Little Ones E.Vic. Pk. Baptist 17.7.16
“There has never been a more exciting time to be alive than today and there has never been a more exciting time to be an Australian.” Malcolm Turnbull’s words failed to ring true for the same sort of people in Australia as those who supported Brexit and who like Donald Trump. People who are likely to be technologically poor and disempowered by the pace of change. To quote a BBC presenter; “The internet is the phenomenon of our age…new, revolutionary, remarkable…” The new Perth Stadium will boast Wi-Fi across the entire Sports Precinct, digitally locatable seats, two 240m² giant video screens and “Over 1,000 IPTV screens located throughout the interior of the Stadium so fans never miss the action”. Smart phones and social media are creating an unavoidable atmosphere which continuously tells us that our ability to maximise human potential is unlimited. This is not just about screens.
The driver of a Tesla electric car on autopilot was so engrossed in watching a Harry Potter DVD recently that he hit a semi trailer because the car’s cameras were blinded by unusually bright light. In certain countries legal cases are now being handled online. Most Bible colleges are now presenting their courses primarily through the internet because of economic necessity. This destroys Christian community and robs students of the presence of God. We are far more likely to marvel at our own scientific and technological wisdom than sense there is a Creator behind everything wonderful. Last week people were rejoicing at “the remarkable medical achievement” of ending the AIDS epidemic in Australia without any thought about the cause of the crisis in the first place.
Jesus has a word to say to his Church in nations like our own which believes we have outgrown Christianity. “In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things [kingdom of God] from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.” (Luke 10:21). Today the Lord calls us to be the “little ones” of the Gospels who have let go of worldly wisdom and self sufficiency to abide in the Father of Jesus though the power of the Spirit. This is Christ’s future direction for his Church. Christian childlikeness is, to quote, “paradoxically the highest maturity possible to man.” (Hans Urs von Balthasar). We must however start our investigation into what it means to be a “little one” on the correct foundation; not with our own experiences or observations of children but with the one true Child of God.
Jesus the Child
All we need to know about what it means to be spiritual children is found in Christ’s unique consciousness of being the Son of God. Jesus first recorded words are, ““Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”” (Luke 2:49). Then comes the Fatherly affirmation at his baptism; “and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”” (Luke 3:22). This intensification of the Son’s awareness of the Father comes at the beginning of his public ministry. From this time on Jesus will be filled with the Spirit of God empowering him to carry the burden of doing the Father’s will in saving the world (Mark 14:36; John 1:29 cf. Jer 23:38; Mal 1:1; Zech 12:1).
In his teaching Jesus’ exalts the condition of the child because it reflects his own dependency on his Father. ““Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. ….whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward…..At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven…. …See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.”” (Matt 10:40, 42; 18:1-4, 10).
Children in the ancient world were without rights, they were the epitome of defencelessness and powerlessness. In the context of the Gospel passages were Jesus elevates childhood he does so because like him when sent they went and when called they came. This aspect of spiritual childlikeness is clear in a saying from Luke; ““Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”” (Luke 9:48). The least are great because like children they honour the order of the Father sending and the Son being sent which is at the core of Jesus identity. The trusting obedient spirit of a child makes disciples true representatives of the Son as the Son was the true representative of the Father (Matt 10:40, 18:2; John 12:44-45; 20:21). All of this can sound quaint and sentimental, but it is only as the perfectly trusting obedient Son of the Father that Jesus can bear the sins of the world. The importance of the suffering of Jesus as God’s Child is particularly potent in this prophetic word from Zechariah quoted by Jesus on the eve of his death.
““Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,” declares the LORD of hosts. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.” (Zech 13:7; Matt 26:31; Mark 14:27). There are many ways of dying. When Socrates drunk the poisonous hemlock he continued to dialogue with his disciples about the immortality of the soul. Welsh poet Dylan Thomas tells us to, “Rage, rage against the dying of the light.” But Jesus is neither a philosopher nor a rebel. When Christ cries out from the cross, ““My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”” he embraced all the powerlessness, weakness, and neediness of abandoned suffering childhood (Mark 15:34). Jesus was crucified in the trusting weakness of a true child. Unlike the course of our lives, his final words from the cross reveal that his spirit of childhood dependence on God had not been extinguished by the hard-heartedness and cynicism of sin; ““Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”” (Luke 23:46; Heb 3:13). Such simple trust brought immense pleasure to the heart of the Father (Isa 53:10).
The burden that the Son carried in doing the will of the Father in saving the world was immense, but the fruit of obedience is resurrection life and rest in the bosom of the Father forever (John 1:18). The resurrection does not cancel out Jesus’ awareness of being a child of God; outside the empty tomb he tells Mary, “go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”” (John 20:17). The multiplication of his own childlike life is the ultimate goal of the coming of the Son of God. The writer of Hebrews sums this up when he puts into the mouth of the glorified Jesus these words spoken to God as Father, ““Behold, I and the children God has given me.”” (Heb 2:13; Isa 8:18). God loves and desires more and more “little ones”. But who exactly are the “little ones” in the Gospels. There are a number of barriers to get over before we can fully accept that they are us!
Who Are The Little Ones?[1]
The English translations of the Old Testament have caused confusion by translating a particular Hebrew word which literally means “toddler” (taph) as “little ones”. So when we read of “little ones” in the Gospels it is natural for us to think Jesus must be talking about literal children. To confirm that Jesus’ “little ones” are not physical children the Greek translation of the Old Testament also never uses the term used by Jesus for his “little ones” (mikroi) of biological children. The context of Jesus’ use of “little ones” makes it clear that a “little one” is an endearing term for a disciple; “whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple…” (Matt 10:42 cf. Luke 17:2). Jesus’ use of similar words in the parable of the sheep and the goats makes it plain that adult believers are in mind. “‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” (Matt 25:40, 45). Occasionally Christ directly calls his followers “children” e.g. “Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:24; cf. John 21:5).
Christ’s way of referring to the littleness of his disciples was never abstract; he never speaks of “the little [ones],” but always “these little [ones]” i.e. those who were assembled around him. We are no more or less than “little.” In Old Testament terms we are “the little ones of the flock” of God, weak, defenceless, helpless – apart from Jesus (Jer. 49: 20; 50: 45). I believe that when Christ spoke of his disciples as “little ones” he was imaging the language God uses of himself in Hosea; “How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel?….My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender.” (Hos 11:8). The “little ones” are objects of God’s endearment, of deep fond unfailing love and protection.
What is it like to be a Little One?
The Lord is calling us to live as “little ones/little children” with a spirit constantly open in simple trust to the Lord. This is far from easy.
I was watching something on television about medical care the other night and a mother remarked that her Down’s syndrome child was “fiercely independent”. But Jesus said, “apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). To follow Jesus means to be completely dependent on him for everything. Amongst other things this surely means a lot more prayer than we are seeing amongst the people of God today. Where there is healthy communication between a son and a father there is constant dialogue; to be a “little one” is to love talking to our heavenly Father.
Children naturally have a sense of wonder and amazement about the beautiful things of this world. Childlike awe is a deep spiritual response to the wonders of Christ; the people on the day of Pentecost were “amazed” at what the Holy Spirit was doing (Acts 2:7, 12 cf. 8:13; 10:45). Peter likewise uses highly emotive language; Christians are those who, “proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” (1 Pet 2:9). A spontaneous outflow of this sort of thankfulness is singing. Children love to sing.
In his classic book on “The Cross of Christ” John Stott rightly remarks, “A Buddhist temple never resounds with a cry of praise. Mohammedan worshippers never sing. Their prayers are, at the highest, prayers of submission and of request. They seldom reach the gladder note of thanksgiving. They are never jubilant with the songs of the forgiven. . . .” Lacking self-consciousness of their own voices little ones are unashamed to sing. What has stimulated me to approach this whole topic is what is going on in a small group I belong to. A friend of a couple of long term drug addicts with serious psychiatric issues and myself are meeting together to talk about Jesus. So far the most effective way of communicating with them is for us to sing Christian songs together. The theme song for the group has become, “Jesus loves me—this I know, For the Bible tells me so; Little ones to him belong,—They are weak, but he is strong.” This song is far from childish. The most influential theologian of the last century was Karl Barth. When he was visiting America a student asked Barth if he could summarize his whole life’s work in theology in a sentence. Barth said, “Yes, I can. In the words of a song I learned at my mother’s knee: ‘Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
There’s something about singing which brings the presence of the Lord. Sophisticated people are always on the go or on the make. A child however always has time for his Father and singing opens up a sense of the eternity of God who is Lord of all time and space.
I believe the deepest truths of scripture and the world are to be approached with simplicity. This is an essential attribute of being a little one. I remember my wife saying some decades ago that I have a simple faith. Whilst I am capable of following quite complex arguments in theology and philosophy when it comes down to who Jesus is and what he has done I simply trust what the scriptures teach. That’s how I became a believer and that’s how it is now.
One of the most devastating critiques of human sinfulness in the Bible is Paul’s words in Romans, “they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honour him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools,” (1:20-22). A spiritual child will never claim to possess their own wisdom, but intuitively understanding that everything they have is from God they will give him thanks. Thankfulness is an infallible sign of being a little one. True children of God of whatever age will have lives marked by the rhythm of asking and thanking. Remember Jesus’ prayer at the tomb of Lazarus, ““Father, I thank you that you have heard me.” (John 11:41).
Personally I find the next property of being a little one difficult to communicate. The most important medieval theologian Thomas Aquinas says in his commentary on Proverbs 8:30f. : “because of the leisure that goes with contemplation,” the divine wisdom itself is “always at play, playing through the whole world.” There is a dimension in the heavenly sent joy of the Lord that can best be described as “play”. In my early morning prayer walks I sometimes find myself skipping; much I hope, like David’s dancing before the Lord when the ark was brought into Jerusalem. His serious “grown up” wife despised him for this but God gave his verdict by striking her with barrenness (2 Sam 6:16, 20-23). Speaking of our future in the Lord Barth comments, “we forever play in the peace of the Father’s house that is waiting for us”, because this is true there is no final seriousness to what we do here and now. The delights of knowing God have the power to restore broken lives.
When little ones discover something good they infectiously tell others about it. This was certainly the case when I first became a believer. Much like the woman at the well who shamelessly (remember her past) testified about Jesus; ““Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?”” (John 4:29).
Finally, whoever accepts the status of a “little one” will see the greatness of God in its true proportions; as the psalmist says, “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!” (Ps 34:3; cf. 69:30). As Jesus always exalted the Father so those who are Jesus’ little ones have a sense of the exaltation of Christ in proportional to their own smallness.
What is Missing?
To be a “little one” is a wonderful thing. But we have a problem, one illustrated by Peter’s relationship with Jesus. Peter acclaims Jesus as, ““You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”” And Jesus immediately testified that Peter had been blessed with this revelation by the heavenly Father (Matt 16:16-17). At that moment Peter’s spirit and as a true little one enjoyed the communion between God the Father and his Son in the power of the Holy Spirit. A short time later however when Jesus prophesied he must go to the cross Peter “began to rebuke him (Jesus), saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! 5 This shall never happen to you.”” (Matt 16:22). Peter was effectively denying Christ’s dependency on his Father and replacing it with his own “adult” understanding of messiahship. Peter’s spirit was no longer open but had been invaded by a satanic wisdom (Matt 16:23; James 3:13-16). The Church today shares Peter’s problem.
If in the words of Jesus the “gracious will” of the Father is to hide spiritual truths from “the wise and understanding” and “reveal them to little children” the Father is plainly hiding many things today (Luke 10:21). The more successful churches in Australia are generally led by charismatic entrepreneurial men and women who do not seem to conform to the image of Jesus in the Gospels; “learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt 11:29). These (mega) churches are characteristically professional, hyperactive and restless. The dominant culture of such churches does not embody the presence of “little ones”. In fact the busyness and performance focus of these congregations shares in the shamefulness of wider culture in being weak, defencelessness and powerlessness. Yet small struggling churches are no more likely to be places where a deep trust in the presence of Jesus is found. These congregations are mostly more conscious of their failures to impact the culture for Christ than they are of the deep favour of the Lord on them as “little ones”.
We are deceived about the spiritual meaning of what it means to be in the helpless position of children. Powerlessness is an essential part of our identity in Christ, and our security comes not from being “fiercely independent” but in sharing in Jesus’ deep dependence on the Father (2 Cor 12:10). Such simple trust brings both God and us great pleasure. As Jesus promised his Church, ““Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”” (Luke 12:32).
Conclusion
Jesus always works from society’s “bottom” outwards, not bottom “upwards” because the kingdom of God is not like that. Jesus chose fisher folk, tax collectors and a thief because they were not the esteemed and respected in the culture of his day. In an exactly opposite way the modern Church is deceived into appealing to the intelligentsia and celebrities. The media was excited by the prospect of Zac Efron (I had to look up who Zac Efron is), like Justin Bieber before him, attending the latest Hillsong conference. This is all back to front. And the problem is not just with the charismatic end of the Church.
I glanced at a theological college’s newsletter this week and was surprised to see a group of people in a church with their hands raised in praise. This seemed totally out of place from the intellectual approach of this group. Then when I got close enough to see the photo in detail it was about a children’s mission. Raising hands is fine for kids but not for “serious” adults. Most of us have no idea how to live spiritually as the little and the least. This is at the heart of the discipleship crisis across the churches. Things however can change.
The disciples in the Gospels understood what it meant to be a “little one” by observing Jesus ongoing dependence on his Father (Luke 11:1). Following in the way of Jesus Paul describes himself as a father and the converts in his churches as “little children” (1 Cor 4:15; Gal 4:19 cf. 1 John 2:1). Despite our preconceptions of what an apostle should look like he was a man Paul known for his open weaknesses (1 Cor 2:3; 2 Cor 12:9). It was this sort of authority in leadership that imaged and gave permission for the ordinary members of the Church to live as the least of these brothers for whom Jesus died (Matt 25:40, 45). It is only this sort of leadership, a very different type of leader from that which dominates today, that can shepherd the Church into a healthy and vibrant future in a rapidly changing world.
If what I have been teaching today is not “rocket science” why are our churches lacking the open-spirited culture of the “little ones” of the Gospels? I can think of only one possible answer. In the final analysis to be a “little one” is to believe and live the truth of the gospel in the most uncomplicated way. It is to believe that like Jesus I must suffer in a world that rejects the love of God, but like Jesus I can trust that the presence of the Father’s resurrection joy is much greater than any affliction (Phil 3:10). To be a “little one” is a beautiful and endearing picture of what it means to be a child of God and it has consequences far beyond us.
The technologically poor and all those feeling disenfranchised by the power elites of today will never turn to organised religion with its bleak history of the misuse of power. But as things become politically and legally more difficult for both society’s weak and defenceless, including Christians, the Lord will send a harvest of souls to those communities of disciples who know the true power of childlikeness. The time of the “little ones” is coming.
http://povcrystal.blogspot.com.au/2006/10/todays-readings-and-hans-urs-von.html
http://www.the-highway.com/littleones_Warfield.html