by clicking here.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.