David Bahn – Reflections

Ephesians 4:13-16

…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, ¹⁴ so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. ¹⁵ Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

What does a follower of Jesus look like who expresses her faith in a fully-balanced and mature manner? These verses help answer that question, speaking of maturity, stature, and stability in the faith. This maturity, stature and stability is expressed in relationships that are marked by even-handed, respectful conversation, a life-long quest for spiritual growth, and connection with the body of Christ. By this the Church grows, built up in love.

We live in a fractured world where opinions about politics, religion, economics, social justice, and environmental responsibility are hotly contested. There is finger-pointing and fault-finding in the Christian realm as church leaders criticize one another. Even in the local church there is too often discord and contention. None of this marks us as mature in our faith. None of this is an expression of the fullness of the stature of Christ.

Max Lucado tells the story of a fishing trip a friend and he took with his father. When they couldn’t fish for several days in a row because of the weather, their tempers began to flare at each other. His conclusion: When fishers don’t fish they fight. If our Christian life is defined by coming to church, learning at church, serving the church, we will fall prey to winds of doctrine and cunning and crafty deceit (the church is full of sinners!). But if our Christian life is marked by a quest for unity and maturity in the faith that expresses itself in the mission of Christ, our coming in and going out will be an expression of God’s love for all and an experience of it as well. United around that purpose our stature in the world will grow, and that stature of unity, truth and love is desperately needed today.

I vividly recall early years of my seminary education. I would hear one theory then another about issues of theological intrigue. Some of these issues were worthy of conversation and debate. Others were simply winds of doctrine, and human speculation. But I vividly recall those times when people would speak the truth in love. The clear purpose and intent of those conversations were to help me and my brother seminary students grow deeper in understanding and more properly equipped for service in the church. The former may have been necessary. But the latter have shaped me far better for serving Christ and his church.