Back To Basics...

When we don't know what ails us and have too many spiritual problems and deficiencies to face up to, maybe it is time to go back to Square One, to First Base, the fundamentals, or the basics. Spiritual troubleshooting can be problematic; usually, the problem is that you just need to get back to basics because you've forgotten something. You are not ready for the meat of the Word if you haven't digested the milk, but will only err and be "tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine" (cf. Ephesians 4:11), not being grounded in the truth. 

Just like milk is a basic and most never tire of it, you should never get tired of the basics, and should never feel insulted by hearing them--the gospel message always seems like music to the ears. Some churches seem to be abecedarian or rudimentary, stuck in the ABCs; however, there should always be a challenge to those who are mature and can discern good from evil, according to Hebrews 5:14, and for those ready for the meat of the Word.

The preacher's role is to feed the sheep and the lambs or to meet the needs of the whole body. Some students of the Word get intoxicated with the deeper truths of the Word and haven't even mastered the basics, such as:  How to be assured of your salvation;  the learned discipline of confession; how to give a testimony; how to put on the armor of God; how to walk in the Spirit; knowing the way of salvation; how to pray; how to witness; and skills in reading the Bible. 

Did you know some Christians don't know what repentance and faith are?  Sad to say, all the exposure some believers get to the Word is what they hear on any given Sunday.  A preacher can bring him to repentance of his sins (to make him see them and have a right mental attitude toward them) because God is against sin and they need to learn how to claim victory over them--Jesus came to save us from our sins (Matt. 1:21).

Studying the deeper truths doesn't guarantee maturity unless one has mastered the basics and is able to digest them. We are hold to the deep doctrines of the faith with a clear conscience.  (cf. 1 Tim. 3:9). And to study and show ourselves approved unto God able to rightly divide the Word of truth. (cf. 2 Tim. 2:15).   Meditation is thought digestion and this is a lost art in today's church at large. 

We are to do more things with the Word than simply hear it preached:  We are to study it; meditate on it; memorize it; share it; teach it; receive it; examine it; pray it; heed it, read it; preach it; and obey it in order to get a proper grasp on Scripture--we are only cheating ourselves not doing these because you forget 95 percent of what you hear, but you remember 100 percent of what you memorize! 

But it does no good if we don't apply it to our lives!  The mind has to be selective in what it remembers and has to prioritize or we would face information overload, also known as cognitive overload or too much input.  We need reinforcement from other methods, even though we can retain 100 trillion facts in our brain.     Soli Deo Gloria!

What Good Is ABC Preaching?

Case in point: Some churches are only hearing what "their ears are itching to hear."

Some Christians demean or disparage pastors who preach mainly to the infant Christians and do what you would call preach the basics or "milk" of the word. Christ never spoke above his listeners' comprehension and targeted his audience. Knowing your listeners and audience is key! It is more irresponsible to preach mainly solid food when there are baby believers or lambs that need the milk of the Word. There is something wrong with a wise-guy believer who thinks he knows a lot but has never mastered the basics--this goes for any endeavor.

The mature Christian doesn't get sick of milk just because he can handle solid food or the meat of the Word. "As newborn babies desire the pure milk of the Word..." says 1 Pet. 2:2. The adept pastor aims at his imaginary listeners and feeds them milk and solid food--something for everyone. The mature Christian, it should be noted, is apt to dig into the Word himself and get his own meat. However, we all need the gift of teaching in the church and it was given for a reason: Jesus said, "Feed my lambs;" Feed my sheep." He said sheep twice to make sure that Peter didn't get into a strict milk rut or diet, as it were.

The human body never outgrows its need for milk, a staple in the diet, for nutrition (calcium and vitamins A and D, for instance, and also a good source of protein). Likewise, we never outgrow our need and taste for milk: At the least, we are learning how to feed others milk and share the basics with baby believers--we have to learn and relearn until it is second nature; we can't just say, "O, I've heard of that!" Paul said that he would repeat something and that it was no bother for him and good for them to hear it again (cf. Philippians 3:1).

Now, to be sure, solid food is for those who have their senses trained to discern good and evil according to Hebrews 5:14. Preaching milk only will not feed the adult believers and preaching solid food will go over their heads and discourage the baby believers. A balance must be found, but we must never despise the basics or grow tired of them.   Soli Deo Gloria!