Good morning! This month at our local church, we have accepted the challenge to “get curious” on our faith walk through the child-like theme of Curious George. I am so happy to be sharing this message with you today.
Well, actually that is not a hundred percent correct, nor is it sincere. I honestly would have preferred to switch Sundays with another teammate, and be learning from one of them today.
As many of you know (and can surely relate), my household has been experiencing a great deal of sadness and discomfort, and unlike that adorable monkey who inquisitively runs towards zoo doors labeled “Danger: Keep Out!” , I am not one who curiously seeks out uncomfortable chaos. Am I right? None of us purposefully choose craziness; very few are ever curious about chaos.
We’d never enter the copy room if we heard two co-workers fighting. NO WAY! That would be so awkward. Now if we overheard them singing “happy birthday”, thatwould be a different story. Curious about cake-yes! Curious about chaos-Not so much!
We prefer to be comfortable. We all have our ideal volumes, rhythms and even seats in life. We prefer to be certain. Why would I choose the craziness of the unknown?
Why would I choose a task that I lack the skill set to carry out? Predictability is favored in life, no? We prefer to be in control. After all risk-taking is very overrated.
We want certainty. We want comfort. In my desire for these two, I was rudely awakened that maybe I was not fully prepared to answer Christ’s call on my life. As you know, Jesus does not call us to a comfortable life, but to a cross-carrying life (Mt. 16:24).
If anyone could relate to the craziness of the call, it would be the first students of Jesus-his original disciples. Gees, talk about being gently punted out of one’s comfort zone. Their first encounter was of Jesus telling some of them to quit their jobs(Mt.4). If he was not asking them to walk on water(Mk. 14), or asking them to stay awake for an all night prayer fest(Mt. 26), he was expecting them to heal the lame and sick just as he had(Mt. 10).Talk about chaos, talk about discomfort.
Today’s scripture is no different. If the disciples had any kind comfort zone, they would most certainly be nudged out of it. In the first book of the New Testament, we come across a very detailed, and methodically presented life of Jesus. While reading along in the book of Matthew, we see that the disciples were experiencing some intense training from the Master Teacher.
Through miracles, parables, object lessons, and questioning it is soon made clear that this is “not-of-this-world” equipping. Their time together is short. Jesus wants to be sure they understand the difference in the ways of the kingdom and the ways of the world.
Like little ducklings, the Disciples are following Jesus, and trying to absorb as much as they can on their journey to Jerusalem. While on this journey, they pause to experience a mini-lecture on marriage, possessions, and children. During this highly-intellectual and adult-only conversation, the disciples are distracted by the sounds of laughter and little feet. They turn to see small children running towards Jesus.
Some in the crowd were not fazed by this, for this was a beautiful custom where an elder or scribe would bless the children. Through this blessing, the hope was that each child would attain the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and would aim for good works in his/her life. [1]
While the parents were in awe of this precious moment, the disciples weren’t having it. This was way too chaotic for their comfort zone. The disciples were annoyed. Why? Perhaps, they were offended that Jesus, The Son of God, was being perceived as a mere scribe by these parents. What an insult!
Maybe they valued punctuality and were concerned that these little people were going to delay their journey. Or, possibly, just possibly, the disciples were irritated that these wipper-snappers did not know their place and were interrupting a theological discussion that was way over their tiny undeveloped heads. [2]
“Leave the children alone. Do not hinder them. Let them come to me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” He then placed his hands on the children and gently blessed them.
Now this powerful scene happens in two other books in the Bible: Mark and Luke[4]. However, there are some major differences that are worth pointing out. As one reads the other two accounts, he finds that the children are being viewed simply as object lessons for the adults.
There seems to be some type of exhortation where Jesus challenges the adults to be more like children, “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Lk. 18:15-17). This direct challenge is absent in today’s scripture from Matthew. This is not the goal, nor the take-home point for the text we are reading today.
While it is implied that a “kingdom mentality” is one of trust and child-like faith, this insinuation is kept completely separate from the fact that Jesus literally placed his hands on these children, infused them with God’s favor and lovingly prayed that their hearts would align with His.
In today’s passage, he blessed them not to illustrate a blessing on adults who behave like kids, but solely to bless these children as valued young disciples.
While the tradition of blessing a child was not counter-cultural at the time, I believe that Jesus’ value of children most certainly was.
Those of the Jewish faith were accustomed to following the words of the torah in Deuteronomy, ” 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” These parents had accepted the challenge to pass their faith down to their own children.
However, the way that Jesus walked and talked, including today’s scripture continuously pushed people outside of their comfort zones. Jesus was pushing them outside of their patriarchal, clan definition of “family” that we read of in the . When Christ came to earth, died, and arose, as we read in Colossians 1:18, hebecame the head of the church, the “household of God”. Jesus became the head of the Family of God.
This new view of family is not defined by DNA and tribal backgrounds, but by one’s desire to believe and one’s desire to follow Jesus (John 3:3-5).
This paradigm shift regarding family meant that our call as Christians to value and equip young disciples was no longer exclusive to those who shared our last name BUT to all children, each and every child within the family of God.
Jesus taught from this perspective, and the early Christians obeyed.
We see in the writings of the early church: Acts, Ephesians, Colossians, and 1 Corinthians[5]that children “of various ages and commitments attended worship.”[6] Not only did families meet in each other’s houses for worship, but a child would rarely go without for these Christians “sacrificially shared resources with each other.”
The early church recognized children as persons, and taught that God cared for each and every child (1 Cor. 14:25). The early Christians were aware that one’s “[One’s friendship with God] did not depend on wealth, status, learning or personal merit. Therefore salvation was just as open to children as it was to adults”.[7]
Children are of great value to God, don’t believe me? Check out Matthew 18:6 and read about those who take this calling to value and equip our children lightly. (Something about a stone around one’s neck and drowning….)
We are called to value children as equally loved and esteemed members of the Family of God. While this may be an uncomfortable call for some of us, this will inevitably be the case. The majority of divine nudges on our hearts will be uncomfortable; for the ways of the kingdom are different than those of the world.
While the world might slap on bumper stickers that read “THE CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE!”, the church can loudly respond,
“Yes AND our present. They are not only the church of tomorrow, but, more importantly they are PART the church of today.”
Sure, they are not done growing yet, but who here is? As equally loved and esteemed members of the Family of God, children can be empowered by the Holy Spirit to minister to others with the healing love of Christ.
I had the honor of hearing the current CEO, Wes Stafford, speak while I was in school. Wow, his conviction of calling in regards to serving as a child advocate was palpable. He shares a story that took place in Ecuador in 2004.
A team of directors had arrived to observe some up and coming compassion program there. As they stepped off the minibus, they were told their travels were in vain. They would not be able to observe the compassion program. “Due to a funeral” a pastor with tears in his eyes said, “the children will not be gathering tomorrow.” He continued, “two od our little boys, brothers, were crossing the busy street to come to the program yesterday and were struck by a huge truck. The eight-year-old was severely injured and is in intensive care at the hospital. But the little six-year-old brother did not make it. He was a wonderful little boy . We are all heart-broken.”
The directors began to cry along with the pastor who said, “In our culture, children do not attend funerals, especially tragic ones like this. So I am afraid you will not see among us what you came so far to see.”
The directors looked around at each other and then said, “Would it be alright if we came anyway, sat with your congregation and just grieved with our Ecuadorian brothers and sisters?”
The next morning the directors arrived at a little church. The tiny sanctuary was filled to its maximum capacity. To their surprise, some sixty of the mourners sitting on the course wooden benches were children. The pastor simply shrugged his shoulders and had no explanation for why so many children had shown up for a funeral. This was a never-before-seen event.
While waiting for the service to begin, the directors began to move among the children, quietly talking to them in Spanish. Child after child said, “He was my friend. He is the one who told me about Jesus’ love. He helped me invite Jesus into my heart. I’m sad, but I’ve come today to send him to his heavenly home.”
This little Ecuadorian child had helped over fifty of his friends begin a friendship with Jesus. “His life’s work was gloriously accomplished by the tender age of six. God needed an evangelist for that village. He needed a child.”[8]
Holy, not-of-this-world things happen when a child is guided by the Holy Spirit and supported by a Christian community. One does not have to travel to experience this; for it is evident in our homes, camps, our five children’s programs here at FUMC (as you’ll see in the offertory video), and hopefully in VBS on July 21-24th (yes-that was a plug).
As Wes Stafford challenged us, “Watch carefully the children around you. In precious moments you will watch a glimpse of your savior’s face. Listen intently and you will hear his voice. Walk gently among them; his footprints are all around you. Embrace [children],for you are embracing Him. Respect them, because [children] are sometimes God’s agents-exactly the kind of instruments he needs.” [9]
Closing & Benediction: This question might be uncomfortable, and might lead to some chaos, but for the glory of God, I must ask it. What all are you doing to equally love and equip the children of God’s family?
[1] Dr. Knox Chamblin, Commentary of Matthew 19:13-15
[2] Dr. Knox Chamblin, Commentary of Matthew 19:13-15
[3] Message Bible
[4] Mark 9 :36-37 and Luke 18:15-17
[5] Eph. 6:1, Col.3:20-21,Acts 2:44-47.1 Cor. 14:25
[6]Bring them up in the Discipline and Instruction of the Lord by ROBERT PLUMMER http://www.sbts.edu/family/blog/bring-them-up-in-the-discipline-and-instruction-of-the-lord-by-robert-plummer/
[7] Diane Severance, Ph.D., “Jesus Loved Children”
http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1-300/jesus-loved-children-11629553.html
[8] Wes Stafford, Too Small To Ignore; Why the Least of These Matter Most.” 227
[9] ” ” 228