Hebrews 5:11-6:12

Ah, Hebrews, what a wonderful, lighthearted book (sarcasm infused). As I was reading this passage this morning, I felt a sense of parenting going on. Whoever wrote the book of Hebrews (and there are numerous theories on who it was, but nobody really knows for certain), obviously had the heart of a spiritual parent. They weren't just a mature spiritual grown-up, but a parent, because they were intent on reproducing.

As I read the words, "though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God," it hit me. They didn't need someone to explain these things to them. They had a head knowledge of the basic principles of the oracles of God. They could probably pass a test on what the oracles of God were and their significance in the Scriptures. The problem with these "spiritual children" was that their lives did not show any results of living according to the oracles of God. They were still living off "milk," not "solid food."

How often do we do this? We hear a teaching we have heard many times, and so we brush it off because we have already heard it before. It wasn't very good because it wasn't new, right? Yet when someone examines our lives, would they see evidence that we truly have learned what we think we have? One of the primary principles of teaching is that you haven't taught someone something unless it takes root in their behavior. I can sit in front of a group and regurgitate facts for an hour, and many folks will hear some things they may not have heard before. However, at the end of the day, if nothing changes in your conduct because of it, have I really taught you anything? Probably not. I set some solid food in front of you, but I didn't help you to eat it.

So what are the so-called basic principles of the oracles of God? Well, as you venture into chapter 6, they are right there. There are six of them: repentance from dead works, faith toward God, instruction about washings or baptism, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. Do you understand these things? Notice the question. I didn't ask if you know about these things. I asked if you understand these things. When you hear teachings on these things does it motivate a change in your behavior? Do you live differently because of your knowledge of them? Does the idea of resurrection instill a sense of hope in you that drives your way of thinking and living? Does repentance from dead works really shape the things you do here on earth? Did your baptism mean anything to you? Do you live your life based on the fact that there will be an eternal judgment? What about laying on of hands? Do you even know much about that concept?

Being transformed is so much more than head-knowledge. When our mind is transformed, then we live differently. So what are the things you have stored up in your head that you haven't allowed to take root in your life?