Greg Chandler
05/24/14
A visit to most any gym will allow one to witness a plethora of young men interested in increasing the size of their muscles. For many, hours are spent lifting weights in hopes of becoming stronger than they were the week before. For this to happen, these young men must press forward – lifting more pounds, enduring increased training, challenging themselves in ways they have not before. Their journey to increased physical fitness is very much like the Christian’s journey to increased spiritual fitness. Just as the weightlifter loses strength if he does not continually challenge himself, so too will the Christian lose spiritual fitness if he or she ever stops pressing forward. The writer of Hebrews warned about this when he wrote, “About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child” (Hebrews 5:11-13).
Problems occur when a Christian is perfectly satisfied with the milk of the word. The Hebrews writer was keenly interested in teaching his readers important lessons from the word of God. He could not do this, however, because they had failed to grow and mature to a point that such teachings could be understood. This not only meant that they could not understand, it also prevented them from being able to spread the gospel message to others who needed to learn. Their immaturity prevented them from growing in both their knowledge and faith.
This is still a challenge for Christians of the twenty-first century. Often those who are satisfied with the milk of the word will complain the loudest when the “meaty” portions of the Bible are taught. Some will complain that the preaching and teaching of the local congregation are too deep to be understood. Statements such as “all this is over my head” and “there is no real life application” will be lodged because the material seems irrelevant to those who have never challenged themselves to study harder. Churches of the twenty-first century have certainly fallen sway to this mentality by conducting themselves in a way that seeks to satisfy the wants and likes of the crowd rather than challenging its members to press ahead in their spiritual growth.
Another challenge of this spiritual laziness is suspicion that someone who delves into meatier matters of the word is trying to “lead the church astray.” Sadly, many Christians are content to know only the very basics of the Bible. When someone seeks to teach and study more challenging ideas in the Bible, the person may very well be viewed with suspicion. This type of thinking is what can kill the work of a local church because maturity is not occurring among its members. Certainly Paul’s warning to the Corinthians would be applicable to anyone who has such ideas: “Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature” (I Corinthians 14:20).
No Christian should be satisfied with milk level thinking. The Hebrew writer made this point to his readers by stating, “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (5:14). Meat level understanding can only occur when one is completely dedicated and focused on gaining greater understanding of God’s word. Just as the weightlifter constantly challenges himself to lift more pounds than the week before, so must a Christian challenge himself to gain more understanding and appreciation for the word of God. This will only occur with an open Bible and open mind that is ready to understand, appreciate, and accept the wisdom that comes from the Lord. Each Christian must take an honest look at his or her spirituality and determine a course of action that will lead to more maturity. When this is done, the truths of God’s word will be appreciated and godliness will flourish.