Of Moderation
Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so.
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation. God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. (Hebrews 6:1-12)
Rainfall is refreshing, unless too much falls.
In September of 2009, Georgia received quite a bit of rain; houses were flooded, cars were destroyed, and some families were torn apart by lives lost. That steady week-long rain reminded many of the Flood of 1994 in Macon, Georgia, when the Macon Levee broke, and the Ocmulgee River nearly drowned the city. I was 14 years old and what I most remember is showering on our back deck and losing my favorite hat that I had left outside. Others remember much worse; 500,000 people had shortages of drinking water, both major interstates were closed, and 31 people were pronounced dead.
Rainfall is refreshing in moderation, but in excess it can be devastating.
The writer of Hebrews seems to imply that discussing certain issues of our faith follows this same pattern: refreshing in moderation but devastating in excess. He says to leave behind elementary teachings and move on toward maturity. Just as the writer’s audience had their own issues, so too do we have issues today that occupy unfruitful talk. The writer’s message remains the same—stop talking and start doing.
The writer reminds us that in excess, some issues of faith can be devastating; he then points us toward the talk that never tires or lends to debate—the love of God and the love of others. The writer tells us that Christ “will not forget (our) work and the love (we) have shown him as (we) have helped his people and continue to help them” (v. 10). Two marks of a fruitful life in Christ are a peaceful Spirit and a healthy understanding of when to talk and when to do—and these do well in excess.
A very encouraging post. I appreciate your perspective normally, but this take on the passage is something I’ve overlooked a hundred times. Thank you.