I’ve been teaching the Ray Vanderlan video series, “Faith Lessons on the Death and Resurrection of the Messiah,” in adult Sunday School, and your posting today rang bells with what we were discussing today — the importance of children and their faith. Their faith is the sort that we adults should have and most of the time don’t. Our text was Matthew 18:1-5:

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a little child, whom he placed among them. And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes a humble place — becoming like this child — is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.’” TNIV

We need to listen more carefully to children because what they say in the faith is often profound. And what Jesus goes on to say about stumbling “such a little one” is quite sobering. The “little ones” in this passage can possibly be extended to other categories of people as well, like to new believers, the disenfranchised, those who are discriminated against (race, gender, the poor), etc. I always learn so much when I teach new believers; I love their fresh perspectives. And of course, I’m currently researching the gender issue as you can see with my blog. Anyway, humility, in anyone, is always welcome.

I’m praying for Michelle.

Craighton Hippenhammer
christianegalitarians.blogspot.com