Don’t Try to Teach Them What They Already Know

Hebrews 6:4-12

“I’m not going to school anymore. I already know that stuff.”

That’s what my nephew said after his second day in first grade. His teacher had been reviewing what they had done in kindergarten, but the way she approached it, he felt as if first grade would be just a repeat of what he’d already learned. If so there was no reason for going back.

Several years ago, I substituted for several months in a middle school math class. One ninth grade class was considered “slow” and was supposed to be focusing on learning the basics of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. As I learned, they had pretty much the same attitude. They hadn’t learned those things earlier, but continual repetition was just frustrating them. They were not slow, they simply had missed some steps along the way, and didn’t couldn’t progress. Unfortunately, I was slow about figuring out what had happened, and was not entirely successful in correcting their deficiencies. Only when I realized a different approach was required did I make progress. They’d had nine or ten years of the same thing. They were convinced they weren’t going to get it by doing it again.

The “No Child Left Behind” initiative created a problem in our schools, because teachers had to repeat what they had already taught in an effort to catch the slowest up, causing frustration in the more advanced students, without being able to correct the problems for those who were behind. It effectively reduces educational progress for all the students to the level of the slowest learner. As a result entire schools fail to meet educational standards, rather than a few students.

The author points out that simply repeating the basics will not solve the problems of those who have not gotten it after a few tries. To hold up the entire group in an effort to reach those who have not believed in Christ will only stunt the growth of the believers, with little likelihood of reaching the others.

“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.” (Hebrews 6:4-8)

There are always students in school who try to slide by without learning what is required. They try to do just enough to get passed into the next grade, without learning what they should. At some point most of them will reach a point where they can’t go any farther and either admit they need help, or drop out. Those who drop out are effectively saying they don’t want to learn, but they want the standards changed to meet their wants. There are those in the church who have done essentially the same thing, possibly even making a profession, without truly receiving Christ. They stay in the church for a while, and finally drop out because what they want something more than just what Christ offers. Just as it is impossible for the school to graduate those who drop out unless they are willing to go back and learn what they need to know, it is impossible to for those who have rejected everything Christ has offered to be saved. Like those who have just slid through school, they have experienced many of the same rewards as those who did learn, and now they have decided that is not enough and quit. Christ will not negotiate a new deal for them. This is what the problem was for those who came out of Egypt but didn't believe. They wanted their own terms.

If a man plants a garden and some areas fail to produce any of the plants he planted. He will not devote the same effort to caring for the weeds as he does for his vegetables. He just pulls out the weeds and leaves the ground bare. We mustn’t stop others from learning because some might drop out.

Those who have already learned those things, who have already been saved, don’t need to be saved. They need something more. If they should lose their salvation, they can’t be saved again, and a salvation message is wasted on them. There is no reason to repeat what they already have learned beyond an occasional review.

One reason the old one room schools turned out some very highly educated students was because every student was constantly exposed to things beyond his present level. He heard about things even before he was ready to learn them and at the same time he reviewed what he had learned by hearing those behind him. Many times things he had missed would be caught from the lessons of others. Separated grades lose that extended learning opportunity. Churches that focus only on the unsaved and babies in Christ offer no chance of growth to most Christians, and no incentive to the babies. It is no wonder many churches are filled with weak, immature Christians. People tend to live up to what is expected of them. The way they are taught demonstrates what is expected. The author expected more than just baby stuff.

“But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:9-12)

God’s rewards are sure, but attaining them will require effort on our part. Expecting diligence on the part of believers will encourage then to reach the point of pleasing God. Expecting little or nothing will produce the same. If they are to learn much, they are going to have to be taught it. They are not likely to try for something they don’t know is there.