Head, Heart, and Hands of Christian Maturity

One of the most natural things we do as humans is grow up. From infancy to adulthood, “growing up” is such a natural expectation and predictable process that we’ve studied it, mapped it out, and even given names to the stages of development. You don’t expect a teenager to act like a toddler, and when someone isn’t developing as expected, it signals something is wrong.

The same is true spiritually. Growing in Christian maturity is the natural and expected result of spiritual birth. When someone is born again through faith in Christ, God’s will for them isn’t to remain spiritual infants, but to grow up into Christlikeness in all of life. In God’s design, spiritual birth always leads to spiritual growth. Jesus isn’t just about getting us in the door of salvation; He wants us to grow to be more and more like Him.

But what does that look like in life? There are a number of ways to measure and even see Christian maturity expressed in the life of the church and its members.
 
For example, at The Way Church, we speak of Christian maturity in terms of our worship, membership, ministry, and mission. To explain that a bit further, Christlikeness, or Christian maturity, is evidenced in our worship being more like Jesus’ worship. In membership, mature Christians are more united to Christ and His people than the world. In ministry, we grow to serve more selflessly as Jesus did. Finally, as we grow up in Christ, our life's purpose is more committed to the Lord’s mission than our own.

However, a more generalized framework to measure and even pursue Christian maturity in one’s life is Head, Heart, Hands.
 

• Head represents our knowledge. The Scripture doesn’t deny the value or importance of knowledge. In fact, knowledge is affirmed as a necessary component of following Jesus. It has been said before by others, we can’t trust what we don’t know. Maturing Christians don’t only know about God, but they are growing to know God, and in knowing Him, their minds are being renewed, such that they begin to see things more and more as Christ does. 
• Heart represents our core being. It is from our heart that we believe, we repent, and worship. Maturing Christians' affections, devotions, motivations, and desires then begin to reflect those of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. When we read the Psalm that speaks of God giving us the desire of our hearts, maturity doesn’t just long for wealth but more of God. When we read of Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane, maturity agrees that God’s will is better and more desirable than my own. 
• Hands represent actions taken. James famously argued that faith that is true is a faith that produces “works,” aka action. Maturity serves selflessly, gives generously, and stands firmly following the example set by Jesus. 

Together, these provide an excellent framework for growth. But if or when one of these is missing, spiritual growth is stunted, and perceived maturity may be superficial.
 

• Head and Hands with no Heart — If your heart hasn’t been affected by the risen and ruling Savior in such a way that you’ve experienced life-changing faith and repentance, no matter what you know or what you do, you’re like the walking dead. As Paul said in Ephesians 2:1, without Christ we are “dead in our trespasses and sins.” 
• Heart and Hands with no Head — J. I. Packer once called this kind of person a “spiritual sleepwalker.” This is someone led primarily by emotions, reacting as though the sky is falling every time life gets hard. Without being rooted in the truth of God’s Word, they are easily “blown about by every wind of doctrine” (Eph 4:14). 
• Heart and Head with no Hands — Packer called this a “spiritual paralytic.” This is someone who believes and knows, but never actually obeys. They consume Christian resources but never put their faith into practice. James reminds us that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17). 

Head, Heart, and Hands together are a picture of maturity. When our minds are shaped by God’s truth, our hearts are made alive by Christ’s love, and our hands are engaged in obedient service, we can see maturity expressed in life but we will also continue to grow up into Christlikeness.
 
So let me ask you, where are you growing, and where are you stuck? Do you find yourself strong in knowledge but weak in obedience? Or active in service but shallow in understanding?

• If your struggle is with knowledge (Head), join a Bible study in your church or with friends.
• If you feel stuck in your Heart and no longer desire God, pray and ask others to pray with you, confess sin, and celebrate all you have to be thankful for.
• If your weakness is in your Hands (obedient action), join a ministry team in your church and serve alongside others. 

The good news is that God Himself is committed to finishing the work He started in you (Phil 1:6). But He also calls you to be intentional in pursuing maturity by growing in your head, heart, and hands together. What step can you take next to grow more like Christ?