Only a fool or a child does something that will surely harm them. For their own good, it must be prevented. Considering what Solomon said, “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him” (Proverbs 22:15), a sane person vested with authority must intervene to stop the madness.

What could this madness be compared to?

It is comparable to a person using a chamber pot for their meal. It is also comparable to someone using their underwear (such as boxer shorts) as a hat.

Spiritually, this is what many Christians who have confessed Jesus, been born again, received baptism, married in the church, speak in tongues, and prophesy do. But glory be to God because:

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-15).

Church leaders must muster the courage and use the rod of authority that God has given them to correct the folly of faithful Christians so that they are no longer spiritual children but attain to the state of mature individuals, to the measure of the fullness of Christ.

Those whom God has appointed to correct the faithful cannot claim to love them if they let them live with their madness. In reality, if those appointed by God do not use the rod of correction, they are, to some extent, enemies of those whom God has entrusted to them. Romans 13:4-5 declares:

“For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore, you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.“

If one loves a person, they tell them the truth because the truth sets free: “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

Telling people the truth will set them on the path of spiritual growth for a stable and firm church, rooted in Christ.

This text is an excerpt from the book “Spiritual Childhood” written by Prophet Emmanuel SAWADOGO.