My Answer: Whether we come of age or not without teaching and events like Yeshua had at age twelve where around the time of the age his Bat-Mitzvah. As a Jewish child and an observer of Torah, Jesus fulfilled all the Mitzvot (Commands). Even waiting til 30 before taking on his duties to take over his father business and become a man, also taking a bride for himself. In modern culture its kinda gradual with no life events where Gods law or maturity or true man/womanhood is achieved. Many don’t grow up mentally and don’t fully mature as seen in many people’s behavior. Many are of “age” without the discipline, responsibility or accountability. Being of “age” according to Roman or American standards doesn’t equal spiritual maturity and being of “age” is nothing close to what I’m trying to express. Really “aging” physically does equate to maturity and without a “right of passage” there is no intentional growth, it ends up being by accident. Many are lacking the fullness of spiritual commitment! They haven’t converted or pledge allegiance to obey Gods commandments completely. They’d rather pledge allegiance to America and just turn 18 by default not by spiritual discipline.

I got my license at 16. Drum roll please. I turned 18, went to college, crossed the border to Tijuana got drunk. At 20 got saved. Maturity as a man I feel came with at least 10 years as a Christian with the advent of a wife and son. As a man I’ve made the choice to go through the B’nei Miztvah because one day I will ask my son to take the 2-3 years to prepare for his Mitzvah its only right I do first. In the process I was thinking my maturity and western society in general was delayed, lacking and kinda by default. The question was meant to simply cause everyone to think on a deeper walk to personal, socially and most important to spiritual maturity. Actually learning biblical Hebrew and the Torah is a healing experience, I like it.

You need maturity to wait to have sex, or safely drive while not drunk texting, to act responsible. I failed the maturity test though I passed the age default litmus though. Being able to have sex, drive a car or drink are not true “rites of passage.” With 95 % of youth not returning to church after youth. We need something more than kiddie stories and silly songs for the youth spiritual growth thus I support the biblical principle of going through biblical Mitzvah programs and coming of age rites of passage to accountability and maturity.

In the biblical culture, 30 was the age when you left your fathers home, started your own home and took over your fathers business or went from apprentice in a trade to a practitioner. The age of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah is one of the first steps its not the end. Modern society we don’t even have the first step down. As much as I’d love to be in a biblical culture, the culture of today isn’t even close. It would be good to have these mile stones.

As for myself at 8 I sought salvation, at 12 I heard God speak to me, accepted Jesus to be God and ended up debating the things of God with the elders of religion, at 18 I started my spiritual quest to find true belief, at 20 I came to saving faith in Yeshua & I quickly got into ministry to lost souls, at 21 I went to bible college, at 25 I became a manager in my trade, at 30 I sought to become married and took for myself a wife, at 31 we had our first born son, at 33 I started my adult B’nei Mitzvah to make Aaliyah to the Torah because I never have & will one day ask my son to so I should have first. So I would say my growth been progressive if tried to follow the text of scripture and follow historical Hebraic norms, from our Jewish wedding, to observing biblical festivals, to becoming members of a Messianic Synagogue. I’ve sought deeper meaning past societal norms. Its transformed me. I believe others should try to as well.

Related Articles

• An Online Path to the Bar Mitzvah (nytimes.com)

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