What is the goal of spiritual maturity?
Jewish rabbis had their opinion. They did more than impart knowledge of the Torah and the Talmud. Their goal was to leave something of themselves in their students.
Ben Sirach, writing about 180 years before Christ, expresses the Jewish point of view when he says of a mature disciple: “When his father [teacher] dies, it is as though he is not dead. For he leaves behind him one like himself.”
Christ had such a vision for His disciples (Luke 6:40). Even though He did not belong to a traditional school of thought, Jesus followed the rabbinic model by wanting His followers to share not only His knowledge but also His life and heart.
But what does it mean to be like Christ? What are the attitudes that mark us as His people? Let’s test our understanding of what it means to be “conformed to the image” of Christ (Romans 8:29).
True or False? Someone who is Christlike:
1. Shows unlimited patience.
2. Doesn’t get angry.
3. Refuses to be negative or critical.
4. Forgives everyone.
5. Tells all the truth, all the time.
6. Has a smile for every occasion.
7. Responds alike to all.
8. Avoids the company of unbelievers.
9. Condemns unprincipled people.
10. Speaks well of everyone.
11. Avoids conflict.
12. Is at peace with all.
In my view, these are all false impressions. Yet it’s important for us to consider them. If we are not careful, we can make the mistake of thinking of our Lord as we might look at a statue of “the good shepherd” standing in the park.
The many attitudes of Christ. The Gospel accounts make it clear that our Lord was not unlimited in patience. On two occasions He turned over the tables of the money-changers in His Father’s house (John 2:15; Matthew 21:12). He took issue with the self-centered attitudes of His friends (Matthew 20:20-28) and confronted religious leaders who were exploiting their followers (Matthew 23:1-39).
Although He never lied, He did not tell all of the truth to those who were not ready for it (John 2:24; Matthew 13:10-15). He wasn’t always happy (Isaiah 53:1-4). Sometimes He cried (Luke 19:41; John 11:35; 12:27). He cared even for His enemies, but had a special affection for broken people who loved Him (Luke 6:27-36; John 14:21-23).
Even though no one could rightly accuse Him of wrong, He had a reputation for spending time with “public sinners” (Luke 7:34-39). He refused to condemn immoral people and reserved His harshest criticism for religious leaders who regularly condemned others (John 3:17; Matthew 15:7-14).
His followers considered Him a model of mental health, yet in His own day His enemies accused Him of being full of the devil, and His own friends and family thought He had gone mad (John 10:20; Mark 3:21).
One phrase that explains many attitudes. One of Jesus’ disciples summarized the life of his Teacher with just a few words. According to John, the rabbi who changed his life was “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
Every attitude our Lord expressed was rooted in a concern for others based on understanding. He healed, comforted, cried, taught, prayed, turned over the tables of the money-changers and confronted religious leaders because He understood the needs of others—and He cared. He spoke the truth with a heart of love.
The process of learning from Him. Those who sat around the table with Christ, or who followed Him through the olive groves of Israel got more than an education in Bible and doctrine. By spending time with Him they learned the spirit and heart of the law. They discovered that their Teacher’s powerful miracles, short stories, and small acts of kindness were all designed to reshape not only their minds but also their hearts. With small, unsteady steps they gradually learned to love people more than money or power or reputation.
On the steps of the temple, on hot dusty roads, and in a storm-tossed boat, the men and women who spent time with Christ saw attitudes in Him that bridged the expanse between heaven and earth. In His eyes they saw not only reflections of His Father but of the people He loved.
Today we still learn His attitudes as His disciples did—in His presence. Through the windows of the Gospels we watch the Teacher of teachers gather His students around and say to them: Blessed are those who see their spiritual need, who mourn their self-centeredness, and who surrender their hearts to God so as to be useful and helpful to others (Matthew 5:1-10).
The apostle Paul expressed the same attitudes in different words when he wrote: “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3-5).
The goal. Spiritual maturity is more than learning to do the right thing. It’s more than asking, “What would Jesus do?” Christlike attitudes require us to ask, “Who and what would Jesus care about?”
There is a well-worn saying that deserves to be heard again: Others won’t care how much we know, until we show them how much we care.
Father in heaven, all too often we’ve been people with an attitude that doesn’t reflect the likeness of Your Son. Please do through us what we haven’t been able to do for ourselves. Let us reflect the mind and attitudes of Your Son—for Your honor, for His sake, for our need, and for the good of all who know us. —Mart De Haan
