Upbringing and the Bible – toward human and religious maturity

Čovjek je po svojoj biti stvorenje, ali i stvaralac po svojemu djelovanju, čime dotjeruje svoj moralni lik. Ljudska zrelost uvjet je i za kršćansku zrelost. Ovim naslovom autor se na sažet način bavi temom odgoja i Biblije te pitanjem što karakterizira ljudsku i vjerničku zrelost u svjetlu pisane Božje riječi. Rad je potkrijepljen nizom citata iz Staroga i Novoga zavjeta. Imajući pred sobom slušatelje koji su katolici, imao je u vidu da su također odgojitelji, te da i sami trebaju poticaj da budu što zreliji ljudi i vjernici. Svaka osobnost upućuje na ljudsko sazrijevanje prema vlastitom identitetu i integritetu, a zrelom postaje tek ako je kompletna, cjelovita, jedinstvena i samostalna. Zrelost je dinamičan pojam koji uključuje razvitak i težnju prema punini, a punina opet podrazumijeva dozrijevanje. Potpuna zrelost mora biti i tjelesna i duševna. Ljudska zrelost nije nikada završen niti savršen proces, pa stoga i postoji dužnost usavršavanja. U tu sferu smješta se milost koja se „utjelovljuje“ u konkretnu ljudsku zbilju. Zrelost pretpostavlja i duhovni napredak. Kršćanska zrelost je promjena koju obično nazivamo svetost ili savršenstvo. To je relativna i dinamična punina na putu rasta, gdje se ostvaruje jedinstvo života i zauzetost.Human beings are at their core “creations”, but at the same time creators, because they work on themselves to develop a moral character. Human maturity is the condition for Christian maturity. In this article the author deals concisely with the topic of upbringing and the Bible, focusing on what it is that characterizes human and religious maturity from the biblical point of view. The article brings together many citations from the Old and New Testament. Writing especially for Catholics, the author stresses that while they are role models, they themselves also need encouragement to be mature people and mature believers. Each person tends toward human maturity, toward their own identity and integrity; and that person becomes mature when he or she is complete, integral, unique and independent. Maturity is a dynamic concept that includes development and the tendency toward fullness; and fullness presupposes the process of maturity. Total maturity must be physical and spiritual. Human maturity is never complete, nor is the process of maturity perfect, and therefore there is always a duty of improvement. In this area comes grace that is “embodied” in concrete human reality. Maturity also presupposes spiritual progress. Christian maturity is the change we normally call “sainthood” or perfection. It is a relative and dynamic fullness on the way of growth, where the unity of life and action is realized