New Believers vs. Experienced Christians
After being a Christian for over 12 years, I’ve noticed a striking contrast in how new believers and seasoned Christians interact with each other. Why do new believers often come across as overly judgmental, while seasoned Christians seem intolerant of this tendency?
I got married two weeks after becoming a Christian. My husband led me to Christ, and suddenly, my entire world shifted to one surrounded by seasoned believers—his family and friends became my new community. As a baby Christian, I absorbed everything I could, often fixating on sin and righteousness in both myself and those around me.
Before coming to Christ, our mindsets are focused on following the world’s ways. We are lost in our sins, not striving to please God or live a life that honors Him, but seeking to do what pleases us (Ephesians 2:1-3).
Once we become new creations, our perspective shifts. We start to view sin and righteousness through the lens of God’s standards, leading to a new sensitivity to moral issues. This shift explains why new believers may seem judgmental—they are trying to navigate this new understanding. Things start to stand out to them that would have never mattered before coming to Christ.
A few years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting a girl who did not initially believe in God. However, after Christians took her in and helped her through a tragic situation, she converted to Christianity. The love she received revealed God’s nature to her, opening her eyes to spiritual truths. Post-conversion, she began to question the behaviors of both Christians and non-Christians alike. This was when I realized she wasn’t trying to be judgmental but genuinely desired to understand what pleases God. I couldn’t help but notice the power of the Holy Spirit at work in her life to convict her of sin and righteousness as she was being sanctified.
New believers can be likened to newborns; just as babies require milk before they can eat solid foods, new Christians need to learn the basics of their new life in Christ and what God expects from them. This concept is referred to as “milk and solid food” in the Scriptures (see 1 Corinthians 3:2 and Hebrews 5:12-14 for more on milk and solid food).
This revelation with my friend reminded me of my early days as a believer. Like her, I remember feeling hyper-sensitive to sin and righteousness around me. Unfortunately, seasoned believers often reacted with annoyance rather than understanding. Only a few were patient enough to guide me through that stage of growth.
I still see this as a common problem today. When new believers point out things they perceive as sinful, seasoned believers frequently respond with irritation. It is important for mature Christians to disciple younger believers, as they are still learning what it means to follow Jesus. These young Christians need guidance to understand their faith, and it’s essential to approach their questions and struggles with patience rather than being offended or dismissive.
As babies grow and mature, they gradually transition to solid foods. Similarly, Christians cannot rely on spiritual milk forever; they must eventually move on to deeper teachings. The Bible refers to this as “solid food.” It is the seasoned believer’s responsibility to help new believers grow into mature Christians.
Discipleship is essential for all Christians, and who better to lead new Christians than those who have walked with Jesus for years or even decades? Seasoned believers shouldn’t overlook the lessons new believers offer; their sensitivity to sin is something to appreciate.
By recognizing the Holy Spirit is at work in new believers’ lives and opening their hearts and minds to what God desires, seasoned Christians can help guide and disciple younger Christians, encouraging spiritual growth for all. Be patient and extend grace the next time you meet a new believer questioning the world in a fresh light.
