1 Corinthians 3:1 Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ.
There are different stages of spiritual growth. We grow from infancy into toddlerhood – childhood -adolescence (teenage years) – young adulthood – middle age adulthood and then into maturity. Our spiritual age does not always match our natural age. Maturity doesn’t come with age, sometimes age comes alone. Hence it is pertinent to grow and mature intentionally.
An infant Christian is like a new born baby. Crying is a baby’s expression of discomfort or hunger. If it is their feeding time or nappy changing time, they will cry to draw attention. Also a newborn requires undivided attention 24/7. Newborn infants need thermal care, nurturing care and infection protection. Infants cannot feed on solid food as their kidneys and digestive system are not well developed to cope with solids.
The Apostle Paul reprimands the church in Corinthian as an infant church. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? (1 Corinthians 1:2-3).
In the infant stage of spiritual growth we are attention seekers, mourners and complainers.
Infant Christianity:
1. Quarrel: Envy, animosity and strife are character traits of an infant Christian. The root cause of the strife in most cases will be very silly. Those who are envious of the gifts, talents and contributions of others are still baby Christians. Just like an infant that cries to attract attention, they will whine, grumble and become cold over everything that upsets them.
2. Qualm: Doubts, qualms and bouts of distrust are very common to an infant Christian. This is why they need a lot of care. A baby that is not cared for and nurtured will die. Likewise, the faith of a new born Christian who is not planted in a church and cared for by spiritual parents, pastors and siblings will soon wither away.
3. Question: A newborn takes 2 to 4 months to recognize his parents likewise a new born Christian does not know the nature of their heavenly father. They normally relate the compassion of God the Father to their flawed natural parent, and stumble. Prayer, reading the Word and a disciplined lifestyle will help them to become familiar with the voice of our Father in Heaven.
If there is envy, anger, comparison, hostility, conflict, discord and disunity among us, then we are still infants. There could be Christians who are well advanced in age but still infants in spirit, yet there are others who are still very young however matured in their spirit. Maturity comes with intentionality.
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work (James 3:16).
Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, if there are any character traits of an infant, expose them to me and help me to be mature and over the infancy. Amen.
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