Attachment and Spiritual Maturity 3
Chapter One
Introduction
The Complexity of Spiritual Maturity
There is a general consensus among Christians that spiritual maturity is a desired objective of the Christian life. It is understood as a complex process guided by the Holy
Spirit (Romans 8:9-11) with its goal to become like Jesus. This is accomplished through a
relationship with God that results in the training, shaping, and reshaping ofevery area of
a person's life. Evidence of this remolding is manifested in a believer's life in the following
areas; the mind and will (John 8:31-32), the heart (John 13:34-35), and the character
(John 15:7-8) (Wilkins, 1997a). This process of change results in a deeper capacity for
intimacy in relationship to God and others.
While there is some consensus of the definition that spiritual maturity is a goal,
· there is little agreement as to the components of this process. Throughout history the
church has suggested a variety ofapproaches to spiritual maturity. One could categorize
these approaches in psychological terms as behavioral, cognitive, or affective
corresponding to the remolding of the character, the mind and will, or the heart
respectively. The behavioral approaches emphasize practicing certain behaviors to bring one's
character in line with God's character. The ascetic life was emphasized over the years as a
way to find closeness with God and understand His ways. Men and women such as
Augustine of Hippo found solitude, meditation and prayer each means to greater intimacy
with God, thereby leading to Godly character and maturity. Having a disciplined life while living in the world is also a behavioral approach to
spiritual maturity. Through the practice of spiritual disciplines such as prayer, fasting,
and meditation a person is more equipped with God's strength of character to confront
the evils of this world. These disciplined practices are also seen as preparation of the
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