Are you an adult?

What is adulthood? When do you reach it? Will a certificate drop from the heavens and declare you "mature" when it happens?

Culture gives a definition. In fact, several. Check this out.

If you are 16, you can drive--so you must be an adult. If you are 12, you have to pay the adult price to eat at the buffet--so you must be an adult. If you are 18, you can vote--so you must be an adult. If you are 21 you can drink--so you must be an adult. In some states if you commit a crime, you can be charged as an adult as young as 16--so you must be an adult.

Confused? Me, too!

If adulthood is defined by driving, eating, voting, committing a crime, or drinking, no wonder it's confusing.

Adulthood actually begins fairly early, just about the time that your body begins the process of adulthood.

Really? Then why hasn't anybody mentioned that before?

Because we get confused and think that adulthood is about outward actions or some "special" event -- like the day you can not only drive, but drink and drive. That's just messed up.

Adulthood a journey that you begin. It's assuming leadership. It's making decisions that are spiritually sound. It's growing up in your faith.

Check out what the Bible says:

Milk is for beginners, inexperienced in God's ways; solid food is for the mature, who have some practice in telling right from wrong.

This is a cool verse from Hebrews 5:13-14 written for people who were still drinking milk (living as a child spiritually) when God was calling them to be men and women of God.

Adulthood is growing through God's word, and with the help and power of the Holy Spirit to choose good over evil, to have the courage to act on the good, and to take responsibility for your actions.

I know a lot of 35 year olds who are still drinking milk, and yet I've met teens all over the nation who are spiritually mature and who are already on the journey to adulthood.