1 Cor 3:1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.
1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation
The Word itself is the origin of the concept of Baby Christian. When newly born again, you feed on milk, as you mature you are able to understand more and more of the Word... now you're dining on meat and potatoes.
I think if someone takes offense at being considered a babe in Christ, they shouldn't, even if the person saying that is doing it in a condescending manner. Humility is a virtue.
There are many who make a decision for Christ, who remain spiritual infants the rest of their lives because they never reach a point where they're taking in anything but milk... because they're not spending time with God and His Word.
The problem is:
humility, not
humiliation.
If the person saying it is doing so condescendingly, are they not violating the spirit of how fellow believers are supposed to be treating one another? And if we agree, are we not thus enabling behavior that can harm the walk of another or even cause them to stumble? Even Paul points out the following:
"Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way. I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin." (Romans 14:13-23, NASB 1995, emphasis mine)
While this speaks primarily to physical food for our sustenance, the phrase
or to do anything by which your brother stumbles indicates that it means more than just munchies. Scripture also commands us:
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.“For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Matthew 7:12, NASB 1995, emphasis mine)
Now, let me clarify something here:
by no means am I saying people should not learn and become mature in the Lord. But to call people "infants" simply because Scripture describes their condition as such would be akin to calling someone a "leper" or a "cancer patient" simply because
the doctor termed them as such.
I think the imagery for both phrases comes from passages such as Lamentations 4:1-4 where God, speaking metaphorically, describes corrupt Israel in this way--
1How dark the gold has become, how the pure gold has changed! The sacred stones are spilled out at the corner of every street. 2The precious sons of Zion, weighed against pure gold, how they are regarded as earthenware jars, the work of a potter’s hands! 3Even jackals offer the breast, they nurse their young; but the daughter of my people has proved herself cruel, like ostriches in the wilderness. 4The tongue of the infant cleaves to the roof of its mouth because of thirst; the children beg for bread, but no-one breaks it for them. (Lamentations 4:1-4)
And this same imagery is carried into the New Testament with passages such as this:
Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly--as infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food. In fact, you are still not ready, for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and dissension among you, are you not worldly? Are you not walking in the way of man? (1 Corinthians 3:1-3)
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:2-3)
As for the word "fed" alone (without reference to babies or children), perhaps it arises from the biblical counsel that "man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God
(Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4)."
The Word of God surely is our spiritual "food". And just as surely, until we grew sufficiently in the knowledge of Christ and His Word, we were as spiritual babies, desiring the "milk of the Word", to use Peter's metaphor. Could it be pride back then that caused us to bristle at being called babies?
Okay, let's turn your question back around for a moment:
could it be pride that makes us call less mature believers "babies"? Could we be "puffed up with knowledge" and thus seek to aggrandize our "maturity" at the expense of those who are
still learning (whether we realize it or not)
?
"
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." (1 Corinthians 13"4-7, NASB 1995, emphasis mine)
If we do call them "baby Christians/ spiritual infants".
what are we teaching them other than these passages do not apply? Could it be possible that we are teaching them that it doesn't matter how we treat each other, or that "as long as Scripture uses that term" that we can use it to demean others?
What kind of testimony does this give to the rest of the world, who demean each other every day in any and every way possible?
Are we teaching both believers and unbelievers that being condescending is a tenet of Christianity?
With that said, Pastor: while we are to encourage others to grow and mature, I consider it
no sign of maturity to insist we should be calling people infants. Instead, if we see someone
struggling in this manner, a much better response in my mind would be to come alongside them and ask them about their struggles? And from there, offer our help and support to them instead of simply referring back to a label.
Finally, just because Scripture records the Lord or one of those following Him
doing something doesn't necessarily mean we can (or should!).
Of course, following the Lord and emulating His walk is something we all need to do and by all rights should.
But...
-
Calling someone a viper
-
Or a fool, for that matter.
-
Walking on water may be problematic (surf's up, DUDE!!)
-
Walking into a lion's den (worble*).
- Trying to cleanse poison water with salt
- Throwing people into the Lake of Fire (ouch!)
But in
all seriousness, I feel that we need to use care in behaving and modeling the Lord for others. The Lord never insulted individuals to their faces, but rather, called groups of people what they were. While He called out the Pharisees for their wickedness, He didn't insult Nicodemus, but rather, reminded him:
"Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?'' (John 3:10, NASB 1995)
I do not mean any of this as an attempt to "be right" or to try to win an argument, and I apologize that my words here are coming across sharper than I intend. My only intention is that we should treat one another with respect and use care not to cause harm to one another. If we have those who are spiritual children, then like physical children, we should follow how Scripture says we should handle that:
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise),SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."(Ephesians 6:1-4, NASB1995, emphasis mine)
"Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart." (Colossians 3:18, NASB 1995, emphasis mine)
I include both the children and parental commands, as I
do firmly believe those not as mature in the Lord should seek to become mature in the Lord. But in that equation, those seeking to instruct them
need to demonstrate that same maturity.
And calling someone names is not very mature.
I appreciate everyone's time in this, and respectfully depart this thread.
-Sojo414 out.
*- Zephyr will get this reference
