Part 1- Immaturity and Maturity (turning away from evil)

Immaturity and Maturity

Stained glass at St John the Baptist’s Anglican Church http://www.stjohnsashfield.org.au, Ashfield, New South Wales. Illustrates Jesus’ description of himself “I am the Good Shepherd” (from the Gospel of John, chapter 10, verse 11). This version of the image shows the detail of his face. The memorial window is also captioned: “To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of William Wright. Died 6th November, 1932. Aged 70 Yrs.” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Maturity is a label for inner peace or inner orderliness, even in the midst of external chaos or transition. Immaturity is required for the development of maturity. Immaturity is attempting to prevent some particular pattern of activity within the universe.

For instance, it would be foolish to attempt to stop the wind from blowing in a particular direction, unless you simply want to exhaust yourself.  However, rather than energizing something by resisting or protesting or attempting to prevent it, we can simply promote a contrary possibility.

View of the “Evil Bridge” in “Vasilevo” open-air architecture-ethnography museum (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As another example, can anyone prevent any particular bridge from ever collapsing no matter what- despite earthquakes and meteor strikes and so on? It is not possible to totally prevent the collapsing of all bridges or any bridge, but the stability of any bridge can be measured and then the bridge can be strengthened (or blocked for safety).

Side-view of the “Evil Bridge” in “Vasilevo” open-air architecture-ethnography museum (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The immaturity of attempting to totally prevent a particular pattern is also called terror or disturbance or shame or sin or panic, as in judging against any pattern at all. This is why ancient traditions remind us that “if a pattern disturbs you, simply turn away from it.”

In other words, turn away from evil. This is a sign of maturity and of faith and the result of turning away from evil is the maintaining of inner peace (or swift return to inner peace).

Abstain from contempt and condemnation. Renounce these as sin (immature, unproductive, ineffective). Recall the teachings of the famous Jewish prophet, Jesus, and some of his early apostles:

 

“Condemn not.” (Luke 6:37)

 

“I say to you, not to resist the evil“ Matthew 5:39

 

“I am conscious of this, and am certain in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself; but for the man in whose opinion it is unclean, for him it is unclean [vilified, evil].” Romans 14:14

 

“To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and without faith, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted [vilified, evil].” Titus 1:15

 

English: Amulets against the evil eye fron de Basque Museum of History of Science and Medicine Español: Amuletos contra el mal de ojo del Museo Vasco de Historia de la Ciencia y la Medicina Euskara: Begizkoaren aurkako kutunak (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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Tags: condemn not, inner peace, maturity, order chaos, turn away from evil