RSS

Enjoy Life, Enjoy God


Dale Patterson

CHILDISH, NO - CHILDLIKE, YES

June 20, 2011

Repeatedly Jesus uses a child as a model, an example of coming to God.  We repeatedly miss the lesson.

 
"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God, like a little child will never enter it."
                                                  -- Mark 10:14-16 TNIV
 
We are to learn from little children, Jesus says.  Yet like the church people then, we keep building practices and theologies based upon "adult understanding."  We condescend to children's abilities to grasp our sophisticated theologies and practices.  Yet how many times Jesus says, "You adults, take a lesson from your children."
 
There's nothing childish about discipleship, but something very much childlike.  Children have to be taught by us our arguments, controversies, and internal squabbles.  Maybe it's time we actually listened to Jesus.  "Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child..."
 
Joyfully,
 
Dale Patterson