A New Christian Celebrated His Conversion by Getting Drunk
Craig Groeschel says he and his friend were spiritual babies who had not yet learned wrong from right.
finds.life.church · Sick of Hypocritical Christians? Jesus Is TooCraig Groeschel, a pastor, was on his knees when he decided to give his life to Jesus. He prayed a simple prayer, "God, if You're there, show me. I will give You my life." He said he sincerely felt God's presence in that moment and felt his life had changed completely.
Soon after, he got together with a good friend whose past had been just as reckless as his own. Groeschel did not yet have the language for what had happened to him. "I think I've decided I'm 'religious,'" he told his friend. He said he would never phrase it that way today, but he was new to all of this and did not know how to explain it.
The story matters because Groeschel now uses it to explain why some Christians act in ways that confuse or disappoint other people. He and his friend were what Christians describe as baby Christians, new believers named in Hebrews 5 who are still spiritually young and growing. They had faith, but they did not yet understand how to live out their new beliefs.
What happened next showed just how young they were. Without Groeschel knowing it, his friend had also recently decided to follow Jesus and had been looking for a way to share the news. They were both so excited about their mutual decision that they decided they had to celebrate.
They celebrated the only way they knew how. As Groeschel put it, "We went out ... and got wasted. Seriously." He added, "We were brand-new followers of Jesus and didn't know any better yet."
Groeschel tells the story on himself to make a larger point about judgment and patience. Some people who misrepresent Jesus, he says, are Christians who are born into the kingdom of God but are still immature in their faith. Like babies, they need time, teaching, and grace before they learn how to live what they say they believe.
Questions people ask
What does the phrase baby Christian mean?
It is an informal term Christians use for a new believer. Like a newborn, a baby Christian is considered spiritually alive but inexperienced, and still learning basic beliefs, habits, and moral judgment. The phrase comes from passages like Hebrews 5, which compares immature believers to infants who still need milk.
What is Hebrews 5 about?
Hebrews 5 is a chapter in the New Testament letter to the Hebrews. In it, the writer scolds readers for being slow to learn and says they still need milk instead of solid food, meaning basic teaching rather than deeper understanding. Christians often cite it when talking about spiritual maturity.
How do Christians believe a new believer is supposed to mature?
Most churches teach growth through regular prayer, reading the Bible, worship, and community with other believers. They also emphasize guidance from pastors or mentors, serving others, and turning away from old habits over time. Maturity is seen as gradual, not instant after conversion.