Katie loved her security blanket. It was pink, fluffy and perfect to cuddle with. Katie took her blanky everywhere she went, and would not let it out of her sight. Katie’s perception of course was that her blanket offered protection, that it guarded her during the night. Somehow the blanket’s presence made the doctor’s visits less painful. When she had a tummy ache, hugging her blanket made her feel better sooner. If Katie heard her mom and dad fight, wrapping her blanky around her shoulder meant that the world is still safe.

She could not remember ever forgetting her blanket anywhere, not even once.

Every time Katie’s mom and dad tried to wean her off of her security blanket, it created such stress, anxiety and tension, they always opted to give up the fight and reunite Katie and her blanket. Although the blanky was not causing any harm, her parents did not want Katie to continue to believe in a perception that is not a reality. They did not want Katie to believe and count on something that is not real.

What’s more important; Keeping the peace with Katie having her blanky, now 17 years old? Or enduring the pain and agony of the separation?

We read in the Bible about feeding on milk versus feeding on solid foods. Paul indicates that when people are quarreling about whether to follow Paul or follow Apollo, it is like infants feeding on milk that are not yet able to feed on solid foods. God wants us to follow Him and not follow Barry nor Bill. It is 2,000 years later and we are basically still quarreling over the teachings of this church and those of that church, which indicates that we are still feeding on milk, still attached to a security blanket, still hanging onto perceptions.

How will we know that we are feeding on solid food when it comes to the Lord our God and our Creator? It is when the various churches work together and cooperate within the same community. When they no longer compete with each other, but rather strengthen one another. It is when the church humbles itself. Humbles itself to admit, teach and promote that this specific teaching of this specific church is simply one opinion of interpreting the Bible, and not the only way there is.

It will take you, and you, and you and me to ask the questions at our churches. Ask how come we do not work alongside the other churches in our community? Why is it that seven churches do the same program at the same time in the same community? It is indeed competing against each other and not cooperating together. Are you willing to not accept the status quo? Not accept the ‘that’s how we’ve always done it’ answer? Pray and read the Bible and see for yourself what would God rather have; churches cooperating or churches competing!

I’ll make an attempt to give an opinion on what is the milk and the solid foods, in our faith journey. It will just be an opinion. Till next week 🙂