When my younger brother, Neil, was a baby, my mother’s best friends were debating whether or not to say something to her. They were afraid Mom had not noticed what they perceived as possible developmental delays. He would just sit there in his infant seat, not expressing noticeable interest in much of anything. He did not seem to care a great deal about becoming mobile.
As it turned out, Neil must have been taking it all in and honing his skills of observation. In elementary school, he was meeting with the principal to go over challenging math problems and by junior high was reading the National Review. His vocabulary was way better than mine. Now he has a doctorate in philosophy and is a university professor.
As parents, grandparents, family members or friends, we understand how crucial it is for children to continue to develop. We highly value proper nutrition, healthy activity and quality education, which all help kids reach important milestones throughout their young lives.
If a family member or teacher or pediatrician notices a lack of growth or development in a child, they almost always evaluate and confront the problem. Why then, are we Christians and our churches so often quick to excuse a lack of spiritual development? Why don’t we hold high expectations for believers to dig deeper and deeper into their faith and their relationship with God? Why are we frequently satisfied or blasé about having a surface-level understanding of Scripture and of God?
The author of Hebrews chastised his audience by writing, “About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Therefore, let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity.” (Hebrews 5:11-6:1a)
The Apostle Paul wrote a similar message to the Christians at Corinth. “Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the spirit but as people who are still 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. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-3)
If we are in the same place spiritually where we were several years ago, that likely signals a problem. If our relationship with God is not becoming richer and deeper, we are missing out.
Do you remember the story of 12-year-old Jesus being accidentally left behind in Jerusalem? It turned out that he was in the temple courts, listening to the teachers and asking questions. The way that Jesus developed in his humanity serves as a good model for us. “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52)
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