So a while ago I talked about craving pure spiritual milk as seen in 1 Peter 2, this week we talk a bit about graduating to spiritual food. You see reciting fundamental truths is great, but eventually you need to graduate a bit and begin eating solid spiritual food. Paul lays out this analogy twice, in 1 Corinthians 3, and again in Hebrews 5-6. So how do we really graduate to spiritual food?
The idea of spiritual milk vs. spiritual food was popular in Greek philosophy and was used to point toward becoming more virtuous. It is used similarly by Paul, we’ll begin by examining 1 Corinthians 3:
“Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world? When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world? ” 1 Corinthians:1-4 (NLT)
So Paul lays out that if we want to graduate we can’t say we follow anyone other than Christ. I know there are many popular preachers and teachers out there, some are frankly charlatans while others are sincere and humble saints; regardless, we are not to wrap up our identities as Christians in any other person! Paul goes on to explain in 1 Corinthians 3:5-23 that the only foundation we can have is Christ, others can try to build upon that foundation, but ultimately we can only belong to Christ who belongs to God so never set your focus or attention upon a human leader. There is also a divisiveness when we identify with one leader, which if the global amalgamation of Christians is to be one church we simply can not adhere to!
If you find yourself saying things like “I follow teacher XYZ” or “I go to pastor XYZ’s church” then you need to mature. I honestly don’t like saying that because I believe it will offend people, but I can hardly contradict what is plainly written in the bible. At the same time my sincere hope is that no person will ever say “I follow Isaac Johnson,” but rather they would seek Christ for themselves. At the same time, “I’m a Calvinist” or “I’m a Baptist,” while nothing wrong per se with those things, should never be your identity as your identity should be “I am a follower of Christ.”
Continuing on in graduating to spiritual food, Paul speaks in Hebrews 5-6 about spiritual maturity:
“There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.” Hebrews 5:11-14 (NLT)
Sounds harsh doesn’t it? He continues:
“So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.” Hebrews 6:1-3 (NLT)
I spent quite a few years in children’s ministry during my 20’s, I can confirm that even the six year olds understand baptism, praying for people, that they will be resurrected and judged by God. They are certainly foundational truths, but there is so much more to be had! In fact, if you have been a Christian for any length of time, you should be teaching these truths to others! But Paul points to an even greater way toward spiritual maturity:
“Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don’t believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.” Hebrews 6:9-12 (NLT)
So for Paul a lot of it boiled down to Christian community through loving others. So as we learn to love others we can actually mature and be ready for spiritual food. I know that many of the people who are reading this are in fact humble saints who love God and love others, I encourage you to continue onward in this behaviour and be a believer who has wrapped up your identity solely in Christ as it allows you to be a consumer of really meaty, wholesome, and delicious spiritual truths that we find littered throughout the word of God!