Put Down Your Bottle

“We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.” – Benjamin Franklin

Robert Gates, who served as Secretary of Defense under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, wrote a book about his cabinet service in 2014. It was titled, “Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War.”

Perhaps the most controversial and eyebrow-raising passage in the book was his description of then-Vice President, now-President Joe Biden’s political astuteness. "I think he has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades,” Gates wrote.

What a disturbing insight into the man who, as Commander-in-Chief, now has in his possession our country’s nuclear codes!

After serving for 36 years in the U.S. Senate and 10 years in various capacities in the White House, one would expect Joe Biden to be more discerning and to have better political judgment. But then again, I have been a born-again believer since 1977, and I still fail to follow my Savior as closely and consistently as I ought.

The writer of Hebrews addressed this tendency to remain in spiritual infancy in rather direct terms. “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

Likewise, the Apostle Paul hammered home this same spiritual truth – and unfortunate dilemma – in I Corinthians 3. “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able.”

Years ago, a friend of mine told me that he was leaving our church. “I’m just not being fed,” he said. Ironically, this same man had come to Christ at an early age, was brought up in the church, and was now in his early 30s with a family of his own. How I wish I had lovingly, but firmly told him to put down his bottle and start feeding himself.

“Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.” I Corinthians 14:20 (NKJV)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President