LET ALL THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME TO ME

 Mark 10:13-16 "People were bringing litlte children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.  When Jesus saw this, he was indignant.  He said to them 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not recieve the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."  And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them."

You don’t have to pay attention to her, she’s a child. 

Seriously, this phrase has come out of our mouths more times than we would have ever thought possible.  In a place where the infant mortality rate shows that many children will not make it to their 10^th birthday, the culture encourages families not to get too attached to their young ones.  Sad, but it’s a way to cope.

When I read this passage I think of how bizarre this would be in Ivorian culture.  An example:  while building the church roof in Niakara, a short-term team came to help out.  In that group was a young man who LOVED kids.  It was apparent.  As soon as he came, he sought out the kids and started building relationship with them and they loved him.  It was wonderful for our team, because the local kids weren’t getting in dangerous situations with the construction.

However, the Ivorians in the church just DID NOT understand him.  They kept asking about the boy who is “amused by children” and asking how old he was and why he wasn’t working.  For weeks after the construction they kept asking questions about him.  People just DO NOT do that in this culture.  Children are truly background characters in life (and people you send on errands).  It was totally mind-blowing that he would give that much attention to the kids.

I think the disciples felt the same way.  There were SO many adults to talk to, heal, and “network” with that it really wasn’t unusual to shoo the kids away when they came to see Jesus – they’re just kids!  Unlike our Western mentality that aging is bad, most Africans believe with age comes wisdom, power, and honor, so why would Jesus pay any attention to dumb, weak, unimportant children.  It just doesn’t make sense – and then, they get chastised!  They get told that they need to be like these children.  What a disgrace! 

Those words from Jesus’ mouth “you must become like a child” is really saying that you must give up the respect you crave, the glory you may think you deserve, and the wisdom this world has to offer and only then can you enter His kingdom.  What a humbling proclamation.