A Study on Milk and Meat - Amy Lawrence

Grow In Knowledge

A Study On Milk And Meat

I can never get enough Bible study. I am always dissatisfied with not knowing as much as I would like, not being able to recall information any time the questions are asked or the subject is discussed, or just being ignorant because I haven’t learned the information yet. I understand that I don’t have as much time and experience under my belt yet as do my elder brothers and sisters in Christ, but my aim is to be as wise in scripture as those who have gone on before me when I myself am elder, if the Good Lord wills me a long life. There are, however, Christians that have been such long enough to have a good if not great knowledge of scripture...but do not. Please allow me to clarify - I am no Bible scholar. There will never be a day that I can say I know all there is to know that scripture has to offer. It is also important to understand that not everyone studies and learns the same way. Some may have more knowledge on topics, others may be knowledgeable on a verse-by-verse basis. Christian A might know the Corinthian letters frontward, backward, and sideways. Christian B might have a deep understanding of the four gospels. In this, we find one of the many necessities of unity; each Christian does not and cannot have a perfect knowledge of scripture, but we as individual parts of the whole can each know a portion of scripture. Paul wrote to the Corinthians that we “know in part”, but when we come together, the “in part” is done away, 1 Cor. 13:9-10. The church should be the united knowledge of scripture that makes it the pillar and ground of truth, 1 Tim. 3:15. I don’t know the Bible as well as another brother or sister in Christ might, but I can learn from them and also direct anyone to them that desires a better understanding of scripture.
However, not everyone has the desire to know their Bible.
That is the difference between one who is always gaining a better knowledge of God’s word and one who is happy to know just the bare minimum. Desire.

Scripture uses illustrations to help readers understand the message. Jesus taught frequently in parables - earthly illustrations with heavenly meanings - to help his audience wrap our minds around ideas that we haven’t experienced ourselves. Jesus would use things His audience could understand through their own experiences to impart knowledge of things they wouldn’t otherwise understand. Many of the writers of scripture would do the same. The writer of Hebrews, Paul the apostle, and Peter the apostle all use a similar comparison when describing a person’s journey in knowledge: from milk to meat. As we go through this study, we will be focusing on and showing the transition between those two levels of knowledge. But first, we must discuss the importance of the journey. The structure of our study will be as follows:

I. Measuring Knowledge: why is knowledge important? -The Journey

-The Battlefield -The Weapons -The Source

II. Milk-fed Knowledge -Starting your journey

-The taught

-Leaving infancy III. Meat-fed Knowledge

-Chewing tougher things

-The teacher
-The end of the journey

MEASURING KNOWLEDGE

The Journey

I would love to tell you that this is going to be an easy journey. Most people start off thinking that it will be. But it isn’t.

Actually, it is the most difficult journey you will make in your lifetime...but don’t let that scare you. Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. There are going to be days you want to quit; you’ve come this far, you are happy to plant your roots where you stand. Stopping there, however, will result in never seeing the reason for the journey in the first place.

When I decide to travel anywhere in this life, there is a certain planning that takes place as a prerequisite to any travel. I prepare as much as possible to make our trip successful. (Google and I are on a first-name-basis when planning vacations. I actually think Google gets quite annoyed with me asking so many questions.) I gather knowledge. It makes sense, and it’s what sensible people do. Now let’s consider for a moment this journey we call life; knowledge is so important to us, every US citizen is required to dedicate 13-21 years of their life to gaining secular knowledge in our education system. We start with the basics: reading, writing, arithmetic. It is not until one learns these things before one can move on to more difficult concepts. It is in itself a journey. Spiritual knowledge follows the same path. We must begin with the basics before we can move toward the weightier matters. But why? Why learn to read, write, or calculate? If you can’t read, then you will find certain things difficult if not impossible to do. We’re talking about a journey, but what if you couldn’t read road signs? Would you be able to get where you’re going? If you’d like to stay in a hotel or a condo, you have to be able to sign your name. Money transfer requires all of the above. These things make the simple tasks necessary for living in a society possible. This is understood by most people...but many of these same people do not give an education in scripture the same importance - either because they don’t know any better or they just don’t care. Hosea wrote the words of God during a time when His people had no love for a spiritual education: “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. ” (Hos. 4:6) Hosea is considered the “weeping prophet” of Israel (Jeremiah was the “weeping prophet” of Judah) because Hosea wrote as a witness of the captivity of the Northern Kingdom by the Assyrian forces. Hosea recorded God’s words of explanation as to why Israel was suffering: they had no desire to know God’s law! In this, we learn the magnitude of God’s feelings toward willful ignorance.

Dictionary.com defines a ‘pilgrimage’ as “any long journey, especially one undertaken as a quest for a votive purpose, as to pay homage.” The writer of Hebrews calls those written in the Hall of Faith “strangers and pilgrims on earth” (Heb. 11:16). Their journey through this life is recorded for our example in Hebrews chapters 11-12, and when you read, you will discover that it was no ordinary journey. It was one that was dedicated to knowledge of and obedience to God’s will. You will find the importance of knowing the will of God in the words found in Hebrews 10:36: “For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise.” One would ask, “What is the will of God?” when they see that word ‘promise’. It can be equated to winning a trip for two to Fiji, all expenses paid, just follow the instructions given. Well, what instructions? In this one can see the importance of knowledge.

The Battlefield

Yes. The journey begins on a battlefield. So many quit here. For various reasons, all of them involving a difficulty they feel is unworthy of their effort, they quit here. If they only knew what they were giving up for a temporary comfort. But consider Moses. He had not just those temporary comforts, but the best temporary comforts as the son of Pharaoh, and he gave them up for a battle-filled life, Heb. 11:24-30. He knew what he was fighting for.

It’s not a literal battlefield. Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” (Jn. 18:36) So what is it? Read Luke 8:4-15. The battlefield is your mind. The contenders are God and Satan. They are both recruiting, Job 1, Luke 22:31-32, 2 Tim. 2:22-26. Now the question is, for whom do you fight? If you aren’t fighting for one, you are by default fighting for the other, Mt. 12:30, Lk. 12:23.

The Weapons

Satan’s weapons:
-deception. He is the father of lies, Jn. 8:44. He is wily, Eph. 6:11. He can disguise himself, 2 Cor. 11:14. He twists scripture, Mt. 4:5-7.
-selfishness. He knows what tempts us, James 1:14, Mt. 4:3, Gen. 3:1-6. He knows when we seek our own desires, we don’t seek God, Is. 53:6, 1 Jn. 2:15-17.
-doubt. There is no more dangerous a weapon than that of our own minds turned against us. All it took was one word added to God’s word that planted the seed of doubt in Eve’s mind, Gen. 3:1-6. Peter allowed what he feared to distract him from what he knew, Mt. 14:31.

-accusation. Satan tries his best to convince God that we are worthless, Rev. 12:10, and we give Satan plenty of ammunition, Rom. 3:10.

-fear. There is nothing that so completely robs us of our intelligence as fear, Acts 24:25.
-bait. Satan uses our desires to trap us, and he uses suffering to drive us into those traps, 1 Tim. 6:9, 2 Tim. 2:24-26.

God’s weapons:

-truth. Ps. 91:4, Eph. 6:14 - Truth is a sure foundation. It is not subject to change nor can it be, which is why justice stands upon truth. We’re talking about battles and weapons, so you can understand why it is important to be able to trust your Captain - and your sword.

-love. The word love (charity, KJV) found in 1 Cor. 13 is the Greek word ἀγάπη (agapé). Read the description Paul gives of love. This word does not simply give name to an emotion. Agapé is an action. It carries with it the selflessness found in Phil. 2:3-8 and Rom. 5:6-8.

-assurance. Read through the book of 1 John and count how many times you see any form of the word “know”. John tells us that we can “know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.” (1 Jn. 3:19) Only in God will we find full assurance, Col. 2:1-3, because only in God do we find truth, Jn. 17:17.

-propitiation. While Satan is standing behind Christians and pointing a finger, Christ is standing for Christians in our defense, 2 Cor. 5:21, Heb. 2:17, Rom. 5:6-9.

-peace. Ps. 23:4; 27:1,3. This peace comes only from God. It is one that passes all understanding, Phil. 4: 6-7, and only in this peace can we think clearly, Phil. 4:8.

-reward. God tells us the truth. If we live a Godly life, we will suffer, 2 Tim. 3:13, but the suffering for His cause will result in a reward that no one, not even Satan, can offer: eternal rest, Heb. 3-4, Mt. 5:10-12.

Going into battle without knowing your enemy is daft. Going into battle without knowing your weapon is suicide.

The Source

Everything we call knowledge had a beginning, a source. I can know that pain is the result of touching my finger to a candle flame because I’ve touched a candle flame. I can pass that information on to another, saving them from both ignorance and pain. They can pass on the information without having to experience the source of the information. That knowledge can continue through generations without losing any of its truth. Shared knowledge. The apostles shared their knowledge of what they had seen, heard, felt, 1 Jn. 1:1-4. Scripture is shared knowledge of God’s law, Deut. 6:1-9. Neh. 8, 2 Tim. 3:16-17. But what is the source of scripture? John tells us that “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” (Jn. 1:1) God is the source, 2 Tim. 3:16-17. Why is it important to know the source of God’s law? For the same reason it is important to know the source of any law: to determine the validity of its authority. If the source does not have the authority to make laws, then it is no law. But if the source does have the authority, then knowledge of that law is paramount to avoid punishment of breaking the commandments of God. He does indeed have the authority, because He is God, Is. 40:21-31, Job 38-41, He knows what He’s doing, 2 Pet. 2:4-11, and He can be trusted, Num. 23:19.

MILK-FED KNOWLEDGE

Starting The Journey
It is common knowledge that children are not born full grown. They must start at a compact size (and for this, mothers everywhere are thankful). They grow day by day, step by step. I am the proud mother of a 12-year-old daughter who is just one inch shy of reaching my height, and she is still growing. Putting bricks on her head didn’t work, so we just had to stop feeding her. (I’m joking. We feed her on Fridays.) To all of this there is a process. We didn’t start our daughter on steak and potatoes. She started on milk. All of the nutrients she needed as a baby were found in that milk. She was not yet to the point she could feed herself, either. That would come in time. The spiritual journey begins in much the same way. First, a Christian is born, Jn. 3:1-5, 1 Pet. 1:22-23. A person that has heard the gospel, Rom. 10:14-17, learned of and believed in God, Jn. 1:12, discovered that they have sins that are separating them from Him and have repented of those sins, Lk. 13:1-5, confessed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, Acts 8:37, and have been buried in the water/grave of baptism, killing the old and raising the new, Rom. 6:3-7, 2 Cor. 5:17, is a new-born Christian. This is where the journey begins.

The taught

When our daughter was born, I did not set her in her bedroom floor and tell her, “Okay. You’ve made it. You’re on your own.”

So why do we do that to new Christians?

Before they’ve even dried off from the plunge, we act like our work is done. This is where we lose a lot of Christians. In truth, this is where the journey gets tough. Habits need breaking, but the empty space left by the old habits need to be filled by new, good habits. Paul wrote to the Colossians, “...since you have put off the old man with his deeds and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him...” (Col. 3:9-10) In that chapter, Paul lists all the old habits that need to die and the new habits that need to take the place of the old. The thing about old habits, though, is that they die hard. Expecting them to die quickly is not a realistic expectation. New Christians need our help. And our patience. Don’t make them chug the milk. All mothers know that when the baby chugs the milk, bigger problems happen later. Give that new Christian time to burp.

Burps don’t happen without pats on the back. Each teacher uses their own preferred system, but there are common factors found in every system of successful teaching. One of those common factors is encouragement. There are two words found in scripture, exhort and encourage. Both are translated from the same Greek word παρακαλέω (parakaleo), which means “to call to one’s side”. When Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit in John 14, He calls Him the Helper (Comforter, KJV). The original Greek word for Helper is παράκλητος (parakletos), or “one who is called to one’s side”. He would help the apostles by teaching them what they didn’t know yet and by helping them remember what they already knew, Jn. 14:26. But the Holy Spirit also helps us today. Not only are we called by the gospel through the Holy Spirit, 2 Thess. 4:13-14, but He also makes intercession for us when we pray, Rom. 8:26-27. We are taught by both word and example to be an encouragement to new Christians, to be by their side as they grow, to give them that pat on the back and that knowledge we’ve learned and can pass on. We should desire their success as much as they do. Don’t let age fool you, either. I was raised in a Christian home and was baptized when I was 11. Such is not the case with everyone. There are many new Christians that have become babes in Christ as an adult. I am guilty myself of thinking that an adult new Christian is in less need of attention than a young new Christian. I have learned over the years that it is as big a step for the older as it is for the younger, but the step is much easier to take when we have a hand to hold.

We are also taught to edify one another, οἰκοδομή (oikodomé), or “build up”, Rom. 14:19. Peter calls Christians “lively stones”, 1 Pet. 2:5. The chief cornerstone is laid first. By this stone is the rest of the structure built. If the cornerstone isn’t accurate, then neither will the rest of the structure be accurate. Christ is the Chief Cornerstone of the church, Acts 4:8-12, and no other stone would have sufficed, Acts 4:12. In order to be the church, every stone built upon it must be stones created in the mold of God’s Word, Acts 2:41-47, 1 Pet. 1:22-2:3, 1 Cor. 3:9-17. Otherwise, it isn’t the church that Christ built. We are responsible for continuing what Jesus began, Mt. 28:18-20, 1 Cor. 3:12-15. We need built up and encouraged at any age and at any stage in our Christianity. We start as the ones in need of large helpings of both. We grow to be the ones that are able to both receive and dole out encouragement and edification.

Leaving Infancy

Eventually, new Christians must learn to both be helped and be able to stand on their own two feet. There are two words used in Gal. 6 translated “burden” in the KJV. The word βάρος (baros) is the Greek word for a heavy load that cannot be carried by one. This word is used in Gal. 6:2. The word φορτίον (phortion) is used in Gal. 6:5 and describes a smaller load that can be carried by one. We still require help, but the helped is slowly also becoming the helper. Sadly, though, we have many that miss out on the good things the church can accomplish because it’s dressed in overalls and looks like work. Paul’s letter to Titus tells Christians to maintain good works, Titus 3:8,14, because it is good and profitable and it keeps us from being unfruitful. God expects the trees that He plants to grow and begin to bear fruit, Jn. 15:8, Lk. 8:14-15. You can’t stay a sapling forever.

MEAT-FED KNOWLEDGE

Chewing Tougher Things
Children one day lose all those milk teeth. Stronger teeth take their place, and their digestive system can take in meatier meals. Their physiology begins to require a larger variety of nutrients. Milk alone can no longer meet their needs, and we would view as ridiculous the thought of anyone continuing on only milk for the rest of their life. Such is the same with spiritual children. The Hebrew writer chastised the Hebrews for being “dull of hearing”, Heb. 5:11. His choice of words were in reference to the problem they were having; the Hebrews couldn’t understand the heavier teachings because they had forgotten the basics. It’s pointless to teach a person calculus if they can’t remember how to add. But notice, the Hebrew writer is not chastising new Christians. He is chastising those Christians that have had enough time and opportunity to become teachers themselves, Heb. 5:12. He goes on to point out that there are tougher things coming that they’ll have to chew, and the chewing itself is what will help them grow, “by reason of use”. A child of four can count to ten, but it would be difficult to imagine an intelligent adult that couldn’t count to ten. Adults are so well-adjusted to counting that we can count in our sleep because, by reason of use, it has become second nature. Having that experience with the basics, we can understand the concepts that are built upon the basics. We can chew the tougher things. It is thus important to both learn and retain fundamental knowledge. The same principle can be applied to spiritual knowledge. We have to learn and remember the simple things before we can learn and understand the complex.

The teacher

Once we have become proficient in the fundamentals and have moved on to weightier matters, we are expected to become teachers, Heb. 5:12, Mt. 28:19-20. Just as the taught need encouragement and edification, so do the teachers. Paul wrote to the Galatians, “Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.” (Gal. 6:6) Sometimes, parents go to other parents for advice. They may be at a later stage of parenting than we are and have already experienced the things in which we are currently struggling. The writer of Hebrews encourages Christians to look to the eldership to follow their faith, Heb. 13:7, because of their experiences in this life as a Christian. One of the qualifications of becoming an elder is that the one desiring the office cannot be a novice, 1 Tim. 3:6. He cannot be unskilled in the word, but able to teach, 1 Tim. 3:2. We as the flock are also commanded to esteem the eldership highly and in love because of the work that they do, 1 Thess. 5:13. The elders themselves are commanded to rule, not as lording over us, but as examples to us, 1 Pet. 5:3. We can learn from them how to be teachers ourselves. Although women cannot teach men in the assembly, women in the church are commanded to teach the younger women, Titus 2:3-4, as well as our children, 2 Tim. 1:5, Eph. 6:1, Titus 2:4.

The best example of teaching comes from the best Teacher, Jesus, Jn. 13:13.

We cannot teach what we do not know. And so we must learn, just as Timothy learned, 2 Tim. 3:10-15, so we can preach the Word to those that are in our charge, 2 Tim. 4:1. The Bible is always the first and foremost source for knowledge of God’s will. Any person who teaches is however given a warning: be careful that you teach the Truth, the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth, James 3:1, 1 Jn. 4:1, 1 Tim. 6:20-21. God also places a great deal of emphasis on the importance of accuracy. He commanded the Israelites that they neither add to nor take away from His words, Deut. 4:2;12:32. God commanded Jeremiah to speak exactly the words which the Lord spoke to him, not diminishing one single word, Jer. 26:2. Jesus warned in His Revelation to John that anyone that added to or took away from His word would suffer the plagues found in the book and have their name erased from the Book of Life, Rev. 22:18-19. We must take care when we teach.

The End of the Journey

Some never start the journey. Some take two steps, decide it’s not worth it, and go back. Some get within reach of the end but allow something they think is better to distract them from that finish line. But then...some finish, win, rest. Paul the apostle fought the good fight, finished the course, kept the faith, 2 Tim. 4:7. Waiting for him on the other side of death was a crown of righteousness, vs. 8, and the same will be given to “all that also love His appearing.” Those that have a deep love and understanding of scripture know the feeling.

It’s a hard road. It would be even harder if we had to travel it alone, but we don’t. We always have the Good Shepherd, Ps. 23. The brethren near and far are also with us, 1 Cor. 12:25-27. Even those who have already passed on are teaching us with their Godly life, Heb. 11:4. There are so many in the church today that are both able and willing to help us in our growth in knowledge. ASK, Mt. 7:7. All of the technological advantages we also have in the 21st century put the gospel and any communication with brethren at our fingertips.

Pilate once asked Jesus, “Quid est veritas?” What is truth? It is truth that God created this universe and everything in it, Genesis 1:1. God also created man, Gen. 1:26. God as the Creator has the authority to determine man’s purpose, Is. 64:8. It is man’s purpose to worship our Creator by whom we will be judged, Ecc. 12:13-14. We must worship in spirit and in truth, Jn. 4:24. God’s Word is truth, Jn. 17:17. By it, we will be judged, Jn. 12:48. It prophesied of the coming of the Christ, Is. 53, Acts 8:26-35. God’s Word makes us aware of sin and the necessity of the ministry, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ, Rom. 6-8. We learn in scripture what we must do to be saved from sin: we must hear the word, Rom. 10:14-17, learn of and believe in God, Jn. 1:12, discover that we have sins that are separating us from Him and repent of those sins, Lk. 13:1-5, confess that Jesus the Christ is the Son of God, Acts 8:37, and be buried in the water/grave of baptism, killing the old and raising the new, Rom. 6:3-7, 2 Cor. 5:17. If you are already a Christian but have never immersed yourself in a knowledge of God’s word, let us help you. The Lord’s church is the pillar and ground of Truth, 1 Tim. 3:15. We teach the Bible. We do not teach man’s creed, only God’s. We speak where the Bible speaks and are silent where the Bible is silent, as should anyone who teaches the gospel. Learn the Truth, because the Truth will set you free, Jn. 8:32.

I leave you with the words of Peter. “Therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things beforehand, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever, Amen.” (2 Pet. 3:17-18) May a love for the Truth give you a desire to know more.