Grinding the same batter…     

There is an expression in South India that goes like this, “grinding the same batter over and over again,” which actually means “Rinse and Repeat.” That is, a continual repetition of something.

In the scriptures, the Lord Jesus has spoken about kneaded dough and leavened dough. Perhaps if he had lived at this time he would have spoken of another thing called “grinding the same old batter again and again,”

I humbly request the preachers not to mistake me that I am accusing you all. If you do not acknowledge the importance of it, you will have to pay a huge cost in the future. 

When a baby is born in a family, everyone’s tendance will be only on the baby. The baby might be having an elder sibling, when he realizes that he does not get enough love, attention and affection, his attention will turn towards his friends. Gradually, he will alienate himself from the family. Nowadays this same state can be seen clearly in the churches also. 

Christianity in India, especially in the southern states, has come across several generations. The generation of people who were born in between 1970’s to 1990’s, have accepted Christ, were saved and are grown well, proficient on the Word of God. The question is, are we able to nurture the spiritual appetite of these elder brethren? 

There is a multitude of sermons available on the YouTube nowadays. Apart from some discourses, most of them are redundant. Nothing appears to be new. We can easily guess what the preacher is going to say next if you just listen to the beginning of the sermon. These preachers do not wait patiently in the presence of God to learn something new from Him. It is crystal clear that they are either copying something that was already discoursed, or reflecting something that has been swamped in the percept of Christianity for ages. 

The European countries that had come across numerous revivals are now having abandoned churches and some church buildings are sold out for the devotion of other ideals. Redundancy is the reason for this. The generation with hungry minds was not satisfied by the churches there. The Holy Bible is always anew, so there is nothing wrong with it, but with us, who preach. If do not want to face the state of European Churches, we need to be aware from now on. 

I know what the next question from the preachers will be. “Nobody is obeying the truth that they had learnt already, then how will the Holy Ghost converse something new?”

This question itself is incorrect. The comprehension behind this question is incorrect as well. If a man can obey as soon as he listens to the word of God, then it will be based self-sufficiency and deeds. A man bears fruit when he keeps listening to the word of God again and again and gets new revelation each time, comprehends from it and accordingly when his mind transforms anew. The truth should transform him. That is why the Word and following Him, the Holy Ghost were sent to the earth. If a man can obey as soon as he listens to the verse, we would not need the Word and the Holy Ghost, the two stone tablets given to Moses would have been sufficient. 

Some preachers may ask if the Holy Ghost does not converse through our sermons. He certainly does. Every week, the Holy Ghost gives people solutions through the discourse of the preachers for their doubts and problems. No one can deny it. However this is not enough, a church is not an enquiry center to provide solutions for people with problems. The Spirit of the born again believers desires something more than that. It cries as a new born baby that cries for milk. This hunger can be sufficed only by the ‘revelation.’ 

Have you ever felt your Spirit dancing and jumping in joy when listening to a new revelation? This feel will reflect on your body also. Your eyes shed tears of joy and you will feel goosebumps all over your body. This is what our spirit expects. I am not talking about the fake goosebumps that you feel because of the sound of the musical instruments and the loud cry of the preacher while discoursing. Your Spirit will not swoon for such things. But it will leap for joy when it gets a new, deep revelation from the Holy Ghost as John the Baptist did when he was in Elizabeth’s womb. Yes, Deep calls unto deep. 

There is scarcity in the churches for such in-depth sermons. “Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but my people have become heartless like ostriches in the desert. Because of thirst the infant’s tongue sticks to the roof of its mouth; the children beg for bread, but no one gives it to them” (Lamentations 4:3,4). This is the condition of the churches today. That is why even some well-grown believers get diverted because of false doctrines. That is why there are many affairs like Zen Buddhism, ISKCON, Osho, Sadguru, Paramahamsa Yogananda, Theosophy and much more that awaits to take them away. 

Even I have this experience, I astrayed from the right path and cohered with Christ again. I turned aside towards Astrology, Occult, Conspiracy theories, Energy healing and much more. The religion was only able to call me ‘backslider’ but nobody had the answers for my queries and doubts. Many people were afraid that they will lose their belief on Christ if they talked with me. I was thinking that I was the only one to retract from the right path. But I was appalled when I got to know that many believers who were saved two to three decades ago have also sought meditation, yoga, astrology and more. The internet provides us access to all such things. 

Beloved pastors, this is my request to you. I know the burdens that you have as a shepherd of the church. God has appointed you as a spiritual father of many families. I can apprehend the pressure that you face. If you do not nurture the well-grown believers with new revelations and satisfy their spiritual appetite and raise them in Christ, they will alienate themselves and astray into wilderness. Their Spirits will cry out without being sufficed. I can ensure that many elder brethren of the church are in the same spiritual condition. 

You may have thousands of burdens, “Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:3-4) and make decision like the Early Apostles did. Wait patiently in the presence of God and learn about the new miracles and wonders from the Holy Bible and savour it first for yourself and then share it with us, too. 

Well-grown believers, you do not have to seek the food you anticipate out of your church, or out of the truth! God has given you the Bible. The Holy Ghost that teaches you is also along with you. You have crossed the state where you need to be spoon-fed. This is the moment for you to rise and shine.