2007-06-04 12:24:17 · 13 answers · asked by Fluffy Wisdom 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"Let the children come to me."
Yes to a certain degree and no to a certain degree:
If I recall correctly it was either in the 50s or 60s that Jean Paul Piaget presented his theory of the stages of moral and ethical development. My general understanding is that the human being as it grows from an infant to young adulthood is not only developing physically but also its ability to distinguish between wrong and right is developing. Some psychologist/philosopher once said "Give me a child until the age of seven and I will give you what ever you want." This particular person believed that when a child reached the age of seven he/she has developed his moral and ethical ability.
Consider that the Muslim countries (including Greece - ehum) have a law that states that in the case of parents separating, all the children ages five and older are to be given to the care of the father. The younger than five are to stay with the mother only until the age of five, then be given to the care of their father. This law is based on their belief that at the age of five children are developed enough to understand spiritual concepts. Sadly enough the Muslim women are not consider capable to transmit this important teachings (spiritual) to the young.
The legal system of our own western civilization is establish with the understanding that children have not sufficiently developed their moral/ethical stage sufficiently enough to be held responsible as an adult can be.
Given that as it may, it is not necessarily true that the older we get the more spiritually developed we become or can become. That is absolutely not the case. There are many children in the world today that have developed spiritual concepts and many adults in their later years that do not have a basic understanding.
In the end one never reaches spiritual maturity it is a stage we aim for and finally die working to obtain. The use of the word "maturity" with spiritual presupposes a limit of spiritual understanding/grace which is none existent. Development may be more appropriate.
Now, spiritual development/understanding is a grace given by God. Only God knows the limit.
Jesus said: "Let the children come to me." The sacred scripture does not note any minimum age.
Can we find harmony with our scientific/social understanding and the scriptures? If we say that until a child reaches a certain age (5, 6, 7, 8, etc.) he has not fully developed his/her abilities to understand moral/ethical concepts would this necessarily be contrary to the scriptures?
John the Baptist jumped in the womb at the sound of Mary's voice. Can we say that he already knew right from wrong? If we do, then he knew it at this early stage by grace. But, can we compare everyone to one that was sent by God?
Hope this helps.
2007-06-04 12:32:36 · answer #1 · answered by Julie 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No. I think that some young people are smarter than some older people and some older people are smarter than some young people. I think life experience has more to do with spiritual maturity. And nowadays, you don't have to look far to find younger people with a lot of life experience. By that same token, I've met people in their 60's-70's whose experience was limited because they led a safe and quiet life.
Case in point - take two women in their mid 30's. One has lived within a 500 mile radius from where she was born for all her life and has only traveled to 2 other states (via car, with the family). The other has traveled all across the world, experienced numerous cultures, and met a wide variety of people with different opinions and views. Who do you think has had more life experience?
I'm just saying that a 25-year-old foreign correspondant journalist (and mother of two) has probably experienced more in her life than a 42 year old mother-of-two who lives in and rarely ventures outside of the same town she grew up in. Not all life experience is condusive to spiritual growth, either.
2007-06-04 12:33:53 · answer #2 · answered by swordarkeereon 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No. My son was saved at the age of 3. At 9, I see more spiritual maturity in him than I see in some adults. He is aware of the snares of the world and endeavors to avoid them. He can see something and be able to tell almost immediately if it is good or evil (an ad with scantily-clad women, for example). He can't stand to see people kiss on TV unless the characters are married. He loves the Lord.
2007-06-04 12:32:24 · answer #3 · answered by †Lawrence R† 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nope. I know 8-year-olds that are more spiritually mature than people 3 times their age - who have been Christians longer than the kids have been alive!
2007-06-04 12:28:23 · answer #4 · answered by azar_and_bath 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
nope. there are 60 year old new borns, there are 8 year old adults. your understanding is not directly dependnat on genetics or the time frame. I've met some very young Christians who taught the adults
and then of course their's Jesus: teaching teachers at 12, rabbi 20 years too young
2007-06-04 12:29:20 · answer #5 · answered by Hey, Ray 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, King David was but a youth when he had the faith to challenge Goliath, when all of Israel was afraid.
Spiritul maturity is based on your obedience to God's word, and how much you depend on Him.
When you do the natural, God does the supernatural.
When we step out on faith that is where God's power meets
us and we grow in experential knowledge of God and hopefully mature spiritualy
1Cor2:12 to 3:16
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Chapter 3
1And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
A person who gets saved late in life me learn faster than a teenager, but they are still baby Christians
Age does not necessarily confer wisdom
2007-06-04 12:34:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There's no such thing as spiritual maturity, unless you mean maturity to get past such superstitions. It does take time, sometimes, to get past such superstitions. But, unfortunately, some cling to them all their lives.
2007-06-04 12:26:53 · answer #7 · answered by nondescript 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
No!
This is also one place where mentoring helps one grow faster.
2007-06-04 12:29:29 · answer #8 · answered by jefferyspringer57@sbcglobal.net 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not necessarily.
2007-06-04 12:26:55 · answer #9 · answered by timjim 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No. Sweet & simple.
2007-06-04 12:27:48 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋