Spiritual Babies

There are a couple of passages that speak of the stunted spiritual growth of certain believers. Though there should be signs of development, they remain spiritual babies, existing on a diet of spiritual baby food. One such passage is First Corinthians 3:1-4 in which Paul says that the divisions in the church at Corinth show some of them to be “babes in Christ” (not a complimentary term in the context!).

Another passage is Hebrews 5:11-14. There, the concern is that the readers are not using and applying the truth they know. “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” (vs. 14).

Either because of sin in the life that is not confessed and forsaken, or because of a lack of diligence in applying God’s Word to daily experience, the individual can fail to progress out of spiritual babyhood. Think of what human babies are like, and you will see a number of applications to carnal, immature Christians!

1. Babies live on milk and mush. They can’t handle adult fare.
2. Babies have to be bottle or spoon-fed by others, and sometimes have to be coaxed to eat.
3. Babies are in many ways weak and helpless, carried about by others, and handed from one to another (cf. Eph. 4:14).
4. Babies sleep a lot.
5. Babies are selfish and self-centred.
6. Babies fuss over little things, and make a lot of noise about them.
7. Babies can’t discern between what is helpful and what is harmful.
8. Babies lack self control (e.g. of bodily functions).