One of the positive things to come out of this time of social isolation is spiritual hunger. People are hungry for more. It would be unfair and unrealistic to attach to a pastor the demand to provide all we need in the form of teaching and fellowship. That must become our individual assignment and one we engage with integrity. If not, we will become stuck and satiated in a rut not embracing the process of personal maturity.

The writer of Hebrews had some strong words for his audience. He wrote, “You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word” (Hebrews 5: 12). The admonishment went on to say those being addressed were like babies only able to consume milk, not solid food because solid food is for the mature. That maturity was defined as the ability to recognize the difference between right and wrong. 

Mature believers have learned how to feed themselves. This is where the challenge comes for leaders who assume they are solely responsible for this feeding. When believers take personal responsibility for their maturity differences of opinion and interpretations will emerge. This is not a challenge to anyone’s leadership ability or a sign of rebellion in the Church. It is simply the fruit of people maturing outside the walls and programs of a local ministry, like what has taken place in the last two years.

Right after introducing the admonishment in chapter 5, chapter 6 begins with the words “So, let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on and become mature in our understanding” (Hebrews 6:1). 

An orbit of predictability and routine that in some ways had limited our maturity has been broken in this time of isolation. Instead of weakening the Church, we have been strengthened. People have learned how to feed themselves, not at the expense of fellowship and gathering together, but as an enhancement for our future gatherings. What hell planned to weaken us has matured us if we did not waste this opportunity to personally grow in our faith.