Post by Joel Ogbeifun (@JoelOgbeifun)

A Must Read…

SPIRITUAL BABYING |
(Moving From Infancy To Maturity)

Spiritual babying is the excessive pampering of new converts in Christ. While nurturing new believers is necessary and biblical, problems arise when it is done without balance. When care replaces responsibility, growth is hindered.

When I became a Christian, I was taught from the very beginning that following Christ demands a high level of personal responsibility. Salvation is a gift of grace, but spiritual growth is our responsibility. That is why Philippians 2:12 tells us to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." There are things God will do for you, and there are things you must do for yourself.

From the outset, we were taught to take ownership of our walk with God. We didn't wait for someone to spoon-feed us spiritually because 2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Sadly, today, both spiritually and physically, we have become obsessed with babying people. In our homes and in many churches, we focus so much on making life comfortable that we neglect the responsibility of building strong character.

Many believers are no longer taught responsibility. Instead, they are quickly told how they will prosper, succeed, and make it in life. The foundational truths of Christianity--self-denial, suffering, persecution, and dying to self are often overlooked. Yet Jesus made it clear in Luke 9:23: "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me." Likewise, 2 Timothy 3:12 reminds us that "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." These are not popular messages today, but they are the truths that produce mature believers.

Growing up with my grandmother, I fetched water from the village river every morning before going to school. Sometimes I bathed in the river, carried water home, and rinsed off again before leaving for school. In many mornings, I made three or four trips to the river. It wasn't punishment; it was simply part of life.

When it was time for school, nobody escorted me. I went on my own and returned home by myself. Today, things have changed. Parents either drive their children to school or they are picked up by school buses. I'm not saying this is wrong. Times have changed, and many of these adjustments are necessary. However, there were experiences that made our generation mentally and emotionally rugged.

No matter the comfort we provide for our children today, we must intentionally build resilience into their upbringing. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go..." Training involves discipline, responsibility, and preparation; not just comfort. As Hebrews 12:11 reminds us, discipline may not be pleasant at the moment, but it eventually produces the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

Today, some parents even make frequent visitation trips to their children in the university. Again, many factors have changed, but we must still be deliberate about raising responsible and independent children.

The same principle applies spiritually. As young believers, we were encouraged to buy and read Christian books regularly. We were taught how to pray, fast, study the Scriptures, maintain a consistent quiet time, confront spiritual battles with God's Word, and trust God for results. Like the Berean believers in Acts 17:11, we searched the Scriptures daily. We were discipled, not merely entertained.

Sadly, this is no longer the experience in many churches today. As a result, we have many spiritual weaklings in the Body of Christ. At the same time, our homes are weakening and society is experiencing moral decay. The reasons are not difficult to identify.

In life, it is better to grow than to merely swell. Growth produces strength; swelling only creates the appearance of size. God's desire is that we mature. Ephesians 4:14-15 says that we should no longer remain spiritual children, tossed about by every wind of doctrine, but should "grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head, even Christ."

Therefore, I want to challenge two key groups of people: parents and pastors.

If God has entrusted children to your care, whether as a parent or guardian, raise them to be responsible and resilient. If you are a pastor or spiritual leader, disciple people intentionally. As you comfort them, also challenge them. As you encourage them, also correct them; as you pamper them, pepper them too. As grace and truth go together, let the rod and the staff be in your closet too.

The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2 to commit the truth to faithful people who would in turn teach others. That is the essence of discipleship; not creating dependents, but raising disciples who can stand on their own and help others stand.

Your greatest joy should not be that the people under your care are merely increasing in number or appearance, but t

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