When it comes to the prospect of “study” I have observed that there are two things, and most often only two things, that people will study – that which they are required to study and that which they desireto study. People will study for a test in school or a licensing exam or something job-related. People will also study within their areas of interest. I am amazed at how many facts some people know about sports. Those interested in hunting and fishing enthusiastically study to learn more about hunting and fishing. Basically, detailed information related to whatever hobby or interests a person has is worthy to be studied by them. They will spend countless hours in the zone that brings them pleasure and fulfillment. It is far from a burden, but rather their pleasure.
For many, perhaps most people, Bible study falls into a 3rdcategory. The category is “things we ought to study.” Many will simply read their Bibles but not study them. They will attend church as long as it is simple enough so as not to challenge them to have to put their thinking caps on. Yet, we are not merely called upon to “read” but to “study” Scripture. In this day and age when the Christian worldview is under such vehement attack, it is essential we be ready to defend our faith, and “the sword of the Spirit” (Eph. 3:17) is the weapon we use.
Many believers have children, grandchildren and other loved ones who have adopted secular worldviews of various sorts, and the Christian parents and grandparents have no idea how to defend the Christian worldview and only fall back on ineffective appeals to their loved ones to come to church and/or start reading the Bible. In other words, they cannot engage in meaningful conversations with those who are deceived by another worldview because they themselves only know the very basics of their own Christian faith/worldview. Yet study materials are available, in abundance, to help equip them to beef up their knowledge.
One of the most widely quoted verses in the New Testament is “Study (be diligent) to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15) To be diligent in the manner called for here includes making the most of every opportunity given to increase in the knowledge of the truth. I have been amazed at how many spiritual opportunities I have seen wasted.
Study to increase in knowledge is profitable. Further, the profit is not merely for the person who gains in knowledge but for the whole body of Christ. Sadly what we often see is the reality stated in Hebrews 5:12-14 “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.” How many perpetual babes in Christ do we have in our churches? When Peter Pan stayed a boy and refused to grow up, everyone smiled, but I do not think God smiles when His children neglect to take the necessary steps to grow up spiritually! In this passage the writer goes so far as to say that many who would/should be teachers have refused to grow up spiritually and are still struggling with the basics.
Writing concerning the same theme in 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 Paul writes “And I brethren could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able.” The trend in the modern day church is to dumb down messages and lessons because even those who have been Christians for a number of years are not prone to trying to grasp anything very deep. Church has become much more about “what I get out of it,” than about “what God may have to say to me.” Many of our parents and grandparents went to church 3 times a week singing doctrinally rich hymns and being taught the Word of God verse by verse at each service. Now those things will not draw a crowd and few churches practice them. Those who do, have only a handful of people showing interest.
Hebrews 5: 12-14 indicates that many within the purview of this epistle should have matured to the point of being teachers by now but have not. What kept them from failing to be teachers? Quite simply, it was the fact they were not desiring “solid food,” but only “milk.” We wonder, at times, why there is always a need for teachers and few, if any, will step forward and show their willingness to teach. But what many fail to realize is that the answer is right here in the pages of Scripture. Too many have desired milk instead of solid food for far too long. Many potential teachers are people who stopped maturing years ago and never developed spiritually as God intended and may not even attend much at all anymore. Sadly, the waste of potential in our churches and in many individual Christian lives is enormous, and no doubt grieves the heart of God. Further, the witness and overall effectiveness of the church is weakened as a result.
In Christ,
Dr. Allen Raynor, Pastor
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