Baby and Believers

Baby steps This weekend we got stop and visit my nephew and his wife… and their new baby. What a cutie! My kids- my son especially- were enthralled with her. And with good reason.

Babies are miracles. We celebrate them. We shower them with gifts. We mark each milestone as they grow. But did you ever wonder why we don't do that with baby believers?

We rejoice when someone is born again, but most times, by next week's church service, we expect them to act like fully matured seminary-ready "adult" believers. Granted, the individual has a lot of responsibility for his or her own growth, but so do we as their family.

Do we feed them well when they are hungry?
Do we love on them, and comfort them?
Do we pick them up when they fall?
Do we make sure they rest?
Do we let them "help" even when it means we'll do more work?
Do we watch them for any signs of illness, and get them to see the Great Physician?
Do we see to it they get their vaccinations to protect them from getting sick later?

It's labor intensive, but I suspect someone (probably not the same someone) did all those things for us to get us where we are.

Do you think we often leave new believers to grow themselves up? Who has the greater responsibility for growth- the new believer or the body?

Lauren

I think that the church should really help out the baby believers. The new believer does carry responsibility in growing up because it's their job to learn. But they can't teach themselves and they can't keep learning from failure, even if that is a helpful method (if a little painful). So it's in my mind that the church's job in helping baby believers is making sure that they keep at it when they fall. Great post!
http://www.arenasgd.com David Arenas

I do not have children, but I have been there as a father for my best friend's daughter since her mother was a couple of weeks pregnant with her. Her name is Giselle. My friend was scared and didn't know what to do. I told her not to worry, that her baby will be blessed with friends and family, and everyone will love her. We just have to be optimistic, there is no other way to live and then expect to be trully happy. Just do our best and desire the best for the children. Giselle is now 6 years old and has lots of love and joy to share. She is kind and respectful towards others and she likes to see people happy. She often pretends to run her own office and make important deals over phone calls. My little best friend Giselle is a consultant and a dinner host. We play at the park untill she is content. She just started kindergarten and loves it very much. I didn't have to be there for her, but she was also there for me when I needed to remember what really matters the most. I have been blessed to have known her. Children truly are our hope and it is our duty to contribute as much as we can to the new generation. So that they will have good examples to follow and do their part for their children. Thanks to Giselle, I now have faith and love life and I am healed from anxiety and pessimism. This was my reward for believing in her and being there for her to celebrate life together.