Page 42 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 9

Roland Mahler (Switzerland) Roland Mahler
Spiritual Maturity – Can Dr.,Theologist,

it be an Aim or Goal of Psy c h o log i s t
Psycho-
MSc,
Christian Psychotherapy? therapist SPV,
Director of Insti-
tute of Christian
Psychology, Psy-
chotherapy and
Introduction Education, Swit-
zerland
Hebrews 6:1- 3 www.icptp.ch. He is the author of „Ge-
Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine wissen und Gewissensbildung in der Psy-
of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again chotherapie“ (Conscience and Forming of
a foundation of repentance from dead works an Conscience in Psychotherapy) 2009. From
d of faith toward God, and of instruction about 1986 -1998 he directed the therapeutic cen-
washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrec- ter Best Hope.
tion of the dead, and eternal judgment. And roland.mahler@icptp.ch
this we will do if God permits.
The only passage in the ESV (English Standard Article by Roland:
Version) containing the noun maturity is Heb. http://emcapp.ignis.de/2/#/116
6:1. The biblical author speaks about the diffe- http://emcapp.ignis.de/4/#/52
rence between elementary doctrine (repentance,
faith, washings > baptisms, laying on hands >au-
thority, resurrection and eternal judgment) and
maturity (the latter is to be explained in the ver-
ses and chapters that follow). Since E.Käsemann standing concerning god and man in the perspec-
(commentary on Hebrews) the letter to the He- tive of the cross (2:2).
brews is often considered in the perspective of the
church as the people of god on its journey through 1 Corinthians 14:20
the desert (exodus-theme) which is fully explai- Brothers, do not be children in your thinking.
ned in chapters 9 to 10 but spreads thematically Be infants in evil, but in your
over the whole letter. Going through the desert is Maturity here means a state of mind, a capacity
succession of Christ (Heb.13:13f)! of consciousness and of ratio.

The adjective mature is used 8 times in ESV: Ephesians 4:13
Luke 8:14 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and
And as for what fell among the thorns, they are of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature-
those who hear, but as they go on their way they manhood, to the measure of the stature of the
are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures fullness of Christ, ...
of life, and their fruit does not mature. Here maturity means a state of community an
Maturity here means the same as ripeness or mel- interpersonal relationship, of the church.
lowness. It means to come to a state of fullness in
taste and generativity. Philippians 3:15
Let those of us who are mature think this way,
1 Corinthians 2:6 and if in anything you think otherwise, God
Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, will reveal that also to you.
although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the Similar to 1 Cor. 14:20 maturity here means a
rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass a way. specific knowledge concerning the existential
Maturity here means a state of spiritual under- yielding to the Lord of those who follow him.

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