Milk or Meat?

Milk or Meat? Should we as Christians serve up Milk or Meat? Is it really an either/or decision? Is it really one or the other? Is there times for Milk and times for Meat? Is it based upon who you are ‘serving’?

Before I go any further I better define what is Milk and Meat in the spiritual realm. Let’s look at Scripture.

1 Peter 2:2-3
¹ Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, ² like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, ³ if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
The word, the Bible is described as milk, something that nourishes, so we ALL need the milk of the Word.

Hebrews 5:12-13
¹² For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. ¹³ For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.
Paul describes the elementary principles of Scripture as milk and that those who cannot handle the meat of the Word are still infants. In vs 13 Paul says those who are only willing to be on milk and not meat are not accomplished to solid truth, walking in righteousness. They will reject the call to purity, holiness, sanctification.

1 Corinthians 3: 1-2
¹ And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. ² I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, ³ for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? 
In this passage milk is being described as for newborns, infants in Christ. Paul is saying Christians who are walking in the flesh or not spiritual men. Take note it should be that someone who has been a Christian for a long time should be able to handle more than the basics of Christianity. They should be mature enough to handle the meat.

Milk or Meat?
The Word is Milk and digging deep into the Word is Meat. We all need the milk-the Word. As we grow in Christ we need the meat. If we do not eat the meat, we will continue to be infants in Christ. So, if we want to grow in Christ, become mature Christians we need the meat.

If all we do is share the elementary teachings of Scripture and never share the meat, we will raise what a pastor of mine would say, “Men who need their mustache parted to get the bottle in their mouth.

Putting into Practice
If we are ministering to the lost or to individuals who have just received Christ we should stick with the elementary principles found in Scripture. If we are ministering to Christians that are choking on the meat of the Word, we may have to go over the elementary principles with them again, to get them grounded on the basics of Christianity. But if we never present the meat, when ministering to individuals they will never grow in Christ. It should be clear we need the leading of the Holy Spirit on how to minister to individuals when presenting them the Word of God.

Reality
If a Christian is claiming to be a mature Christian but is walking in carnality, they are deceived about their spiritual condition. If a Christian is claiming to be a mature Christian but they are getting offended by the meat, they are deceived about their spiritual condition. In these situations it is important to help the Christian to see their immaturity in Christ and help them grow in Christ. Using the milk and getting them on the meat. Keeping them happy so they do not get offended is not going to help them grow in Christ.

Sadly overall within the body of Christ there is a lack of the meat in the American Church. Way to much milk, way too much sugar saturated milk, tastes great but harmful to your growth in Christ.

Calling
Some individuals are called to give milk. Others are called to give meat. Apostle Paul was able to be all things to all men to be able to save some. We should do our best to follow that example. Give milk when needed, give meat when needed.

Evangelists normally give much more milk than meat. Those who disciple normally give more meat. Those operating in compassion normally give more milk than meat. Those who operate in the prophetic normally give out more meat. Shepherds have the ability to give out milk or meat based upion the need of the flock.

Bottom Line
Share the Word of God. Use wisdom how you do it. Be lead by the Spirit. Do whatever you can to help individuals grow in Christ.