Practicing Christian

Practicing Christian

May 21, 2018

Hebrews 5:14  "But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves. . . ."

It has been said that doctors, in the fulfillment of their duties, are practicing medicine. That phrase, practicing medicine, can be scary if you truly believe a physician is using you as a test subject. It is called "practicing" because there is never a final knowledge set to draw upon for each specific case or patient. New information comes to light, new discoveries, new symptoms, and an infinite number of unique scenarios for patient application of the current knowledge base. In short, each patient is a new and unique case, as unique as the hairs on their head. The physician has never applied the medical knowledge to the patient being seen tomorrow, what if there is a new symptom, never before studied? Surprises come all too often in the practice of medicine, surprises the physician needs to be prepared to handled if this time is different. Practicing medicine is the exercise of medical knowledge for patient application. It is not exact, as each case is different. Though many are similar, treating each the exact same could prove fatal. Hopefully, your physician continues to improve in his knowledge set and from his own historical application of that medical knowledge. He is further honed in his skill, through practicing it, through using it.

In Hebrews, the author suggests that you and I are practicing Christians, in similar fashion to a physician practicing medicine. Being called a Christian, means Christ-like. Are you fully Christ-like, or are you simply applying your Biblical knowledge base of Christ into each new and unique scenario of your life? I would suggest it is the latter, that you will never fully be Christ-like in complete perfection, but can be a Christian in the pursuit of implementing your faith into every tomorrow. Physicians with experience, are considered more practiced than those just fresh from studying. If your health was failing and your symptoms stumped many medical professionals, I'm sure you might seek out one who was respected from his vast experienced, for the best chances of success. So, too, with Christianity, from much experience, from much practice, comes maturity and higher acumen. For the trickiest health scenarios, I'm sure you'd consult the expert physician, but he or she cannot be an expert physician without many years of practice.

The author of Hebrews says you are trained by the practice of your faith, by implementing into your life, using it day in and day out. Those who are considered more Christ-like, likely have had more practice, more opportunity to apply their Biblical understanding of Jesus and the instructions for being Christ-like. Faith, without applying it, isn't faith. Having opportunity to apply it, though not always pleasant, is actually a gift from the Lord. But it takes Biblical understanding and intent to apply the knowledge of your faith in each unique scenario. Are you a practiced Christian or are you failing to practice your Christianity? We are trained, by using our faith, by applying it right here and right now, by applying it to the new scenario every tomorrow.

The medical student, fresh from learning but with no application of his knowledge yet, do you want him operating on you? New Christians have a long way to go, but older Christians should be demonstrating their maturity by now. Whichever one you are, though, you cannot put knowledge into practice without having any knowledge. This takes time studying the Word. Unless you can quote the Bible from cover to cover, studying the Word daily will help you with the new and unique faith-patient of tomorrow, the unique situation you've never seen before.

Don't take my word for it; look it up: Rom 14:1,Eph 4:13, 1 Tim 4:7, Heb 5:11-14, Heb 6:1