Becoming as a Child

And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

And said, “Verily I say unto you, unless ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in My name, receiveth Me.” – Matthew 18:2-5

There’s nothing quite like an auditorium full of children, all eagerly singing hymns. The joy of it is overwhelming.

I am privileged to witness this regularly, for the school that I teach at gathers each Friday for chapel, where we pray and sing and listen to teaching about Scripture. The kindergarteners perhaps can’t yet read the words in their song books, but they’ve learned from listening. The juniors and seniors no longer need their song books, after having sung these songs for years.

Each person in the auditorium – even the student rolling his eyes and mouthing the words without singing along – is blessed to participate in such worship. Each person is uplifted, whether or not he realizes it at the time. For, in making music to the Lord, we fulfill what we have been created for: as the Psalmist says, “let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.”

Our school chapel is not a church service, but it is worship, and it is an experience of worship in which the childlike faith commanded by Christ is especially evident. As I am surrounded by singing children, I see, in part, why Christ says, “let the little children come to me,” and why he commands us to “become as little children.” The hearts of children embrace joy and exuberance readily, while the hearts of adults are often hardened against such joy.

Unfortunately, opportunities to interact with children who are not one’s own and to witness their joy – opportunities like those I have as a teacher – are rare, even for thoroughly-churched Christians. Churches today all too often lack examples of childlike joy because children do not participate in worship but are typically sent out for nursery or Sunday School or children’s church. This is true across a variety of denominations but is especially evident in mainstream evangelicalism.

What’s more, many evangelical churches present worship as a performance, outfitting their churches with large stages and quality drum sets and blinking lights. In a church environment where worship is made into a performance or entertainment, the cheerful yet reverent demeanor of a second grader singing “O God Beyond All Praising” alongside his classmates is nowhere to be found. Theologian A.W. Tozer writes in The Pursuit of God regarding this dire turn which many churches have taken:

To great sections of the church the art of worship has been lost entirely, and in its place has come that strange and foreign thing called the ‘program.’ This word has been borrowed from the stage and applied with sad wisdom to the type of public service which now passes for worship among us.

What is the answer to this dilemma? Certainly, only a return to a biblical view of worship and of God will rescue the modern church from its dearth of substantive worship. But I would propose also that adopting an attitude of childlike joy – which is indeed part of a biblical view of worship – will reinvigorate us, in our worship and in our lives.

The idea of “childlike joy” includes many things. For one, it includes simplicity: children get excited about simple things. I have seen this not only in our weekly chapel, but also in the everyday moments of life at school. Each day I see and admire the relish with which some students treat their prized pens and pencils. As I’ve written before, my students express surprise and enthusiasm whenever I (or anyone else) brings in homemade baked goods. A few weeks ago, I was working with a student who was overjoyed to be able to work in the teachers’ lounge with its spinning chairs. Any mildly out-of-the-ordinary event – like a performance or school basketball game – brings a thrill and anticipation which threatens (and often succeeds) to redirect students’ focus.

Though these are perhaps trite examples, they all point to a truth that lies behind Christ’s injunction that we become as children: children tend toward simple joy, the kind of joy that does not seek grandeur and that does not fear the opinion of others but wholeheartedly, unabashedly seeks the object of its joy, however modest.

Scripture provides several examples of childlike joy. One such example is the figure of Zaccheus. As the gospels tell, Zaccheus, a rich tax collector, runs on ahead of the crowd and climbs up a tree to see Jesus. Zaccheus is eager just for a glimpse of the Lord. When Jesus comes, he invites himself over to Zaccheus’ house, and we are told that Zaccheus receives him with joy. Zaccheus’ joy is a joy that shuns the fear of man and welcomes Christ.

A similar posture to Zaccheus’ is taken by Mary in the story of Mary and Martha. While Martha busies herself with the important duties of keeping house, Mary sits at the feet of the Lord, listening to and learning from him. In his famous words to the busy sister, Jesus says, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful, and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

In their joy and single-minded focus on that which is needful – that is, Christ – both Zaccheus and Martha adopt a posture of humility. Humility, thus, is another component included in the idea of childlike joy. As Christ says, greatness in the kingdom of heaven comes from humbling oneself as a little child. Magnanimity comes from meekness. To bend one’s pride and submit to the position of a child under our heavenly Father – this is a virtue commanded by our Lord.

Students receive correction on this front often: I often remind my students of the virtue of humility and encourage them to practice it. We discuss Proverbs such as “listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future” and verses such as “the Lord disciplines those he loves.”  Life in the Christian classroom forces students to be confronted with many of their sins, at least outward sins – when they outwardly stray from humility and joy, their teacher can correct them.

But we who are no longer students in grade school do not receive such corrections. We adults do not receive constant reminders that we are to submit as children under authority. We are not scolded when we exalt ourselves above our neighbors or when we busy ourselves with many things but neglect that which is needful. Though we may receive such reminders from the pulpit on Sundays, throughout the week, we must remind ourselves and one another to “become as little children.”

It is easy to neglect such reminding: we are not vigilant with ourselves as teachers and parents may be with children. But attending well to Scripture will convict us of our wandering from humility and simplicity, and the Holy Spirit may help us in our weakness. Also, learning from little children will convict us of our pride and melancholy. Stop and watch and talk with the children of your neighbors, the children in your church, your own children. We can learn from children, too, just as they must learn from us: we can learn to humble ourselves.

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