My grandson turned six years old recently and on his birthday he told me he was six and a half. I said, “No, you’re exactly six. You’re not six and a half.” Without bothering to look up he calmly replied, “I’m six and a half.” Kids always seem to be in a hurry to grow up. Teenagers push for more input into decisions about curfews and driving privileges. As people enter their first career they want to be recognized as a unique contributor to the organization.
A longing for independence and respect is a natural part of growing up, but for some reason that doesn’t always translate into the Christian life. A good friend of mine is fond of saying that there is no other environment in which you get a pass for knowing so little over so much time. If a bricklayer was twenty years on the job and still could only perform the most basic functions, you would question his competence. So why is it acceptable to be a Bible-believing, church-attending Christian for decades and know so little?
My friend has rightfully noted that the common Christian answer to questions about the Bible is, “I’m no theologian” or “You should talk to a pastor.” I love the title of a book authored by R.C. Sproul (and I highly recommend it). It’s entitled Everyone’s a Theologian. I agree with him that it is insufficient for Christians to fall back on platitudes like “No creed but Christ.” It tends to be a pretext for avoiding the work of studying the Bible, or dodging the conflict that comes with taking a stand, or to simply shut the topic down before it gets any more serious.
The Bible has something to say to Christians that are satisfied with putting their minds in theological cruise control. To the indifferent believer there may be an assumption that though nobody knows or cares, but it’s not true. It was as clear to the early church as it is to biblical students today.
After writing about the theological implications of Jesus serving as the believer’s high priest, the author of Hebrews continues:
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. 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 5:11–14)
The significance of Jesus serving as high priest is enormous and the author had so much more to say, but he couldn’t because the readers were disengaged. They were uninterested. They were bored of it. If they had been careful listeners and diligent learners of apostolic teachings, they would have even been capable of teaching others! Instead, they had to be given the elemental principles of the faith…again.
The author makes the point that you can survive on the milk of the Word, but you will remain “unskilled in the word of righteousness.” You can be the 20-year veteran of the bricklaying business that can do little more than fill and empty wheelbarrows, but you will miss out on the opportunity to meaningfully participate in building the house. There is a time and a place for unskilled labor, but it should be short-lived.
Those that can rightly handle the word of truth have had their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. They can masterfully navigate the grey areas of life using the razor-sharp sword of the Spirit.
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
Consider your tenure as a Christian. In light of that, does the Sword fit comfortably in your hand? Are you able to wield it with ease and land it precisely at the point of division between good and evil? Pray that God will help you to grow in your faith through increased self-discipline. Push past the bottle and seek the solid food. Commit to knowing the Bible better. Don’t avoid doctrinal difficulties and theological challenges. Study the Word, pray for wisdom, discuss it with mature believers and meditate on God’s truth. And always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.