Meat And Milk

When it comes to our spiritual growth - becoming mature in Christ – you often hear the terms ‘milk’ and ‘meat’.  I'm convinced that many believers are confused as to what ‘meat’ and ‘milk’ are when it comes to growing in the Lord.  That matters because knowing the difference between the two will greatly affect ones spiritual growth - similar to knowing which foods to eat in order to receive the optimum nutrition for the physical body.

First of all, when it comes to maturity in Christ there are often two false assumptions that get in the way:  1) "I will automatically become mature in Christ as I age"; 2)  "Just as it takes years to mature physically, it takes just as long to mature in Christ".  There is no such scripture, however, to back either of these lines of thinking.  In fact it says in Job 32:7-8 that it’s not age, but rather the Spirit of God inside of you that makes one wise. Maturity, or growing up in Christ is not a matter of getting chronologically older, but rather a matter of what you eat spiritually. Often in the church world we find that some of the oldest saints can be some of the most immature spiritually, while some of the younger ones can be some of the most spiritually mature.

WHAT IS MILK?

Simply stated, milk is the Word of God, as well as teaching or preaching from the Word of God. That's why no pastor on the planet can give you 'meat' - they can only give you 'milk'.  I know that some may bring a protest in the thinking of some - but look at scripture itself:

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; for you are still carnal. 1 Cor. 3:1-3.

This is in the beginning of his letter to the Corinthians where he states he's going to give them milk - nine chapters later he talks to them about the gifts of the Holy Spirit and their use. Most folks would consider the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the use of them to be advanced stuff. But Paul did not change his mind half way through writing one letter. He said he was going to give them milk and that is what he did. He asks them to drink this 'milk' and grow up in Christ.

Peter also talks about milk here, saying to desire the pure milk of the word:

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. 1 Peter 2:1-2.

From Hebrews:

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. Hebrews 5:12.

The writer of Hebrews also talks about this milk and meat issue. He states that the people he's addressing should have been teachers by now but they are in need of milk again. He calls the ‘milk’, teaching them about the first principles of the oracles of God. The word ‘oracles’ is rooted in the word logos - again, speaking of the Word of God.

In this we must never downplay the importance of milk in our lives. In the physical body milk is critical all of our lives because it provides nutrients that give our skeletal structure it's strength. Similarly, the Word of God strengthens and supports our structure, or foundation that we must have in order to be healthy spiritually.  We must never neglect the pure milk of the Word!

But as the Word points out - to grow to maturity there is something else we need to add to our diet.

MEAT - THE MISSING INGREDIENT

So what is 'meat'?  Well it's not a good sermon or a Christian book, or even a Bible study.   It doesn't happen when the pastor 'rings the bell'. 

Clues to what meat is are found in Hebrews 5:14:

"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." 

Note the key words "by reason of use" which gives us the clue that those eating meat are actually doing, or 'using' something.

Jesus Himself answers the question for us about what meat actually is.  And since Jesus is our example, as He stated that He is sending us just as He was sent - Jesus defines for all Believers what our meat is in John 4:34:

"Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." 

Meat is DOING the Word of God.  If we are going to mature in Christ we must move from just studying, hearing and listening to the Word - and begin DOING the Word.  The Bible is God's revealed will for us on this planet - so by doing the Word we are doing the will of God - and eating meat.

This brings greater clarity to James 1:22:

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

If you only study or read the Bible - you are deceiving yourself.  Why?  Because you cannot grow from just reading or hearing.  In fact that will keep you on the infancy level in Christianity.  Growth to maturity requires meat - and that only comes when we DO the Word. 

A good church and a good pastor cannot give you meat - but they can give you opportunities to eat meat and facilitate the eating of meat.  That should be a guiding factor in choosing a church.  It's not just about sermons and programs offered - but am I trained and afforded opportunities to eat meat?