The Peril of Not Progressing

Hebrews 5:12 through 6:2

"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection,

not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment".

These verses are pretty intense, i find that they call me to go further and they spur me on.

Firstly it is a mild rebuke/encouragement you should be teachers but you are still needing to be taught. It then explains that in order to eat solid food (to be mature) your senses need to be exercised and able to discern both good and evil. How do you exercise your senses - by doing God's work, but you say 'how can i do God's work i am not yet a teacher i am still a babe' but in order to progress you have to be secure in where you are. And teach/help others to help them come to where you are, everybody has a testimony.
So you need to teach in order to become a teacher.

Then it moves on to say what babes do.. . therefore leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ. So this is saying leave these things and move on to solid food. So what are the elementary principles: discussion of repentance from dead works, faith toward God, doctrine of baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, eternal judgment. I don't think this verse really needs much comment i would however like to make two points.

Firstly mature Christians have a tendency to have long discussions about simple aspects of the faith, in this case anything from the above list. Cool discuss the bible, but why discuss something that often has a simple answer. Should we lay hands on people? Yes it says to. See simple doesn't need discussion, all discussion will do longterm is muddy up the waters.

Secondly in terms of this many people who would regard themselves as mature Christians able to eat solid food, are not! They could not tick off half of the above list. They have often never laid hands, or do not have it as a part of their life, they have no REAL faith tested by fire, they have not truly repented, a repentance which comes only from having an understanding of the cross, and that when you sin you grieve God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost. Instead they choose to have big discussions about issues (which are often simple and do not need big discussions) Ignoring both the instruction in this verse, and staying within the churches a selfish focus. Instead of an outward focused soul focused christianity - but that is a whole nother blog.

Get some face time with God, then get yourself up the expected/required level.