Unity and Spiritual Maturity

For some people, little to nothing changes over the years, there appears to be no growth. This is also the case for some churches. Divisions in the city of Corinth are a major cause of the decline in spiritual growth. Paul finds this unacceptable. Why is unity so important and how can we reach it?

Unity

10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you are perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?

1 Corinthians 1:10-13 (NIV)

When Paul speaks about disunity, he speaks of two things: There is no unity in mind and thought (verse 10), and there is spiritual immaturity.

According to verse 12, Christians have favorite leaders or teachers. However, it will bring us together when we all accept Christ as our leader, when we realize Christ was crucified for us, and when we are baptized in His name. Unity begins with our beliefs, as a group.

Being a unity has been Jesus’ intention from the beginning (John 17:23). Furthermore, we are one, because this Jesus, by Whom we are saved and Who wants us to be one, is the One that builds our lives, as well as the Church (see 1 Corinthians 3:6-7).

Maturity

1 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?
5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task.

1 Corinthians 3:1-5 (NIV) 

There is no envy or strife among people that are in the process of change. People who are changed (adults in Christ, spiritual people) do not live like all others (people that are not yet changed), and they are not tied to this world. Are you a changed person? And do you live like a changed person?

Romans 12:2 teaches us to not conform to the pattern of this world, but that we should change. How? By the renewing of our mind. Other translations speak of renewing of our mind and soul. We renew our mind and soul by feeding it. Read the Bible, be among other Christians, and spend time with the Lord; then you will start to change, and you will become a spiritually matured Christian.

The Connection

Unity in the church is the result of maturity of its members. At the same time, spiritual growth starts with unity among the members. The two are inextricably linked. It is good to be a member of a church where there is unity, so you can grow in maturity. At the same time, members that have reached a certain level of maturity can support people in order to establish true unity. 

Bible book: 1 Corinthians Keywords: Growth, Maturity, Spiritual, Unity