Nov. 9 – Thoughts on Jer. 46-47 & Hebrews 6

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

Our kids have been pretty frustrated with school.  Sadly, while we fight for the rights of those who learn at a slower pace than others, we don’t do so as well for those who learn faster.  Our kids are quick learners and we discuss and teach much at home, so they have been bored with most of their classes.  And when they advocate for themselves with their teachers, seeking a faster learning pace, other materials they can learn, or another class that might help, they are told to “just hang in there; it will get better soon” yet it never does.  We are once again teaching to the lowest common denominator so that no one is left behind.  But this also means no one can stretch ahead either.

I have posited not long ago the idea that churches have their education classes based on spiritual maturity rather than age or gender as we currently do.  I believe that this would allow us to follow the above teaching from Hebrews.  Currently, we have to teach the “elementary teachings about Christ” because there are always some who are new believers and need them.  But this means that those who don’t need them have to sit through lesson after lesson of things they have already learned.

What if we had classes on the “elementary teachings about Christ” for young believers, and then classes on “repentance… faith in God… instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgement”, but then finally classes where we teach the more mature teachings for those who are more spiritually mature.

We are attempting this by setting learning standards for the church, but even with those we are age-bound.  And I know a number of children who have spiritually surpassed some of their elders.