“Why Don’t You Grow Up?”

            That’s a question that may have been put to you at some point, or that you may have asked someone else. It’s not really a question though, but an expression of exasperation. What it really means is, “You’re acting childish and immature. It’s embarrassing. Stop it!” Or it may be briefer and more pointed: “Grow up!” someone snaps, tired of childish behavior. The subject of the admonition is often a young man who still thinks that the kind of clowning around that’s appropriate for a 10-year-old boy is funny, but it can happen to anyone. We all need to be urged to grow up sometimes.

            Our reading from Ephesians this morning tells us that we’re to grow up, but the writer of this letter -- either St. Paul or one of his disciples -- doesn’t seem to be annoyed with the behavior of the Christians at Ephesus. They aren’t throwing spitballs or making bad jokes. But they, and we, do need to continue to grow in the Christian life. We “must no longer be children” in faith but are to “grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.” And the whole point of the letter to the Ephesians is to help them -- and us -- to do that. We are called “to reach the measure of the full stature of Christ.”

...approximately 1,007 words remaining. You are not logged in. Please see options at the top of this page to view complete sermon.