It is an expectation that in every aspect of life basic tasks will be mastered so that an individual can move on to more complex tasks. When we learn how to drive, we learn how to turn on the ignition and how to hold a steering wheel. You can never move on to driving the car if these basic functions are not understood and mastered. In baseball you are first taught how to hold a bat and ball. You can never learn the more complex mechanics of hitting and throwing if these elementary tasks have not only been mastered but have been accepted. As we raise our children this principle underlies every aspect of child-rearing as our children are geared towards adulthood. But somehow when it comes to faith the overwhelming majority choose to remain in spiritual infancy. Many will define themselves as belonging to a certain religion with absolutely no concept of what that religion actually teaches. They use their religion much like one would use a nationality to define themselves. Some actually do go to church. But week after week they go and never move forward. Some continue to stay ignorant concerning God's Word. Others simply master mindless aspects such as memorizing rote and ritualistic prayer, when to kneel, when to stand, etc. Many sit there week after week continuing to question the basic aspects of God which every new believer should have accepted: God's goodness, God's fairness, God's grace and mercy. Some still question basic tenets of the faith: salvation by grace on the finished work of Jesus Christ rather than salvation by works, what repentance means, etc. We must pause for a moment and ask ourselves, are we still in spiritual infancy or have we accepted these basic concepts and moving on in a relationship with God where we can actually be used.

We read in Hebrews 5:11-14, "of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time, you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. but solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." We must all ask ourselves if our walk with God is a relationship of love or simply done dutifully out of obligation. Are we moving forward with the One we love or are we stagnant and unwilling to grow. We can appear spiritual and even use all the proper Christianese phrases, but remain in spiritual infancy. Paul moves on in Hebrews 6:1-3 to explain what he desires to do, "Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits."

Again, this is when we should all pause and take stock of where we are in our walk of faith. Are we going through the motions approaching Him with dull ears and putting our time in, or are we in a living and breathing relationship. If we simply put our time in with our spouses our marriage would fall apart. We all train our children and expect them to one day leave our houses as adults. People are expected to go to school and go on to get jobs. Many are stagnant. But our walk is never really stagnant. Every day we make a decision and choose to either move forward or backward. If year after year we sit in church and never move forward, we are in effect moving backward. To move forward there are certain elementary principles of the Christian faith which should be accepted and mastered. If we continue to squabble or debate these elementary areas we can not re-focus our eyes on to where the Holy Spirit wants us to move. The Holy Spirit will never push past our free will. He will provide us with certain gifts, provide the opportunities, walk alongside us as we step out in faith. He will not leave us alone. But the decision to actually move forward rests with us. So, are you still in spiritual infancy or are you moving forward in your walk?