20th April, 2005

LLOYD HARKNESS

Milk. Flowing with milk and honey. Honey and milk are under your tongue. Milk.

Good, wholesome, fat of the land milk.

Little bells went off in my head when I thought of the meaning the Bible attaches to the word 'milk'.

This column has been running for some time and I've tackled words like glory, blessed, trespass and revelation. These are words that require some unwrapping, but milk...blessed, simple, beautiful milk.

In the Old Testament milk is nearly always linked with honey and it's a symbol for God's rich provision. Even in the Song of Songs the groom says of his bride: "milk and honey are under your tongue". He could only picture a good and bountiful life with her.

IMAGE: Iliana (www.sxc.hu) "Milk says the Gospel is for all people of all tribes and cultural backgrounds. New Christians, those who have just been born again, are sustained in their new life and faith by the milk of the Bible. Just like a babe clamours for its mother's breast, so a new Christian clamours for the sustaining fundamental truths of God's message."

The New Testament speaks of the milk of the Word. It's about simplicity and accessibility. It's about the fundamentals of the Christian faith.

Milk says the Gospel is for all people of all tribes and cultural backgrounds. New Christians, those who have just been born again, are sustained in their new life and faith by the milk of the Bible. Just like a babe clamours for its mother's breast, so a new Christian clamours for the sustaining fundamental truths of God's message.

We're encouraged to retain this kind of yearning.

Unfortunately, Paul had to turn milk into a negative when dealing with two groups of Christians (1Corinthians 3:2 and Hebrews 5:12-13). In both situations Christians were hanging onto things (legalism, self aggrandisement, a divisive spirit and so on) which limited Paul to giving them a diet of milk when they should have been capable of consuming a broader range of foods and thus living a fuller and healthier life.

However, when I think of milk I picture slurping, gurgling, smiling, burping, lip-smacking, sighing contented babies. I'm with Peter when he said: "Like newborn babies crave spiritual milk" (1Peter 2:2). When a baby tastes milk it knows it is good. Likewise, when we get a taste of Jesus in our lives it's not likely we will spit him out as some rejected nipple. Peter is convinced that when we have tasted the goodness of Jesus he will stir a craving in us that will lead to maturity in our salvation.

A babe at the breast is a rich image for us. Paul even gives a list of six of the constituents in our milk (Hebrews 6:1-2). These constituents make for a healthy foundational diet:
• repent of all religious rituals and exercises. Keep it real with God;
• stay the course of maintaining faith in God;
• get baptised and may your baptism continue to signify the change in your life and the direction you are going in now, with Jesus;
• get commissioned and in fulfilling what God has commissioned you to do, pass on his blessing. (The laying on of hands sometimes symbolises, and at other times is an impartation of, this passing on to others what God has given you);
• have confidence that you will be resurrected to join Jesus; and,
• know the ultimate price of rejecting God's grace is judgement.

These are simple and accessible truths.

Ah, milk...
...running down your chin, nutritionally rich, milk.

Oh, and I'll have some meat and veg with that glass of milk too thanks. You see, I'm now on a Pauline diet.