About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12
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, 13
for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14
But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
We ended yesterday speaking to Thomas Bergler’s book, The Juvenilization of American Christianity. Here are some of the things that Bergler notices and speaks
at length to:
· The
seven deadly sins have been redefined: “pride has become self-esteem… lust has become sexuality … envy and sloth has become leisure.” Of course, most adults still value virtue and deplore vice. But they also increasingly view life as an unending
journey of self-development. And the contemporary landscape through which they journey has many paths that can end in self-centeredness or even narcissism. Indeed, it is likely that the juvenilization of American Christianity and the emergence of the new immature
adulthood have mutually reinforce one another.
· They
value discovering the truth for themselves more than receiving the wisdom of others.
· They
can get frustrated when their simple solutions seem to fail, often blaming adults or the church.
· Adolescent
Christians seek out intimate, nurturing groups of friends who will support their faith journey. They care more about the quality of their religious friendships than about truth.
· They
have a hard time keeping religious commitments when their emotions are not cooperating. They are drawn to religious practices that produce emotional highs and sometimes assume that experiencing strong feelings is the same thing as spiritual authenticity.
· They
may be tempted to believe that God’s main role in their lives is to help them feel better or to heal their emotional pain. Juvenilized adults agree that a main purpose of Christianity is to help them feel better about their problems.
· During
the 1950s, enterprising adults began to create and market products and entertainment just for teenagers. Today, to be a teenager is to be bombarded by up to 3,000 advertising messages a day designed to play on desires for popularity, fun, domination of others,
and sexual fulfillment.’ Christianity must compete effectively
in the smorgasbord of sensuality that is the youth market.
· Adolescent
Christians expect their faith to be fun and entertaining. They want the church to make use of the latest music, technology, and cultural trends. Some revel in a completely parallel Christian youth subculture, complete with its own music, celebrities, and clothing,
all modeled on the offerings of the wider popular culture.
· Adolescent
Christians construct their religious identities through consumption of products and experiences.
· They
tend to be much more aware of their religious “rights” than their religious responsibilities.
Those are just a few of Bergler’s conclusions and even a shallow investigation of his observations make it hard to disagree with him.
Well, back to Hebrews. The preacher of this sermon that we call Hebrews, must have known his congregation quite well to have assessed where they are spiritually, needed
some solid food, but also to have the courage to speak straight to them. He has much to say that is going to be a comfort them, even encourage them…that will come in a bit, but first a good solid dose of reality and it has two prongs to it.
It would be similar if a dear friend, who you trust, were to say to you after explaining your situation, something like: You know I love you, but you need to grow
up. We are friends, so I can say this to you; Get over yourself. Brother, stop playing the victim and listen to the Lord.
Consider for a moment how you would respond if someone in the church spoke to you that way. Would you be humble enough to listen and then consider if what they were
saying was true? Or would you be offended that someone dares to “love you” in such a manner?
A minister acquaintance of mine was once telling me about an older minister, who he admired, speaking this way to him. My friend was telling him about a situation
that he was in that didn’t go well and in a moment of false humility said to the older minister: That the situation went south because of his pride…I was just too proud.
The older minister said, “You…proud? What do you have to be proud about???” Exactly.
Prayer: Father, I confess that I am often distracted and my heart seeks that which brings no peace, no comfort and no consolation. I pray that I would set the glory
of my Savior before my heart and mind and that you would lead me to becoming like my King. Help me to see that it is my calling to submit myself to the Lord in all things and that often You speak to me through my brothers and sisters. Give me humility to hear
You through those who love you, through Jesus Christ my Lord, Amen.
Psalm: Psalm 95 O Come Let Us Sing Unto the Lord
