You Are Slow To Learn

What do pastors do when their flock is apathetic, or caught up in the things of this world?

Perhaps the author of Hebrews addressed that question with the following:

"We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death [or useless rituals], and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so" (Hebrews 5:11-14; 6:1-3).

That about which the author has much to say involves the High Priesthood of Jesus, who "offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered and, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him" (Hebrews 5:7-9). It is this information on which the author would like to expound, but he cannot. His audience is slow to learn.

The author then shows some righteous anger: "By this time you ought to be teachers." I wonder how long the author had been working with this audience. 6 months? A year? 5 years? More? Many pastors, I'm sure, feel this frustration at times in their ministries. How should they respond? Continue looking at the passage with me.

The author notes that milk, representing the spiritual basics, is not a bad thing - for infants. But the mature need solid food to become "acquainted with the teaching about righteousness." It's a bit of a rebuke. He's saying, "Grow up!" Paul says the same thing to the Corinthians: "Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready." (1 Corinthians 3:1-2). It's a sad thing for a pastor who has worked dilgently to see such worldliness in his flock.

But the story doesn't end with rebuke. Notice that the author of Hebrews explains what is beyond milk. "Solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." "Constant use" is the key to this sentence. Today's lay people are as happy as infants to lap up milk every Sunday. The occasional mid-week Bible study might introduce a little solid food, but there's no sign of "constant use." "Constant use" is an encouraging call to "leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity." And so the pastor must always be encouraging his flock, never leaving them downtrodden after rebuke.

How is the pastor to be faithful in this endeavor? Hebrews 6:3 yields the answer: "God permitting, we will do so." There is a reliance on God's sovereignty in election and justification and sanctification that comes only from the grace of the Holy Spirit. This author had that - and Jesus had that. Read John 6:27,35-40,44-48 to see if you can find it. There are a great many pastors who need this gift of grace in their challenging ministries. Would you pray for them today?