In 2013, a 20-year-old woman named Brooke Greenberg died in Baltimore, Maryland. But in many ways, she never lived the kind of life her parents imagined when she was born.

Brooke was a medical mystery. Though she aged in years, her body and mind never developed past infancy. At the time of her death, she weighed 16 pounds and was about 30 inches long. She still had baby teeth. She couldn’t talk. She didn’t walk. Her brain functioned like that of a six-month-old.

Doctors couldn’t explain it. They called it Syndrome X—a rare, perhaps unique, condition where the body simply stops growing. Her parents said she was, biologically, “frozen in time.”

Imagine the heartbreak. Celebrating her birthdays each year, but never seeing her walk, never hearing her say “I love you,” never watching her grow into the woman they had hoped she’d become.

Now, imagine God looking at many of His children.

Years have passed. They’ve been Christians for decades. Their names are in church directories. Their Bibles are worn from years of flipping—but not necessarily reading. They should be teachers, disciple-makers, wise elders of the faith.

But instead… they’re still in diapers.

When Time Passes, But Growth Doesn’t Happen

This is the tragic reality behind the warning in Hebrews 5:12. The writer is exasperated: “By this time, you ought to be teachers.” But instead of teaching, they’re still toddlers in the faith. Still drinking spiritual milk. Still in need of basic lessons.

This isn’t a gentle reminder. It’s a rebuke. Not for being new to the faith, but for being old and unmatured in it.

This is what Dallas Willard called “the great omission” from the Great Commission: discipleship. We’ve settled for conversion without transformation. Forgiveness without formation. Worship without maturity.

John Ortberg put it bluntly:

“Spiritual growth doesn’t happen just by getting older. You have to grow older.”

Spiritual childhood is meant to be a phase. Not a destination.

Survey Says: We’re Not Growing

Multiple major studies have confirmed what many pastors already suspect: many believers are not becoming more like Jesus. Let’s look at the numbers.

📊 The Reveal Study from Willow Creek

Willow Creek’s Reveal: Where Are You? survey gathered data from over 250,000 churchgoers and revealed a stunning truth:

Church activity does not necessarily equal spiritual maturity.

The study found that many believers who were heavily involved in programs and weekend services still described their spiritual lives as “stalled” or “dry.” They were active, but not growing. They weren’t becoming more loving, joyful, or Christlike.

Bill Hybels, then senior pastor, admitted:

“We made a mistake. What we should have done when people crossed the line of faith and became Christians is we should have started teaching people to read their Bible between services, and then get them engaged in other kinds of spiritual practices.”

📊 The Barna Group: Faith Not Changing Behavior

Barna’s State of Discipleship report found that:

• Only 1 in 5 churchgoers say their church expects them to grow spiritually.
• 60% of Christians view their faith as “entirely private.”
• A large majority couldn’t define “spiritual maturity,” much less pursue it.

In another study, Barna noted that while a majority of Americans identify as Christians, only 17% of those actually hold a biblical worldview.

📊 Bible Literacy Crisis (Lifeway Research)

In a Lifeway study:

• More than 50% of churchgoers said they read the Bible once a week or less.
• A significant number believed Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife.
• Most couldn’t name more than two of the Ten Commandments.

How can we grow in righteousness when we aren’t even feeding on the Word?