Growing Beyond The Basics
Though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again.
Hebrews 5:12
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After a certain age people are expected to master the basics of life. But the Hebrews had never gotten beyond the kindergarten stage of the Christian life. Instead of becoming teachers, they were still toddlers in the faith. Growth in grace was long overdue.
It’s a phenomenon not unique to the first century AD, as Albert Barnes points out.
WALK WITH ALBERT BARNES
“It often occurs that people are true Christians, yet they are ignorant of some of the elementary principles of religion.
“This is a result of such things as a lack of early religious instruction; the faults of preachers who fail to teach their people; a lack of proper interest in the subject of religion; and a greater interest in other things than in religion.
“It is often surprising what vague and unsettled opinions Christians have on some of the most important points of Christianity, and how little qualified they are to defend their beliefs.
“To some of the elementary doctrines of Christianity—about deadness to the world, about self-denial, about prayer, about doing good, and about spirituality—they are utter strangers. So also of forgiveness, and charity, and love for a dying world.
“These are the elements of Christianity—rudiments which children in righteousness should learn.”
WALK CLOSER TO GOD
Perhaps you can identify with the person who said, “My favorite grade in school was the second grade, because three of the happiest years of my life were spent there!”
The problem? Lack of visible, definable, reasonable progress in the basics of education.
Maturity is the by-product of applying what you know—putting it to good use. Then you will make progress in the school of faith.
The basics. That’s the best place to start—and the worst place to stop!
