When specifically talking about the spiritually mature. They are not content with all the canned studies and programs. Why should they be? The data indicates that it doesn't really grow people in their faith. It just allows people to be content where they are already at. Which would naturally irritate the mature who may feel they have to stand alone continually. Yet, nobody is in a big hurry to catch up to them.
Then there is how the Body of Christ is supposed to help and support one another. (1st Corinthians 12, Galatians 6:1-6) Naturally, the more mature ones have a smaller pool to connect with when it comes to more complicated spiritual needs. Speaking from experience, there have been times when I have sought advice from people, and it seemed rather evident that the only path they knew was the road most taken of career and family. Since I didn't follow that path, they thought it best to just direct me back to that common path. As if that is the answer for everything. This only proved to alienate me further, not help.
The mature may come off as arrogant know-it-alls to some. If they only share to establish superiority, it's probably a fair assessment. Yet, if they are sharing their wisdom and experience as the body of Christ demands, then it's not. If we are seriously going to look down on people for being the best disciple they can be. It's no wonder average is where people want to stay. But that is not a good standard to hold yourself to. (Revelation 3:15-17)
This is why I adhere to the mantra of “delight and inspire” as an artist and Christian educator. In the end, it’s all you can do because there are absolutely no guarantees about how others will respond to your efforts. Hence the many frustrations of the mature. (John 6:60-66)
For example, as much as I may try to engage people with my visual parables. Much like Christ tried to do with his narrative parables. There will always be those who won't look past the surface, and just want it explained to them. (Matthew 15:13-20, John 10:6)
As much as I may try to challenge people to move forward in their faith. There will always be those who just want warm and fuzzy feel-good fluff. Which just promotes a shallow faith.
As much as I may teach that the state of our heart lies at the root of our failures in righteousness. Many will be content with faking it, just to avoid facing their own brokenness. (Proverbs 4:23, Matthew 23:25-28)
As much as I teach grace and forgiveness. There will always be those who just want to condemn people for their failures instead of lifting a finger to help address the brokenness at the root of their sin. (Matthew 23:1-4)
As much as I teach that the purpose that you are "set apart" for is a key part of true and complete holiness. There will always be those who are content with feeding off the harvest that they will never help plant. With my old church not surviving the shutdowns, it's been slow to integrate myself into a new church where I can serve to the same extent I once did. My spiritual fulfillment has gone down with it. So from my point of view, avoiding service is doing yourself no favors.
This must be how Jesus felt when he realized that the people came to him more for free food than for truth. (John 6:25-27) Yet, it never stopped him from feeding them.
This must be how Jesus felt as he entered Jerusalem with the realization that his time was nearly up, yet so few truly understood. (Luke 19:31-42) Yet he didn't just throw his hands up and shout; you are all unworthy.
The point I am leading up to is this. Spiritual maturity ultimately means that we must recognize that God values our sincerity and devotion more than our desire for success. While we want to believe that God will put all those proverbial ducks in a row and make it easy for us. We must also recognize that we will not outperform Jesus. Even he didn't convince everyone, so we aren't either. We need to set aside our pride and the idol of success it worships.
We also need to be willing to take a step back and ask why people are not responding to teaching. There are likely many fears and other obstacles getting in the way. If it took you ten to thirty years to overcome your obstacles, nobody will get over it in a heartbeat just because you tell them to. That just creates more frustration.
The Visual PARABLEist
Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so.
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. -Hebrews 6:1-6
The second half of that Hebrews passage can seem scary by itself as if it's saying one strike and your out. But in context, you can see that it is encouraging you to move onto the next level of glory. (2nd Corinthians 3:18) You won't experience the fullness of God's glory by stopping at foundational truths.
Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.
—Romans 14:1
so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. -1st Corinthians 12:25
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