Why do so many Christians feel pressured to become “spiritually mature” before they’ve even learned to rest in God’s love?

In this episode of Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction, Michele Kus and Martin Trench unpack why many churches unintentionally rush believers past the foundational childhood stage of spiritual growth — creating pressure, confusion, fear, and performance-based Christianity in the process.

Together, they unpack how churches often rush new believers past the “milk” stage of spiritual development and into pressure-filled teachings about spiritual warfare, end times, tithing, performance, and more — trying to get them “caught up” spiritually.

Through scripture, stories, humor, and honest conversation, Michele and Martin explore why healthy spiritual growth cannot be forced — and why skipping the foundational childhood stage of trust and love can create confusion, fear, exhaustion, spiritual striving, and unhealthy views of God that affect believers over the long haul.

Real spiritual growth is not about becoming hyper-spiritual as quickly as possible… but about allowing our connection with God to gradually transform us over time.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by church expectations, pressured to spiritually “grow up” too quickly, or like you skipped over the foundational stage of simply learning to trust God’s love — this episode is for you.

Purchase Martin’s book, Secrets of Spiritual Growth.

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Unhinged helps you unlearn toxic religious thinking, rediscover a freer and healthier way of understanding God, faith, and yourself… and laugh a little along the way.

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Welcome to Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction!

02:46 1 John 2 and the “Milk, Meat & Bread” Stages of Spiritual Growth

08:40 The Three Stages in 1 John 2: Childhood, Youth, Parenthood

10:16 The Problem With Skipping the “Milk” of Spiritual Childhood

12:55 What Spiritual Children Need Most

16:31 Why New Christians Feel Pressured to “Catch Up”

21:26 Don’t Rush Through Spiritual Childhood

24:13 Final Thoughts on Healthy Spiritual Growth