Understanding Change Through a Biblical Lens
If you’ve ever wondered why church seems different now than it used to—why it feels like people aren’t as spiritually mature as we’d expect, or why the basics keep coming up over and over—you’re not alone. This isn’t just a modern problem; it goes way back to the early days of Christianity. There’s a passage in the Bible that talks about this very thing, and breaking it down can help us understand our own time.
Growing Up in Faith—But Sometimes Getting Stuck
Imagine you’ve been learning something for years—like playing piano or cooking. After a while, you’d expect to move on from the simple stuff and start mastering more complicated things. The writer of Hebrews (in the Bible) says the same should happen with our faith. The people he was talking to had been Christians for quite some time. By then, they should have been able not only to understand the basics, but also to teach others—maybe their kids, neighbors, or friends.
But here’s the thing: instead of moving forward, these believers were stuck. They still needed someone to go over the basics with them—almost like adults still needing to be taught the alphabet. The Bible calls this needing “milk” instead of “solid food.” In simple terms, “milk” means the easy, basic teachings, while “solid food” is the deeper stuff—the kind of wisdom and understanding that comes with spiritual maturity.
Why Does This Happen?
The passage suggests a shift happened. The early believers had been taught the fundamentals before, but they didn’t keep growing. Over time, they lost their grasp on those basics and needed to go back to square one. In many ways, that’s not so different from what happens today. People might start out excited about their faith, but life gets busy, distractions set in, and spiritual growth can stall. When that happens, churches might feel like they’re stuck on repeat, always going back to the basics instead of moving forward.
The Role of the Church Today
Today, churches face the same challenge as those early believers: helping people move from spiritual infancy to maturity. It’s not enough to just know the basics; the goal is to grow in understanding and be able to help others along the way.
But let’s be honest—modern life is fast-paced and complicated. People come from all sorts of backgrounds, and not everyone has the same foundation. Churches often have to meet people where they are, which means revisiting simple truths over and over. While this can make things feel different or even frustrating at times, it’s part of making sure everyone gets what they need to build a strong faith.
What Can We Do?
· Take Ownership of Your Faith: Don’t wait for someone else to teach you everything. Dive in, read, ask questions, and keep learning.
· Help Others: You don’t have to be a preacher to explain things to a friend or family member. Share what you know and encourage others to grow too.
· Embrace the Basics—but Don’t Stay There: The basics are important, but don’t be satisfied with never moving deeper. Challenge yourself to learn and mature.
In Summary
The Church feels different today for a lot of reasons, but one big factor is whether people are growing or staying in the same place spiritually. If it seems like we keep hearing the same messages, maybe it’s a reminder to take the next step in faith—not just for ourselves, but so we can help others too. Just like learning anything else, faith is meant to grow and deepen over time—so let’s not settle for spiritual “milk” when there’s so much more to discover.
Minister A Francine Green I July 2025
afrancinegreen.com 