Rethinking Childlike Faith: The Problem with Staying in Spiritual Infancy

Hey Everyone,

For a long time, I believed that God wanted His children to be His little servants, tirelessly working to fulfill His mission. I thought if I sacrificed enough, I’d at least find contentment—if not joy (since I assumed joy was only for the afterlife). But instead of fulfillment, I felt exhausted, empty, and even jealous of others who seemed to be getting everything I had secretly wanted.

Here I was, giving everything for the Lord, yet I didn’t even feel content. And for a while, that made me feel like a bad Christian—as if my dissatisfaction meant I lacked faith.

That’s when I started asking the hard questions—not just seeking answers that fit what I had always believed, but truly seeking truth, no matter where it led. And what I discovered changed everything: The Church is the Bride of Christ.

If a marriage was only about the husband’s happiness, wouldn’t we call that selfish? Yet I had spent years believing that faith was only about God’s joy, never considering that He actually desires both sides to be fulfilled. That realization forced me to rethink my entire approach to faith—including my assumption that "just believe and work hard" was enough.

That got me thinking—had I misunderstood faith itself? What if the simple assumption that I needed to "just believe" was actually keeping me spiritually immature?

Have We Misunderstood Childlike Faith?

Many assume "childlike faith" means blind trust, unquestioning obedience, and passive dependence. But is that what Jesus truly meant? When we look at Scripture, we see that true childlike faith is not about remaining spiritually immature—it’s about trust that leads to growth, curiosity that leads to understanding, and humility that leads to wisdom.

Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). Some interpret this to mean faith should remain simple, unquestioning, and dependent. But if childlike faith meant staying in spiritual infancy, why would Scripture repeatedly call believers to grow in wisdom and maturity?

Paul rebuked the Corinthians for failing to grow spiritually, saying, “I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready” (1 Corinthians 3:2). A faith that never moves beyond milk—beyond a child's dependence—will not thrive. Instead, God calls us into spiritual responsibility, discernment, and depth.

The Danger of a Blind, Passive Faith

A child’s nature includes both innocence and curiosity. A child asks questions, seeks understanding, and desires to grow. If Jesus was praising a child’s faith, it may not have been for blind acceptance but for the eagerness to learn and trust in the process of growth.

However, many Christians assume that faith means passive acceptance rather than seeking deeper understanding. This misunderstanding leads to several dangers:

• Lack of Discernment – Without questioning or seeking wisdom, believers may accept false teachings or misguided interpretations of Scripture.

  
  

• Stagnation in Faith – A passive faith never progresses beyond basic beliefs, leaving no room for deeper spiritual maturity.

  
  

• Attracting an Unfulfilling Life – Faith influences life experiences. If someone believes faith means helplessness, they may unconsciously create a life of dependence rather than thriving.

  
  

• Limited Relationship with God – Just as an earthly parent wants their child to mature, God desires His children to grow into a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him.

  
  

If faith is meant to develop, then spiritual infancy is only a starting point—not the goal.

Why Spiritual Infancy Falls Short

While many believe childlike faith means unquestioning trust, childhood itself is a stage meant for growth. Just as we expect children to mature into responsible adults, God expects our faith to develop beyond infancy.

Children are precious, but they are not meant to stay in an underdeveloped state. They lack the ability to lead, make wise decisions, or handle responsibility. If faith were about never questioning or thinking critically, how could we reconcile that with Jesus' call for believers to rule, judge, and lead?

Here’s why remaining in spiritual infancy is not God’s plan:

• Children Depend on Others – They need guidance, provision, and protection. While dependence is natural for a time, healthy faith should grow into responsibility. God wants us to develop spiritual strength, not remain helpless.

  
  

• Children Lack Judgment – They are followers, not leaders. But Scripture calls believers to make righteous judgments (1 Corinthians 6:2, Matthew 19:28), which requires wisdom and discernment.

  
  

• Children Are Still Developing – They are not yet capable of the deep, intimate relationships that maturity brings. Faith is meant to progress from simplicity into spiritual depth and intimacy with God.

  
  

• Children Are Easily Distracted – Just as children lose focus easily, spiritual infancy results in wavering, lacking the perseverance needed to walk in faith long-term.

  
  

• Children Are Not Accountable – They are expected to learn but are not responsible for major decisions. Yet believers are called to be stewards of God’s kingdom and take responsibility for their faith (Luke 12:42-48, Philippians 2:12).

  
  

• Children Seek Immediate Gratification – They struggle with patience, but spiritual maturity requires endurance and long-term perspective (Hebrews 12:1-2).

  
  

• Children Are Easily Misled – Their trusting nature makes them vulnerable to deception. Paul warns against remaining like children, "tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching” (Ephesians 4:14). Mature believers test everything against Scripture (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

  
  

• Children Obey Due to External Motivation – Kids often follow rules to avoid punishment rather than from internal conviction. But true faith is driven by love for God, not fear of consequences (John 14:15).

  
  

God calls us to grow beyond dependency, distraction, and passivity into wisdom, responsibility, and spiritual leadership.

Why Some Christians Cling to a Childlike Faith

Many believers hesitate to challenge long-held beliefs because questioning can feel uncomfortable, even dangerous. Here are some ways to recognize if you are clinging to a childlike faith:

• Fear of Being Wrong

  • Ask yourself: Would I rather be right than truly know God? Do I reject new insights because they challenge my comfort zone?

  • Example: The Pharisees rejected Jesus because He didn’t fit their expectations of the Messiah (John 9:39-41). They valued their beliefs more than truth.

    
    

• Fear of Losing Community

  • Ask yourself: Am I afraid of what my church or family will think if I ask hard questions? Have I stayed silent about doubts to avoid conflict?

  • Example: Nicodemus came to Jesus at night (John 3:2) because he feared losing his position among the Pharisees.

    
    

• Fear of Divine Punishment

  • Ask yourself: Do I believe God will punish me for questioning Him? Do I confuse curiosity with rebellion?

  • Example: Job’s friends condemned him for questioning God, yet God rebuked them, not Job (Job 42:7).

    
    

• Cognitive Dissonance (The Struggle to Accept New Truths)

  • Ask yourself: Do I reject things simply because they contradict what I’ve always believed? Do I avoid exploring a new perspective because it makes me uncomfortable?

  • Example: Peter initially resisted eating with Gentiles because it violated his religious upbringing (Acts 10:14-15), but God corrected his understanding.

    
    

• Security in Certainty

  • Ask yourself: Am I clinging to my beliefs because they feel safe—even if they might be wrong? Would I rather have a false sense of security than take the risk of discovering deeper truth?

  • Example: The Israelites resisted Moses because Egypt—though oppressive—felt familiar (Exodus 14:11-12).

    
    

• Learned Helplessness (Letting Others Do the Thinking for You)

  • Ask yourself: Do I rely on pastors, books, or church doctrine instead of seeking God myself? Am I uncomfortable with the idea that I am responsible for my own spiritual growth?

  • Example: The Bereans were praised because they examined the Scriptures for themselves rather than blindly accepting teachings (Acts 17:11).

    
    

• Fear of Losing God's Favor

  • Ask yourself: Do I believe that questioning or struggling with my faith means I am disappointing God?

  • Example: The prodigal son believed his mistakes made him unworthy, yet the father welcomed him back with open arms (Luke 15:11-32). True faith grows through engagement, not avoidance.

    
    

• Comfort in Passivity (Avoiding Responsibility)

  • Ask yourself: Am I more comfortable letting others make spiritual decisions for me rather than taking ownership of my faith?

  • Example: The Israelites wanted Moses to speak to God on their behalf rather than hearing directly from Him (Exodus 20:19), demonstrating a preference for passivity over personal responsibility.

    
    

Recognizing these fears is the first step toward spiritual growth. God invites us to seek Him actively, not remain paralyzed by fear or assumption.

While these fears are understandable, they do not absolve us of our responsibility to seek truth. If God desires a deep, intimate relationship with us, then remaining in ignorance is not a safeguard—it is a barrier. The Bible makes it clear that to whom much is given, much is required. We are called to step beyond fear and into the fullness of knowing Him.

Signs You May have a Childlike Faith

Many believe they have a mature faith because they attend church, read the Bible, or pray regularly. But true spiritual maturity is not about habits alone—it’s about discernment, responsibility, and a deep relationship with God.

Here are some signs that your faith may still be in a childlike state:

• You Avoid Hard Questions About God – If you shy away from theological challenges or avoid deep study of Scripture, your faith may be based more on comfort than truth. True faith is not afraid of questions; it seeks answers and is willing to wrestle with difficult topics in search of God’s wisdom.

  
  

• You Believe That Blind Trust is the Highest Virtue – While trust in God is essential, He also calls us to seek wisdom. Faith is not about accepting everything blindly, but about understanding and growing in truth.

  
  

• You Think Doubting is a Sin – Doubt, when handled correctly, can lead to deeper understanding rather than spiritual failure. Many biblical figures, including David, Job, and Jacob, wrestled with doubt but grew stronger in faith because of it.

  
  

• You Feel Uncomfortable Taking Spiritual Responsibility – If you rely on pastors, church leaders, or religious books to tell you what to believe rather than seeking truth yourself, you may be in a passive faith state.

  
  

• You Look for Others to Tell You What to Believe Instead of Seeking Truth Yourself – Mature faith requires personal engagement with God’s Word and the willingness to test all teachings against Scripture (Acts 17:11).

  
  

True spiritual maturity requires stepping beyond passivity and actively seeking truth. Jesus never called people to blind obedience; He called them to follow, seek, and grow.

Growing Beyond Spiritual Infancy

A faith that remains in infancy is not a faith that thrives. Jesus’ invitation to childlike faith was never about staying passive—it was about embracing the qualities that lead to growth: trust, curiosity, and a willingness to mature.

Just as a child is meant to grow into a capable adult, our faith is meant to develop into wisdom, discernment, and deep intimacy with God. Remaining in spiritual infancy may feel safe, but it keeps us from fully experiencing the depth of relationship and purpose that God desires for us.

Spiritual infancy is meant to be a beginning, not a destination.

In the next post, we’ll explore what Jesus truly meant by childlike faith—and why maturity isn’t the loss of faith, but the fulfillment of it.

I thank you for your time and I hope you have a great day!

Jacqueline Marie