CHILDLIKE by Dr. Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson, NC
Introduction: As you may or may not know, today is Blue Sunday. Its purpose is to raise awareness among the faith community for Abused Children which is always the last Sunday of April which is child abuse prevention month. I want to share with you some statistics that I came across through the bluesunday.org site: 6 million children are reported as abused annually; most victims of abuse and neglect are 18 months and younger; over 1500 children die annually from child abuse in the United States; nearly 80% were under 4 years old; there are about 382,400 children and youth currently in foster care in the United States; 104,200 youth and children are available for adoption; according to national statistics, 40% of foster children will never complete high school; a study found that as many as two-thirds of individuals in drug treatment programs reported being abused as children; girls in foster care are 60% more likely than the general population to become pregnant before the age of 21; each year, about 26,200 youth age out of foster care, most at age 18; within one year of aging out, 66% of foster children will be homeless, go to jail or die; 80% of the prison population once was in foster care. To say that “this is tragic” is a gross understatement. We as believers should be heartbroken by them and moved to action. Clearview has always gone above and beyond to help children (little kids as well as teenagers) in our community. We do that through our Kindle ministry by providing shoes and winter coats for children in our inner-city community. We partner with Henderson Wellness Center to provide toys during Christmas for kids and teenagers. We have several events throughout the year like Easter Egg Hunt, 4th of July event downtown, and Fall festival where we give away food as well care packages. We have also adopted several schools where we help the students in need. Our Bear Care Ministry at E. M. Rollins is very active, as many of you know. We also help repair homes, especially where children might be living with their parents and grandparents. All this to say, we do a lot, but there is much more that still needs to be done. Contrary to the adage, “Children are to be seen and not heard,” Jesus not only welcomed children, but he also made them the model for faith.
Matthew 18 1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Context: As crazy as our world is today, children have far more rights and privileges today than in ancient times. This is especially true in America. Lawyer and professor John E. B. Myers has done a lot of work in Child Protection history in America, and he divides the history into 3 eras: from colonial times to 1875; from 1875 to 1962; and from 1962 to present. Before 1875, there was intervention towards child protection, but it was sporadic. It was in 1874 when a 9-year-old girl named Mary Ellen Wilson who lived in what’s known as Hell’s Kitchen in New York City who was often beaten and not taken care of. A Methodist missionary by the name of Etta Wheeler. She heard about this little girl who was enduring brutality at the hands of her own mother. She tried to get some help, but there was not much available, and many did not want to interfere. She got the evidence needed to go before a Supreme Court Judge and the case was made to remove Mary Ellen from her home and her mother was tried in court and found guilty. Thanks to her husband Charles who was a reporter that the story got some publicity, and the issue of child abuse and neglect was brought before the public. Following that, non-governmental child protection services were started across America. In 1962, through a series of studies and articles, the issue of child abuse and neglect became more center stage and government got more and more involved. Unfortunately, the system is far from perfect, and the problem is only growing. So, yes, there are more laws, institutions, and people available to protect children, but this does not mean that the problem is solved. In some ways, the problem is bigger and more complex now.
How were things during the time of Jesus? In some ways, the ancient world was “difficult and dangerous” for children (See “Child, Children in DJG 2nd edition). According to historians, only 50% of children lived beyond 10 years of age. Yes, abuse and neglect were there, especially if the children came from the lower strata of society. This was really bad if they came from slave families. By the way, don’t think of slaves as just being African American slavery, as in our American experience. Many slaves came from what later became known as Europe. Also, the plight of girls was worse than boys.
This does not mean that children were mistreated across the board. In civilized societies, children could be educated and raised well, based on the families. This was especially true in Israel, especially among God’s people. Think about how the Old Testament talks about children:
- Deuteronomy 6 4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”
- Deuteronomy 12:31 You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.
- Psalm 103:13 As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him.
- Psalm 127:3 “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.”
- Proverbs 1:8 “My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother.”
- Proverbs 13:22 “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.”
Although, there are many more passages in the Old Testament, how does the New Testament talk about children?
- Matthew 2 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.”
- Mark 5 22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet 23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.”
- Mark 7 25 For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” 28 And she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.” 29 Then He said to her, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.”
- John 4 46 “…And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” 49 The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!”
Jesus treated children with dignity and value:
- Luke 11 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
- Mark 10 13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
- Matthew 18 1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
- Matthew 18 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. 6 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
- Matthew 18 10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
We value children, even the unborn, at Clearview. We are to raise them unto God. Lead them to Christ early. Know Christ yourself as Savior and King. Walk with him and set a godly example before your children. Teach children but also learn from them how to trust God and walk in humility.
Are you saved? Are your children saved?