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. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Hebrews 5:12-14 (ESV)
The news of the world is filled with accounts of twenty to thirty year olds who seem to purposefully delay adulthood. Individuals who have chosen not to separate from their parents’ support and, reportedly, even their parents’ basements. Common ambitions such as obtaining a drivers license, pursuing a rewarding career, and even long-term relationships appear to be of little interest. Sociologist’s are often baffled by this current trend. They cite changes in family structures, societal pressures, entertainment addictions, and self-esteem issues as probable culprits.
In comparison, and perhaps more alarming, are the number of Christian believers who have given their lives to Jesus, and yet never seem to grow up in the faith. Similar to the adult who refuses to mature into adulthood, there’s an infectious sickness that has unwittingly taken hold of today’s believers. The apostle Paul’s stern rebuke to his Hebrew brothers was both damning in it’s affect and insightful in it’s message. “You need milk, not solid food…” Just as an infant requires nourishing sustenance from its mother’s breast, so the Christian must begin discipleship by feeding on the fundamental truths and high calling of the gospel. The lament and rebuke isn’t for the young believer, however, but rather disciples who ought to be teachers, full of the word of God and power of the Holy Spirit, but show no signs of maturity in Christ.
“…you need someone to teach you again the basic principles…”
The word “again” is the operative word here. Paul is speaking to Christians who have already been taught the fundamental tenets of the Gospel. A malnourished child is a heartbreaking tragedy. Such neglect or poverty moves us to our core yet sick and weak Christians surround us every day. It’s not lack of God’s word or divine grace which hinders our growth. Nor do we live in a totalitarian society which makes practicing our faith illegal on pain of punishment. Rather, we find ourselves in an age and time where access to Bibles, scholarly teaching, and freedom to pray and worship leave no excuse for our spiritual infancy. Why then are we so ineffectual in devotion and wrought with unbridled sin? Our pews are full of “devout” Christians but our hearts are shriveled and “…unskilled in the word of righteousness.”
Quite simply, there’s a refusal to grow up. As a crying child is comforted by a pacifier, we prefer the comforting basics of the Gospel. Our itching ears delight in reciting scriptures recounting God’s forgiveness, His grace, and the blessings of the Christian calling. But we recoil at the word of God which divides “bone from marrow” (Hebrews 4:12). We scream, “judgmental, legalistic, unloving” to anyone who might, in any way, try to feed us even a sliver of solid food. Like babies just beginning to experience puréed baby food, we spit out the truth of the full Gospel which seeks to convict and demand change in our lives. We enjoy a cozy gospel which tells us everything is okay; you can keep your idols of fun and pleasure and still partake at the table of Jesus.
Every once in a while an unskilled pastor might slip in a hard-sounding scripture or drop the word “repentance” from the pulpit, enabling us to walk away feeling as if we’ve swallowed something of substance. However, the high cost of following Jesus is so seldom preached and even less often understood that it’s become painfully clear we desperately need someone—anyone—to teach us all over again the absolute basic precepts of the Christian walk.
It’s quite common for young mothers nowadays to forgo the inconvenience and pain of breastfeeding, opting for manufactured bottled formula instead. Nutritionists will tell you this practice is harmless while noting that breast milk is preferred for a complete diet and proper child development. Through nursing the baby receives tailor-made food and also uniquely bonds with the mother and yet many reject the practice. Likewise, the modern church has developed its own formula for spiritually feeding the congregation. Each denomination has its own version or concoction and as congregates, we can choose which flavor best suits our tastes. Some formula is so weak it contains less-than-ideal nutrition while others are pure poison. Still other diets appeal to the more self-righteous or ritualistic among us. All seek to avoid the solid food Jesus proclaimed so clearly which leaves no room for variance of interpretation. The solution? We must give up our lives. You cannot claim to be a Christian and refuse to eat from the passover table of suffering. You cannot eat the loaves and fish of Christ’s blessings and refuse to drink the cup of crucifixion. We must swallow the entirety of the gospel which seeks to take away everything that hinders our growth in Christ Jesus.
So many claim to understand the word of God with all its power to change but have not been“… trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” As a result, we consume spiritual junk food which tastes sweet to our emotions yet recoil and despise the meat of obedience. When a baby begins to breastfeed, their stomachs have yet to develop the necessary acids for proper digestion. They often overeat, spit up, and must be burped to help settle their tummies. In the same way, we regurgitate the milk our pulpits keep shoving into us for fear of “offending” someone. We love the taste but become sick and weak as we spit up more and more. We’re unable to take in the power of the Holy Spirit who teaches us what is ungodly and unfit for spiritual consumption.
Brothers and sisters, we do well to wake up from our entertainment. Put down the gaming consoles, turn off the sports, get up off the couch, and stop feasting on watered-down sermons so you can begin to consume and crave the solid food of the word of God. Stop avoiding those scriptures that hit us where it hurts the most. Cease from ignoring the conviction of the Holy Spirit and pray that the light of Jesus might penetrate our stubborn hearts. It’s time to grow up and become mature men and women, strengthened and ready for His good service.