We are in a
transitional period at my church, Christ United Methodist Church. Last week, we concluded our winter series on
the “Upside Down Church.” When we move
into the Lenten Season in a few weeks, we will explore Jesus’ “Farewell
Discourse” in the Gospel of John.
However, for this Sunday, February 24th, we will celebrate our children
and youth and welcome Heleena Tapp as our new Youth Director. My proclamation, as we celebrate children and
youth, will be based on Mark 10:13-16:
“People were bringing little children to him in order
that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw
this, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me;
do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive
the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.’ And he took them up
in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.”
There is a temptation to interpret
this passage through the lens of the twenty-first century, instead of
understanding its historical context. In
modern American culture, children are cherished and celebrated as treasures from
God. Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles,
neighbors and friends, all practically fawn over the children and youth in our
midst. We spend copious amounts of time,
money, and energy to support our children in club sports, dance and music
lessons; Scouts and 4-H clubs, and a host of other clubs. If our children are struggling in school, we
gladly pay for private tutors to help them succeed academically. We love our children and we make major
investments in them as they grow into maturity.
This was not the attitude toward
children at the time of Jesus. Instead,
children were practically “non-persons” in ancient Jewish and pagan societies. Children had no status; no power. They were perceived as having no knowledge;
nothing to contribute to their families or society. As Biblical scholar Pheme Perkins observes, “The
child in antiquity was radically dependent upon the pater familias. The father
decided whether the child would even be accepted into the family. Children belonged to their father and
remained subject to his authority even as adults.”[i] Children were completely dependent upon their
families, especially their fathers.
Thus, to fully comprehend and
appreciate Jesus’ meaning, we need to interpret this passage with a clear
vision of the historical context. In
essence, Jesus teaches us that in order to receive the Kingdom of God—and personal
salvation—we must utterly trust in God.
We must go “all in.” Of course, this
is not easy for adults. We tend to “hedge
our bets,” rather than going “all in” and fully, completely, radically trusting
God. Most of us have a natural tendency
to prefer trusting in ourselves and our own abilities, rather than something
external—even God. We prefer to rely
upon our own ingenuity, creativity, perseverance, and accomplishments, rather
than placing our trust outside of ourselves.
Yet, Jesus is clear in this periscope
that Christian faith requires a total, unflinching trust in God and God’s providence.
Pheme Perkins, the Biblical scholar,
also notes that by inviting and including the children, Jesus was also making
it possible for the women who were present to listen to his teachings, just as the
men. Normally when a rabbi taught, only
men were allowed to sit around him and listen. In the patriarchal Jewish society, women were
considered subordinate and intellectually inferior to men. So, women were relegated to domestic work and
childcare. But, as Dr. Perkins observes,
“Including the children also made it possible for the women who had the
responsibility of caring for them to [also] hear Jesus’ teaching.”[ii]
If you live in the Lincoln, Nebraska area and do not
have a place to worship, then I invite you to come and join us at Christ United
Methodist Church this Sunday, February 24th, as we celebrate our children and
youth.
Christ UMC is located at
4530 “A” Street. We have three worship
services on Sunday mornings at 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00. The 8:30 and 11:00 services feature a
traditional worship format and the services are held in our Sanctuary. “The Gathering” at 9:45 is held in our Family
Life Center (gym), and it is more informal and interactive.
Come, join us. Everyone is welcome and accepted because God
loves us all.
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