The frontal lobe isn't fully done developing until around 25. The frontal lobe is where the emotions live and the ability to predict the consequences of your actions with any sort of accuracy. Now, what stunts maturity is psychological trauma.
I'm not going to say any more about it because some of the contributors to this thread are going to tell me I'm wrong anyway. Or I'm a feminist, or neurology is bunk science, or all my medical classes have "taught me nonsense", or whatever.
So! Have fun, y'all!
People talk about this all the time.
They mention this fact that the brain isn't developed until your twenties.
But nobody ever talks about how this squares with scripture.
I don't think the bible says, anywhere, that people are "fully mature" at a young age.
But...
the bible does teach that young people are capable of making wise and skillful choices about right and wrong.
Young people are, according to scripture, capable of listening to God, capable of learning the scriptures, capable of having wisdom, capable of making wise choices, capable of serving God, capable of ministering to others.
Young people have the ability to know right and wrong, and to walk with God.
If their brain, which helps them to "analyze" their choices, isn't fully developed...
then all the more reason for them to need GODLY COUNSELORS, and to need THE BIBLE.
They just need extra help in their process of discernment.
This, I think, squares fine with the bible.
This, I think, squares fine with plain old common sense.
Young people can do right, and have wisdom, and live wisely, and serve God...
but they need extra help in learning wisdom, and in discerning things.
HOW do they GET "extra help" in learning wisdom, and in discerning things?
Primarily, "getting Godly counsel" and "learning the bible" is A CHOICE.
Yes, it's a choice, even for young people.
There are saved, Godly young people in bad families,
and there are lost, wicked people, in good families.
The family is the key to teaching young people...
but a young person has to CHOOSE, IN HIS OWN HEART, IF HE WANTS GOD.
All people, even young people, must CHOOSE what they want to put into their brain, to guide their discernment.
They must CHOOSE if they want God, and want the Bible, and want Godly counsel.
If they choose God, then they can fill their mind with scripture, and learn to live wisely, even at a young age.
Just because young people can't "analyze" their choices as thoroughly as an adult,
does not mean they aren't responsible for their actions.
It also doesn't mean they aren't capable of walking wisely with God.
Young people ARE responsible for their actions, they DO know right from wrong,
and they ARE capable of walking with God.
In a nutshell, this information about the brain developing in the 20s...
this doesn't really teach us anything new at all.
Everything we've always known from common sense...
that young people are capable of living Godly and wisely, but they also need extra "guidance"...
this is just plain common sense, and people have known this for thousands of years.