This is a saying that I've become familiar with when it comes to sharing or recommending religious material with others. I might share a link to a sermon with a friend and give this disclaimer: "I don't agree with everything that this guy teaches, but... you know... eat the meat, and spit out the bones, right?"
(Most people I would share such things with get what I am saying and don't write me off as a heretic... most.)
Seriously though, this is a genuine concern. Should we, as Christians, expose ourselves to the opinions of others who may disagree with some of the teachings and standards we grew up being taught? Most people would say "Of course, that is ridiculous!" However, there are a few things to consider when it comes to what we watch and what we listen to.
As someone who has been a Christian for nearly 40 years, went to Bible college, and has now been in full-time ministry for around 12 years (8 years as an assistant pastor and going on 4 years as a pastor); the reality is, I am quite confident that I can read any commentary or listen to any preacher, and it isn't going to cause me to stumble or be "carried about with every wind of doctrine." Where I am in what I believe, or how I go about searching out Biblical truths, just doesn't really lend itself to any serious dangerous risks.
But how do we know when someone is or isn't ready to branch out into considering opposing viewpoints? Because there is definitely a danger in false teachings! Consider the following verses:
2 Timothy 2:2 "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."
2 Timothy 3:14 "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them"
Titus 1:9 "Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers."
It seems like Paul was serious about making sure the men he taught would continue holding to his teachings and passing them on to others. So, it would seem counterproductive then to share with them teachings from others who disagree with him. How do we know to what extent we should take this principle?
Here are 3 thoughts to consider:
1. We don't give babies meat!
It is good and right to feed a baby milk and not meat; they aren't ready for it. Spiritually speaking, there is no difference.
1Peter 2:2 "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby"
Hebrews 5:13-14 "For every one that useth milk [is] unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (14) 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."
So, new believers should just stick with reading the Bible, and it is good and right for their pastor (or parent, if they are children) to "de-bone" any meat they might feed them. They don't have to understand everything, they just need to learn to walk with the Lord and increase in faith.
2. It is good for grown-ups to eat meat with bones in it.
There are studies that have provided good evidence to the superior nutritious value of eating meat that has bones in it. There are vitamins and minerals that you just can't get from a chicken nugget or a fish stick! And actually, the meat even tastes better!
Besides, when you grow up, you just can't keep having people de-bone your meat and cut it up for you. You need to learn and grow. If you accidentally bite into a bone, or maybe one even starts to get stuck a little in the back of your throat, it will help you learn how to cough it up, and you will get better at discerning what to eat and how to eat it in order to avoid chocking. This is part of learning and growing.
3. Regardless of one's age or experience, the more bones in the meat, the more danger there is in choking.
In spite of what I just said in point 2, there is still a danger for anyone who eats bones. Really, why would we want to take a chance at it? Isn't it pretty miserable to eat certain fish, for example, that have too many bones in them? (I was told that drum are that way, but discovered myself that they come out just fine if you cook them right. Carp, on the other hand, I have never eaten because I just took the advice of people I trust... and because I don't have a pressure cooker...). I don't really like having to pick through the fish searching for bones. It is frustrating to constantly go "Ope, there's a bone... there's another... and another." At that point, I realize I should have just picked another protein to eat!
Regardless of what some people say, I never get tired of milk! I drink it all the time. And if I never drank anything, I would die of thirst. However, I have no problem, and even enjoy the benefit of eating meat. I like the flavor and the texture of meat when it has bones in it, and I enjoy the health benefits, too...
The same is true spiritually speaking. If I just studied the opinions of others, I would die of thirst. I need the Bible! I need to just read it and be content not having all the answers.
But then, I'm also very thankful for all the men of God I have had in my life that worked hard at de-boning my meat and cutting it up for me. It helped me learn and grow. It kept me from choking.
Now, I'm grown and have learned to de-bone my own meat. I enjoy variety. I enjoy sharing opinions with others and considering different "flavors." But I have also learned that I need to bring up "baby" Christians carefully. I need to keep them on the milk, and introduce to them little bite sized bits of boneless chicken nuggets, and fish sticks, and hamburgers and hotdogs... things they can safely handle. And when people begin to grow and they start eating meat with bones, I need to warn them to be careful. And then I need to let them learn to spit out their own bones.
Hope that makes sense. Feel free to comment and share your opinion. If you agree or disagree, I don't care... I'll spit out the bones.
(Most people I would share such things with get what I am saying and don't write me off as a heretic... most.)
Seriously though, this is a genuine concern. Should we, as Christians, expose ourselves to the opinions of others who may disagree with some of the teachings and standards we grew up being taught? Most people would say "Of course, that is ridiculous!" However, there are a few things to consider when it comes to what we watch and what we listen to.
As someone who has been a Christian for nearly 40 years, went to Bible college, and has now been in full-time ministry for around 12 years (8 years as an assistant pastor and going on 4 years as a pastor); the reality is, I am quite confident that I can read any commentary or listen to any preacher, and it isn't going to cause me to stumble or be "carried about with every wind of doctrine." Where I am in what I believe, or how I go about searching out Biblical truths, just doesn't really lend itself to any serious dangerous risks.
But how do we know when someone is or isn't ready to branch out into considering opposing viewpoints? Because there is definitely a danger in false teachings! Consider the following verses:
2 Timothy 2:2 "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."
2 Timothy 3:14 "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them"
Titus 1:9 "Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers."
It seems like Paul was serious about making sure the men he taught would continue holding to his teachings and passing them on to others. So, it would seem counterproductive then to share with them teachings from others who disagree with him. How do we know to what extent we should take this principle?
Here are 3 thoughts to consider:
1. We don't give babies meat!
It is good and right to feed a baby milk and not meat; they aren't ready for it. Spiritually speaking, there is no difference.
1Peter 2:2 "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby"
Hebrews 5:13-14 "For every one that useth milk [is] unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (14) 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."
So, new believers should just stick with reading the Bible, and it is good and right for their pastor (or parent, if they are children) to "de-bone" any meat they might feed them. They don't have to understand everything, they just need to learn to walk with the Lord and increase in faith.
2. It is good for grown-ups to eat meat with bones in it.
There are studies that have provided good evidence to the superior nutritious value of eating meat that has bones in it. There are vitamins and minerals that you just can't get from a chicken nugget or a fish stick! And actually, the meat even tastes better!
Besides, when you grow up, you just can't keep having people de-bone your meat and cut it up for you. You need to learn and grow. If you accidentally bite into a bone, or maybe one even starts to get stuck a little in the back of your throat, it will help you learn how to cough it up, and you will get better at discerning what to eat and how to eat it in order to avoid chocking. This is part of learning and growing.
3. Regardless of one's age or experience, the more bones in the meat, the more danger there is in choking.
In spite of what I just said in point 2, there is still a danger for anyone who eats bones. Really, why would we want to take a chance at it? Isn't it pretty miserable to eat certain fish, for example, that have too many bones in them? (I was told that drum are that way, but discovered myself that they come out just fine if you cook them right. Carp, on the other hand, I have never eaten because I just took the advice of people I trust... and because I don't have a pressure cooker...). I don't really like having to pick through the fish searching for bones. It is frustrating to constantly go "Ope, there's a bone... there's another... and another." At that point, I realize I should have just picked another protein to eat!
Regardless of what some people say, I never get tired of milk! I drink it all the time. And if I never drank anything, I would die of thirst. However, I have no problem, and even enjoy the benefit of eating meat. I like the flavor and the texture of meat when it has bones in it, and I enjoy the health benefits, too...
The same is true spiritually speaking. If I just studied the opinions of others, I would die of thirst. I need the Bible! I need to just read it and be content not having all the answers.
But then, I'm also very thankful for all the men of God I have had in my life that worked hard at de-boning my meat and cutting it up for me. It helped me learn and grow. It kept me from choking.
Now, I'm grown and have learned to de-bone my own meat. I enjoy variety. I enjoy sharing opinions with others and considering different "flavors." But I have also learned that I need to bring up "baby" Christians carefully. I need to keep them on the milk, and introduce to them little bite sized bits of boneless chicken nuggets, and fish sticks, and hamburgers and hotdogs... things they can safely handle. And when people begin to grow and they start eating meat with bones, I need to warn them to be careful. And then I need to let them learn to spit out their own bones.
Hope that makes sense. Feel free to comment and share your opinion. If you agree or disagree, I don't care... I'll spit out the bones.
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