24 is the new 18. That’s what a growing list of scholarly works is claiming. The delayed maturity of young adults is both nature and nurture. Nature, stating that the brain is still developing until the age of 24. Nurture, citing that young adults are not reaching full independence due to a long list of financial difficulties. Whatever the reason, it seems evident that growth is slowing. What is the spiritual expectation of growth?
There is an expectation of spiritual maturing, but how is that accomplished? “As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love” (Eph. 4:14-16). Like the mentally immature, being spiritually immature we are naive and susceptible to the false information and lies that are in the world. For that reason, Christ put people in place to see to the maturation of the body. “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:11-13). Those positions that are left today (evangelists, shepherds and teachers) are to build everyone up so that, “we all…mature…to the measure of Christ.” The body of Christ is to see to the maturing of every part, in truth and love. “According to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love” (Eph. 4:16).
The church is to be both the provider and place of growth. We are to be “constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine” (1 Tim. 4:6). Sound doctrine literally means healthy teaching. Paul wrote this passage to Timothy in the context of false teachers that were spreading, even then, false teaching to the immature in the faith. The church should be a haven for those who are wanting to learn and mature. We should be able to congregate not with fear of where we are or are not spiritually but with the confidence that we are in the right place to change, grow and mature into an adult image of Christ.
24 might be the new 18, my verdict is still out. But, it matters little where we are physically. Spiritually, we should all be growing in our relationship with the Lord together.