It's easy for a coach to tell if one of their players is growing in the weight room. Once we test an athlete’s strength in key lifts such as squats, cleans, and bench press, we have numbers to use for tailoring a program to help them become bigger, faster, and stronger. We apply the principle of progressive overload by gradually increasing the demand on their muscles through adding weight, increasing repetitions, or adding sets. We also enhance growth by making them train close to muscle failure, and ensuring a balance between consistency and variety in their exercises. If athletes don’t put in the work to progress in the weight room (consistent attendance, better form, mastering new lifts, lifting heavier weights, achieving new maxes, etc.), they put themselves in a vulnerable position, such as a higher risk of injury and less trust between teammates and coaches.
In Hebrews 5: 11- 6: 3, the author is concerned with the growth of those entrusted to him as well, but of a different kind. He is concerned that his people are spiritually immature. They are stagnant. Their growth has stalled which should be a wake-up call, and for us today. In verses 11-14, scripture gives us four characteristics of the spiritually immature: (1) they don’t listen, (2) they don’t live out what they know/hear, (3) they aren’t growing in knowledge and application of the Word of God, and (4) they lack wisdom to know right from wrong.
Immature Christians are typically lazy and numb to spiritual instruction. They have a difficult time paying attention to sermons and they zone out during lectures or when reading books on the Bible and theology. They are apathetic toward learning and understanding God in Scripture and how to apply his Word to their lives. They are like the athlete who refuses to use the strength program that’s been given for them to mature and succeed in their sport. As Michael Kruger aptly warns, “It is a sign of spiritual unhealth in a person when they hear theology and good doctrine and say, ‘Who cares?’” (Hebrews for You, p. 79).
In verse 12 the immature have to be taught the same basic truths over and over again, because they don’t listen and apply what they know to life. They should be teachers by now, but instead of being givers and serving the body of Christ in this way, they are mere consumers. Coaches can easily identify leaders among the pack because they don’t just take, they give back. They want to see their teammates succeed and they hold them accountable. In your walk with Christ, are you serving others? Are you applying the trust that you learn to help others grow spiritually?
They Have Plateaued (v.13)
Most athletes experience the discouragement of not reaching a new max weight in the squat, bench, or cleans, at some point in their career. Plateaus can be normal and are usually temporary for young athletes. One way to combat spiritual plateaus is to make sure we haven’t fallen prey to the author’s first two criticisms I mentioned above. Another way to push through a plateau is to have long-term vision for your spiritual growth. Be committed to being a lifelong learner. Be committed to a local church. Listen intently to sermons, join a small group or Bible study of some sort, read good books on interesting topics and others that teach growth. Push through the dry seasons by being faithful and consistent to continue growth and knowledge in understanding of Scripture!
Immature Christians have a difficult time distinguishing between right and wrong. Mature believers will be able to more easily justify certain moral compromises and sins. You’re like the player who does their own thing in the gym, and then is surprised when they get a season-ending injury that was likely preventable had they done what was prescribed. If the above three characteristics mark your life right now, then wisdom and discernment will be difficult to come by. But if, by God’s grace, you’re committed to strive for growth, like the author of Hebrews encourages us to in 6: 1-3, the Lord will grant you the wisdom you need. (James 1: 5-8)
Conclusion
We are saved by grace through faith alone. Growth in the Christian life is not about earning God’s affection. We have that because of what Jesus has done for us. But God does desire to see us grow into greater maturity. So ask yourself: Is there any difference between who I am now and who I was last year (or five years ago)? Am I growing in my undertaking of God and Scripture? Am I serving and teaching those around me? Am I growing in the fruit of the Spirit? (Gal 5: 22-23)