Faith Like a Child

Text: Mark 10:13-16

From this text in the Gospel of Mark and the parallel passages we find in the other gospels comes the well-known phrase: “Faith like a Child.” These are words I have heard used many times, and I am sure you have heard them mentioned at least once before. In fact this expression seems to be quite common in exploring our Faith and its meaning. What's more, this very phrase is often used as a command: “We must have Faith as a child.” Now I whole-heartedly affirm such a description of our Faith, and I readily agree with the biblical image it recalls: Jesus ushering the children to himself and rebuking those who would interfere. However, I believe this image is often misunderstood. It appears to me that we have misinterpreted the words of Jesus recorded in Mark that regard children and the Kingdom of Heaven.

Too many times the child-like Faith that we are called to possess is based upon the idea that children are simple, trusting, and completely committed. We will many times listen to the stories about children “faithfully” trusting in their parents despite troubles, difficulties, and human imperfection. We are then asked to mimic such blind and dedicated trust, placing it in the hands of a God that is perfect and will not falter. But we must ask ourselves if this is the element of childhood that Jesus calls us to assume. We must ask ourselves whether Christ asks us to trust blindly in God and His Will, or if he instead poses a deeper consideration.

What is it that Jesus intends for his disciples to understand? As Disciples of the Christ, what should we understand from Jesus in his words and actions? What does it mean to receive the Kingdom of God as a Child? What does it mean to understand Faith in light of receiving the Kingdom as a child?

Typically we are exhorted to have the un-wavering, un-yielding, and un-questioning Faith that a child has. But we must begin by cleaning our minds of the common and usual notion of child-like Faith as simple trust and acceptance. We can hold onto the notion of child-like vulnerability and dependence, but we must remove the ideas that the faith and innocence we associate with children is directly linked to the trust and acceptance we commonly observe.

How many of you have raised children or are raising children? How many of you have heard the question “why?” posed to you by a curious and determined toddler? I can remember back to my own childhood and the countless times I frustrated my parents with the relentless questioning of “Why? Why? Why?” As a child, I had little experience of the world and how it worked, and I continually wanted to know more, understand more, and see more. I thought that my parents were a bottomless source of information that would connect the loose ends of my discombobulated world. Thus, I questioned, searched, and prodded the depths of my parents understanding only to arrive empty-handed at times: “I don't know Michael, it just IS!”

We often like to think of children as immensely loyal and trusting, as beacons of pure love who question not of those in whom they place their hope or rely upon. However, as true as this can be at times, the image of children I often recall is one filled with question and wonder. Children are naturally inquisitive. As trusting as they can be, they are not blindly wandering in the world they find themselves a part of; instead they ask, sometimes persistently, why the world is as it appears.

So which of these perspectives is the text asking us to adopt? The questioning Faith of a wondering child, or the un-questioning dedication of the trusting child? I believe the text speaks for itself. Turn with me again to the text.

Open your bibles to v. 13 of Chapter 10 in the Gospel of Mark.

You can see quite plainly that people found Jesus to be of great importance, for many brought their children to Jesus so that he might touch them. Now touching is usually an act of healing in the ministry of Jesus, but in this context healing is not sought after. Instead, people approach Jesus with the hope that Jesus might give a blessing to their children. Imparting a blessing through the laying on of hands was a common practice and was even carried over into the Apostolic communities of early Christianity. By asking Jesus for blessing, these people readily acknowledged something special about Jesus. These people implicitly admitted Jesus was capable of conferring a blessing and they trusted that he would.

Given the continual egoism of the disciples in the Gospel of Mark, it is not surprising that they would blunder yet again. The disciples persisted in overlooking what Jesus found to be most important. First, as we have seen the last few weeks, it was a prideful desire to be considered greatest that caused the disciples to miss the condition of discipleship: sacrificial servitude. Then, the disciples missed the importance of aligning with Christ in deed by becoming distracted with theological status and importance. Now, the disciples attempted to prevent Jesus from blessing the children who were brought to him. Why exactly the disciples would want to do this has many uncertain explanations. It would fit with their previous selfishness that the disciples considered the children unimportant or insignificant. It would also fit that the disciples did not consider the children deserving of Jesus' time and blessing when there was so much healing, exorcism, and teaching to be done. Or, maybe the disciples did not want Jesus to be constantly bombarded with anyone, child or adult.

Regardless of the disciple's intent, Jesus firmly rebukes the disciples and warmly welcomes the little ones. The Greek word “paidia,” meaning children, is a term ranging in meaning from infant to 12 years old. This term from the Greek language enters English as “ped,” found in the words pedophobia (fear of children) and pedophile (love of children). Regardless of the age-span this term coves, the small children brought to Jesus were pre-adolescent. They were young, small, and vulnerable. These were the type of children that we consider innocent and pure. They have yet to be corrupted by the burdensome experiences of life and responsibility. These are the children desperately in need of care, guidance, and protection. And these little ones are the ones Christ welcomes.

Jesus says to his disciples: “Let the children come to me. Do not try to stop them, because the Kingdom of God is for such as these” (v.14). Jesus does not consider the attention of the children troublesome or insignificant, but instead uses them to demonstrate to his disciples how to receive a gift. These children are by no means examples of blind trust and simple acceptance. They are not representatives of wonder or questioning. Jesus does not indicate to his disciples that one must BELIEVE in the Kingdom like a child, but one must RECEIVE the Kingdom like a child. The attitude of children toward gifts is one that we must have toward the Kingdom.

v.15

The quality that children possess in receiving gifts stems from neediness. Children, by virtue of needing protection, guidance, and care have nothing that makes them deserving of a gift. And a child is often times aware of their neediness in respect to what they are given. A child can and sometimes does recognize that a gift is unmerited.

Jesus demonstrated to his ego-driven disciples that the Kingdom must be received as an unmerited gift. Nothing that the children could do would merit the Gift that they had been given. Thus, these children are examples to both the disciples and us as Disciples that Faith is built around unmerited favor from God, or what we often call “Grace” in our Christian terminology. The receptiveness of the children allowed them to receive the gift. Thus, we must be receptive, we must accept the gift. But in accepting the gift, we take it AS A GIFT.

Dictionary Definition: GIFT: (Dictionary.com)

1. something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone, honor an occasion, or make a gesture of assistance; present.
2. something bestowed or acquired without any particular effort by the recipient or without its being earned

So, what does it mean to have “Faith like a child?” Does it mean that we take up the simplicity and un-questioning trust of a child. No, for Faith is not simple, unless it is simple faith. And Faith is not unquestioning or blind, lest it be blind Faith. Rather, this event in the ministry of Jesus informs us of what our Faith is rooted in: God's Grace. This is the beautiful unmerited favor which God bestows upon us, knowing full well that we cannot repay it. Yet, we often times feel we can. We feel that there is something we have done or can do which establishes God's favor with us... but this simply isn't True. God's favor is a gift, and as a result, requires no payment. Thus, the ones who are ushered into the Kingdom are those who are receptive to the receiving of gifts as gifts. These are the ones who are like the children brought before God. “For the Kingdom belongs to such as these.”

Are you receptive this morning? Have you accepted the Gift of God as a gift, one that is unmerited and not re-payable. Have you Faith rooted in Grace? If not, maybe it is time you asked yourself if you are willing to accept the Gift God has freely given to all who would kneel at the alter of humility. The process is simple. We admit we cannot repay God, we admit that we are sinners. Once we are self-aware of our finite position before the infinite God, we ask to receive God's Blessing: Eternal Life. We come before him like the children who were brought before Jesus. And Like Jesus did for the children, God takes us in God's arms as adopted Children and sends us forth with purpose and meaning. Do you have that purpose and meaning this morning. I invite you this morning, if you have not already, to begin with us a life of Faith--rooted in Grace--as Children of God.

Let us sing. Hymn.

Benediction:

Most High God, let us today reflect upon the words of Jesus as he instructed his disciples both years ago and right this hour. May our Faith be grounded in Grace. Let the reality of this Child-like Faith penetrate us here in this place, and may that Faith be made alive in our communion with You and with each other. May our lives reflect the beauty of your Gift, may our hands toil for its sake and our hearts rejoice in its bounty.

Amen.