We all know that when a baby is born he or she will grow – naturally into a toddler then onto a child to become a youth and then on into adulthood.  We would agree that if a baby were to remain a baby this would be considered abnormal.

As with each who are in the Church of Christ, who are born of God by His Spirit there is an expected growth involved.  We begin as babes in Christ and are in need of those who would come along side us in the teaching the basics of our new found faith; Heb 6:1-3 We will desire milk (of the word) to nourish us; as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.1 Peter 2:2-3.  We progress as we follow and obey what it is we are taught in the Word.  This is not the case, however, to the great majority of professing Christians and strangely is not looked at as abnormal but quite acceptable.

Characteristics of a self-willed baby:

• The self-willed baby is deliberately this way by choice of their own
• They are lazy in the study of the bible and much prefer to gather information on biblical truths from others; their faith is the culmination of what they have read and listened by others and not by reading and studying the Bible themselves.
• Seek for an entertaining Christian experience
• Do not see the need to deal with sin issues/ behaviors in their lives
• Faith is shallow
• Are different when they are not in their Christian surroundings

In the Book of Proverbs the self-willed baby Christian is described as lazy or the fool or foolish, and both act out of selfish motives.

Sadly, the longer one remains in this state the harder they are to biblically reason with.  As they steep themselves in their preferences and traditions they harden against what is  true according to the word – they are described this way by Paul in his writing to Timothy:

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers 2 Timothy 4:3.

Our popular (Christian) culture breeds babies of this nature to create something we are warned that would happen – and now is:

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:  For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,  traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,  having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

Astonishingly but not surprisingly we have a great deal of baby Christians in places of Christian leadership facilitating the fulfillment of this prophetic word before our eyes.  These people are chosen to lead or are popularized based on their charm and appeal rather then spiritual maturity and biblical understanding and knowledge.

For a biblical Christian to not have a love or desire to read/study the Bible (daily) causes some question, moreover if after 3 years of professing faith in Christ and have not yet read the Bible through, is considered not normal but abnormal and cause for concern.

God’s desire and plan is that we be transformed into His image and likeness, by the renewing of our minds through the reading of His Word; Romans 12:2, and we are fitted together with one another as living stones  in the building of His Church; 1 Peter 2:4-6. Self-willed babies will not have place in Christ’s building because they refuse to take part in it.  They essentially are disconnected from the Body of Christ through their refusal to follow Christ and following after their own heart.   They are deceived and deceive others see 2 Peter 2.

see also The Surface Christian, The Christian Void of the Spirit of God, The Emperor’s New Clothes – in Christendom