Iron Sharpens Iron

There is a Proverb from the book of Proverbs in the Bible that says, "iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." This verse is generally used for men's fellowships and whatnot, but I think the scope is a little more general. That is, the process of maturing happens on the forge of relationships, interactions, and communication.

Spiritual maturity cannot happen as a monk, unless that monk is with a group of other monks. The key is not inside ourselves, it is outside ourselves, sourced in the God-man Jesus, and actualized among both his followers and the rest of the world.

Unlike some people would have us believe, Christian discipleship is a relatively quick and easy process. If we take most of the apostles (including Paul) as an example, the path to spiritual maturity can take about three years, give or take.

Don't get me wrong, there are aspects of the discipleship process that will never be complete as long as we live. It is what many theologians see as the tension of living life in both the "already complete" and the "not yet complete."

Jesus provides us with the already part, and other people help us along the not yet plane. Sometimes the "process-oriented" people emphasize the distinctions in the process to such an extent that we can develop classes of Christians.

I like how Jesus made clear that even the least of the least Christian is greater than John the Baptist, as far as God is concerned. We can get so caught up with rank and file issues that we forget that every role is essential. We need others if we are going to be sharpened, whether that sharpening comes from the young or the super old.

Sorry, but the only rank in Christianity belongs to Jesus.