Growing up. Hebrews 6.

While there is quite a bit to chew on in this chapter, I want to focus on the writer's exhortation to grow, given to these Christians (and to us). Before doing that, though, I'd better comment on Melchizedek, since it's the second time he's been mentioned in Hebrews. Don't worry too much about who he is for now. How's that for help? We'll learn more about him in chapter seven. The writer of Hebrews is quoting Psalm 110:4 in this chapter if you want to read that passage in context. Melchizedek's brief story is told in Genesis 14:18-20, where we discover that he is the king of Salem who blessed Abraham and received his tithe. He's important in Jewish thinking and helps the writer make his main point about Jesus, which is that Jesus is a better high priest, and a better priest than the priests of the temple. Now, on to growing.

At the beginning of this chapter, the writer says "Therefore we must progress beyond the elementary instructions about Christ and move on to maturity..." He says this as a continuation from his words in chapter five about how the group receiving this letter are still babies in their understanding of their new faith. If you've heard other Christians talk about eating steak instead of milk, or solid food instead of spiritual milk, this is probably the Scripture they're referring to.

Why this particular imagery? One reason is that it's a useful way of looking at all kinds of growth processes, one we understand. Things start out in infancy and grow to maturity. Parents start out with a lot to learn, not knowing nearly what they'll know about parenting by the time their first child is 10. They need help at the outset, which is why God made mother-in-laws. And why BCC offers parenting conferences. Just to drive the point home, here's a list: intern, student, puppy, newlywed, seedling, t-ball, novice, entry level, toddler.

More significantly, birth to maturity are terms that Jesus employed in describing how we are to live. In John 3, Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must experience a spiritual birth, in order to be reconciled to God. More precisely, everyone needs to experience this, and Nicodemus isn't exempt simply because he knows and follows the law. A birth. A baby. Spiritually, when we become Christians, we start out as babies. And so we need pure spiritual milk. That's appropriate. But babies don't stay babies, unless something is wrong. Growth happens. Needs change. The food that was appropriate for an infant, is no longer appropriate for a teenager. If we understand the idea that our faith begins in infancy, no matter how old we are physically when we actually experience spiritual birth, then it's easy to understand both the need for growth and the process.

But, as the Hebrews demonstrate, and as we look around at other Christians, or at our own lives, we sometimes forget about this need for growth. Jesus also taught that we are to go and make disciples of all the nations, and teach them to obey all the commands He had given. In other words, tell others of their need for a spiritual birth, and then help them grow to be disciples -- fully devoted followers of Jesus. Initially, we are the ones receiving the teaching, the ones who make a decision to follow Christ, the ones who begin a new spiritual life, the ones who shouldn't remain as infants. Just like the Hebrews this letter was written to. But according to the writer, they haven't actually experienced this growth.

And so the writer urges them to move beyond elementary instructions, and then pushes them to do that, by providing deeper teaching in the rest of his letter. Hmmm. No wonder this is a tough letter to understand for some of us. We're in that same place. And that's okay. But we don't want to stay there. We need to do the part we need to do in the maturing process. An infant doesn't learn to walk simply by having parents pick her up and move her around. Her physical abilities need to mature, so her muscles and nerves, eyes and brain all work together. Gravity plays its part. Others provide encouragement, a helping hand, or show her how to do it. But she needs to take the steps, fall down, get up, fall down, and keep at it until the skill is developed. And at some point, she'll be the one helping an infant to learn to walk.

Likewise, we don't mature as Christians simply by showing up every Saturday night or Sunday morning. This read through the New Testament is one way to do our part in the growth process. So let's not stay sluggish, but "... imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised." (v.6:12b NIV).