“Truly I tell you,
whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter
it.”[1]
“Let the little
children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the
kingdom of heaven belongs.”[2]
“Truly I tell you, whoever
does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”[3]
“Understanding children begins with a
child's sense of awe and wonder, and feelings of joy.
Curiosity and wonder, so evident in the
enthusiasms of young children and so much a part of their charm, are
expressions of the basic human emotion of interest. Many of us may not, at
first, think of interest as an emotion. Psychologists and neuroscientists,
however, now regard interest as a fundamental emotion—an emotion that motivates
and guides our engagement in the world.
‘…question-asking is not something that
children do every now and then—asking questions is a central part of what it
means to be a child’”[4]
“Children are vulnerable. Vulnerability is
their age-appropriate trait. They need adults to protect them and to care for
them. Remember Dostoevsky: all knowledge of the world is not worth a tear of
one child.”[5]
(…the whole world of knowledge is not worth
that child’s prayer to dear, kind God’! – Ivan to Alyosha, Fyodor Dostoyevsky,
The Brothers Karamazov, Chapter 4)
“As we grow into adulthood, it seems that
most of us lose our childishness-we become more mature, and more in control of
our emotions-, but unfortunately, we also lose much of our childlikeness as
well-we are less capable of being spontaneous, unselfconscious and joyful. In
other words, we lose the good with the bad.
As many psychologists have noted, humans are
unique in their ability to imagine things that are not in our immediate
environment.
The ability to imagine is fundamental in two other
ways as well. First, it helps us plan for the future-without the ability to
plan, we would be prisoners of the present, and hence, wouldn't be nearly as
powerful a species. Second, it helps us empathize with others; it helps us feel
what others in a vastly different situation feel. For example, even if we have
never lost a limb, or been imprisoned, we can imagine how it would feel to be
in those circumstances.
We, unlike children, are almost never 100% present
in the moment.
What it takes to be a child again is to understand
the sources of fragmentation, and then overcome them. For most of us, what
fragments us is our desire to maintain high self-worth-through our looks,
achievements, fame, power, money, etc. As we grow older, we worry increasingly
about our deteriorating looks. We yearn for our youthful looks even as we
recognize that we are, at the present moment, the most youthful we will ever be
for the rest of our lives. And most of us also worry about our achievements,
fame, etc., and how they compare to that of others. These worries erode into
our self-worth and that makes us feel sad, inadequate and depressed. These
emotions, in turn, cause us to worry even more about issues related to looks,
achievements, and the other "extrinsic" sources of self-worth. Being
caught up in this vicious cycle is the primary cause for fragmentation.
…becoming childlike really takes a variety of
abilities: awareness of why we lose our childlikeness, courage to challenge
society's views about what's worthy of pursuit, and, finally, intelligence to
figure out an alternative set of rules by which to live. In short, it isn't
child's play to be childlike; in fact, it takes great maturity to be childlike.”[6]
“Adults develop habits that narrow the range
of what they think is possible. Do something spontaneous, preferably every day.
Grownups treat errands as problems to be solved in
a logical manner. Appreciate tasks as opportunities for exploration, not boring
duties.
Being present and living in the moment gives you
the opportunity to appreciate fun when it occurs.
Free time is free time. Don't fill every moment
with chores.”[7]
“Who said you had to grow up and be so
serious? Cultivate the very best of the child within you. Practice childlike
awe for majestic things, childlike silliness (my husband loves silly cat videos
on YouTube, for example), childlike faith, childlike hope, childlike play and
creativity. When it comes to certain things, children do them way better than
we do. Recapture it - it's still inside you.”[8]
Did Jesus reflect on the innocence of children, their
positive attitudes or willingness to forgive? Was he teaching humility,
dependence on God, or absence of guile? All of these, as well as attributes
listed by psychologists. It is interesting that the characteristics observed in
being childlike are those which provide a more balanced and peaceful life, as
well as being essential for acceptance into the kingdom of God.
Childlikeness and childishness are different and often
opposite. Taking advantage of a child’s gullibility may result in a humorous
situation, but taking advantage of a child’s vulnerability is criminal and
immoral. Raj Raghunathan suggests
that the
adult’s “desire to maintain high
self-worth-through our looks, achievements, fame, power, money, etc.”, is
what destroys childlikeness; it is the drive to things ourselves that also bars
us from entering God’s kingdom. One of the attitudes of childlikeness that Jesus
may have wanted adults to recognize could have been their vulnerability. Every
child wants to feel useful and helpful, they desire approval for their
involvement in jobs done by parents, but they need support, comfort and help
from parents just to live from day to day. Religious rituals and activities for
adults should carry no more value than a child’s helping a parent carry a heavy
load. Whatever people do by way of religious duty, it should not be thought of
as deserving compensation from God. The child wants to contribute by helping,
but a child realizes he or she cannot manage the task without the parent. The
child accepts love and support from parents without question. Adults need to be
childlike, accepting God’s love and forgiveness; a person’s worth should come
from God’s acceptance and grace in forgiveness rather than through personal or
monetary achievements. Naivety, energy,
enthusiasm, and imagination are childlike characteristics adults can also work
to recapture.
The Bing thesaurus offers synonyms for childlike: innocent, pure, naïve, candid,
uncomplicated, unsophisticated, trusting, simple, childish, and ingenuous.
The antonym given is jaded, the
definition of which adds to understanding childlikeness -no longer enthusiastic or excited about things, especially because you
have been disappointed by your many experiences of them. The
characteristics of being childlike which Jesus said were required for entry
into the kingdom of God were not identified and therefore it was left to the
disciples to interpret Jesus’ meaning. We don’t know if they understood or
achieved Jesus’ requirement.
Atheists scorn faith in God and at the same time deny
vehemently and stubbornly that their denial of God is belief-based. This
situation is a vivid example of what Jesus might have intended his disciples to
recognize. Faith allowed the psalmist to write, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of
his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal
knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the
world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a
bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his
course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth. The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing
the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.”[9]
The sophistication of the atheist asserts his position to be one of knowledge.
The Christian believes God exists, and interprets natural evidence as support
for faith. The atheist claims he knows that there is no God, and assumes
natural evidence supports the theory of evolution. The knowledge that God
doesn’t exist rests on empirical proof, but the atheist does not have proof, he
has only evidence that can be interpreted differently according one’s belief.
To know that God doesn’t exist, is to know everything, and to have been
everywhere, or else it is not knowledge, it is belief.
The Agnostic believes that it is not possible to know
whether God exists or not. As long as the word “know” is used in its absolute
sense, not “scientific consensus”
which is an escape from reality clause among scientists, then I would agree. It
is not possible through natural means to prove the existence of God. Likewise,
it is not possible through natural means to disprove the existence of God. For
Christian, Atheist or Agnostic, any concept outside the boundary of objective
science is opinion or hypothesis. Believing something doesn’t make it true, it
expresses a personal conviction which may or may not be scientific, but would
have to be subjected to testability and reproducibility. The God-believer holds
to what scripture says about faith, “By
faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that
what is seen was made from things that are not visible.”[10]
As a believer I cannot present my faith as a scientifically objective truth,
unless it passes the litmus of testability
and reproducibility. This may be the time to heed Jesus’s recommendation of
adopting childlikeness; our concept of God and creation are faith based. The
natural evidence support our belief because we believe. The natural evidence
proves the Atheist or Agnostic position because of their beliefs. To a believer
the scriptures are God’s word; to non-believers the scriptures are very ancient
outmoded folklore. The message of God is better seen in loving behaviour than
in loudness of words. The strongest evidence for the existence of God is the
reflection of his love and grace through believers. It seems to me that to be
childlike means to accept that God created all things; to some that would
suggest naivety and simplicity, and I would agree. I would also point out that
Jesus said that naivety and simplicity are needed to enter his kingdom.
“For the message about the cross is
foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the
power of God. For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and
the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’ Where is the one who is wise?
Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish
the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not
know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our
proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks
desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and
foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks,
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”[11]
I was pondering the dialogue of Eve and the Serpent; Adam
and Eve lived in a garden paradise, one might say that they had everything
anyone could ever need. “…the LORD God
caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food…”[12]
Adam and Eve lived in childlike innocence, Satan however, took advantage of
Eve’s naivety instilling in her mind a sense of lack. “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the
LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, ‘Indeed, has God said, ‘you shall
not eat from any tree of the garden’?’ The woman said to the serpent, ‘From the
fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree
which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it
or touch it, or you will die.’ The serpent said to the woman, ‘You surely will
not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be
opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ When the woman saw
that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and
that the tree was desirable to make one
wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with
her, and he ate.” Generally children live in the present, and as long as
they have their basic needs looked after, they do not crave something simply
because someone else has it. That is a craving that accompanies “growing up”,
the desire to have what other people have because they have it. It’s connected
to status of ownership and little children do not dwell on that issue. The
apostle Paul suggests a more mature approach, “… I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how
to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in
any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going
hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things
through Him who strengthens me.”[13]
[1] Luke
18:17
[2] Mat
19:14
[3] Mar
10:15
[4] "Joyousness and wonder are the
characteristic emotions of childhood."
Post
published by Kenneth Barish Ph.D. on Nov 04, 2013 in Pride and Joy
[5] Being a Child in the Time of Tragedy and
Television.
Post
published by Elena Bezzubova on Mar 05, 2013 in The Search for Self
[6] What does it take to become childlike
again? Post published by Raj Raghunathan Ph.D. on Jul 12, 2011 in Sapient
Nature
[7] Michael Robinson of NDSU - Child's play can
inspire you. By Laura Janecka, published on July 1, 2010 - last reviewed on
June 14, 2011
[8] Top tips to help you stay healthy, feel
happy, and fulfill your potential. Post published by Susan Biali M.D. on Oct
23, 2013 in Prescriptions for Life
[9] Psa
19:1-7
[10] Heb
11:3
[11] 1Co
1:18-24
[12] Gen 2:9
[13] Php
4:11-13
[1] Luke
18:17
[2] Mat
19:14
[3] Mar
10:15
[4] "Joyousness and wonder are the
characteristic emotions of childhood."
Post
published by Kenneth Barish Ph.D. on Nov 04, 2013 in Pride and Joy
[5] Being a Child in the Time of Tragedy and
Television.
Post
published by Elena Bezzubova on Mar 05, 2013 in The Search for Self
[6] What does it take to become childlike
again? Post published by Raj Raghunathan Ph.D. on Jul 12, 2011 in Sapient
Nature
[7] Michael Robinson of NDSU - Child's play can
inspire you. By Laura Janecka, published on July 1, 2010 - last reviewed on
June 14, 2011
[8] Top tips to help you stay healthy, feel
happy, and fulfill your potential. Post published by Susan Biali M.D. on Oct
23, 2013 in Prescriptions for Life
[9] Psa
19:1-7
[10] Heb
11:3
[11] 1Co
1:18-24
