Educational Levels of Development
This is the time of year when graduation caps and gowns flow with effervescent smiles of satisfaction! From kindergarten to high school to the accomplished studies of collegiate levels, graduation is a milestone for all those involved. Those who have completed these separate levels of educational development have every right to receive the appropriate accolades associated with their success. While there are marked differences between kindergarten, high school, and college, each is in its own right a mark of growth and maturity that urges the pursuit of the next level of success. Frankly, unless some tragedy of life prevents it, learning is a lifelong endeavor. God placed within each of us a mind that is more powerful than the finest of computers. All it needs is continual stimulation in righteous matters!
We seldom think of the Lord’s church being established with similar “levels of educational development,” but it is. Think of Hebrews 5: 13 – 14: “For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” From this statement, we easily see there is a difference between babes in Christ and those who are fully grown, i.e., mature. While the babes certainly cannot comprehend the weightier matters of God’s word, neither can the mature be properly educated if they continue only on the basic principles of the doctrine (Hebrews 6: 1 – 12). So, in this semblance, there is some “educational development” that takes place with every soul who endeavors to read, study, learn, and obey God’s truth and remain diligent in his/her development of faithfulness (2 Peter 1: 1 – 11).
The term “kindergarten” is of German origin. “Kinder” means children and “Garten” means garden. The word “kindergarten” was invented by Friedrich Froebel and symbolized his vision for early childhood education. “Children are like tiny flowers; they are varied and need care, but each is beautiful alone and glorious when seen in the community of peers.” Does this not reflect our view of those very young in Christ Jesus who merit the proper teaching of God’s Word so that they may grow/mature properly? (1 Peter 2: 1-3) Regardless of their physical/chronological age, newborns in Christ have every right, yea, NEED to receive the “milk of the word that they may grow thereby.” (ibid.) To deprive them of this nourishment is to stifle their spiritual growth, if not prevent it altogether! They merit “graduating” from milk to meat which is appropriate for their spiritual age!
Just as no one jumps from kindergarten to high school or college, neither does the Christian immediately grow from being a babe to full age in a matter of days or weeks. Sometimes, even after years of being in the Lord’s church, souls have not matured much beyond the first principles (Hebrews 6:1-12) whereby they could “graduate” from milk to meat; let alone become developed enough to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2). How many souls have stopped their spiritual education after the “middle school” development? You wouldn’t want your child to stop their educational development after the eighth grade, would you? Oh, in several years now past, some found reasonable success in their lives by ending their education after eight years or less. But in this present age, the likelihood of success is minimal without at least a high school education, and in most cases, at least some higher education. Within the church itself, God established a “system of educational development” that permits every diligent soul to reach the greatest height of ability in service to Him. Notice Titus 2: 1 – 10. Aged men teach the younger men; aged women teach the younger women; and each one as they learn exhibits him/herself as a pattern of good works! This is all accomplished without some secular institution caring for the spiritual development of God’s children: each local work does it for those within that local work, thus assuring proper growth, development, and future security for the work of the Lord in that place!
At what “stage” of spiritual educational development are we? Some are still in the “kindergarten” level, while others are in “middle school” or progressed to “high school” or even more advanced spiritual educational development. Be assured NONE of us have graduated with the level of “can’t learn more” for that level simply doesn’t exist in this life!
We each learn at our own pace but make no mistake: WE EACH MUST LEARN AND GROW! If spiritual growth/maturity is not noticed in each of us, then remedial education is necessary! (2 Peter 3:18) There is no reason for the child of God to be ignorant regarding the content of God’s word! Yes, it is a learning process … but a process He commands us to complete and graduate from when Jesus returns!