Milk vs. Meat

This narrative serves as a special word of thanks to all who were in attendance at Bible study yesterday morning. I have always pondered the milk/meat concept, but yesterday was the first time I approached it in full discussion and biblical exploration. I am thankful for our milk/meat, carnal/spiritual conversation yesterday, regarding Hebrews 5:12-6:1-3 and 1 Corinthians 3:1-3. The class dialogue and exercise really helped me understand the distinctive difference between the milk/meat and or solid food concept of Paul. Milk and a preached/taught word for the carnal is rooted in continual reminders and a lack of the Christian actually applying the rich Word of God in lifestyle. In 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 Paul indicated he could not talk to the Corinthian Christians as spiritual because they were acting out of carnality and could only handle biblical milk. This was the case because, as saints, they were operating out of envy, strife, and division. Perhaps all the Word is meat, but when we are carnal and walking in disobedience, the Word is received as milk because, like babies, we must be told to do things over and over. Like Hebrews 5:12-6:1-3, Paul wanted to move to a more mature discussion,  but still found himself discussing simplistic topics like envy, strife,  and division. This was not outside the church, but inside. Wow!

In 1 Cor 11:18 Paul said to the Corinthian Christians, “For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.” Where division exists people are living off the milk of the Word because of their own carnal ways. Carnal living blocks the inception of the solid food of the Word. Jesus said “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34). Without doing there is no meat. The Hebrew writer said “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14).

The conversation and biblical analysis yesterday was very helpful. Some in the church can handle the meat of the Word because they are practicing Christianity daily, while others can only handle the milk of the word, resulting in continual behavioral reminders because they are walking in the flesh, thus resulting in a life of Christian immortality as opposed to morality.

Milk is pre-digested food for the babe to consume, but meat requires the eater to personally work through and digest. In summation, it appears that all of the Word is solid food, but the way we embrace, obey, and live it, determines if we need a pre-digested Word (milk) or meat where we will spend time personally living and digesting the spiritually solid food of God.

What are you on, Milk or Meat?