Childlike Faith
Lesson Text: Luke 18:15-17, Mark 10:16
Thought to Remember: Children are incapable of producing good works to merit heaven
Lessons learned:
Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall not enter therein. Jesus teaches us that to enter the Kingdom, we must embrace humility, demonstrate complete dependence, show full trust, maintain frank openness, exhibit sincere honesty, possess absolute confidence, foster curiosity, and nurture faith.
In other words, the Kingdom of God belongs to those like children who are prepared to receive the Kingdom as a gift of God. Nothing more and Nothing less.
The Childlike Faith as the 180° Rule
The synoptic accounts in Luke 18:15–17 and Mark 10:16 invite believers to return to childlike attributes. For this reason, I used the term “The 180° Rule,” as one must return to dependence, like a child, to enter the Kingdom of God. Notice that this rule follows the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9–14), which serves to solidify the transition from a system of legalistic righteousness to a grace-based economy, thereby establishing the Kingdom of God. Historically, the religious leaders of the first century—and throughout much of human history—showed little concern for children, viewing them as secondary to the Law's rigorous demands. Jesus, however, shatters this traditional apathy by establishing a new paradigm: the Kingdom is not a meritocracy for the elite, but a gift, and unless you possess a childlike spirit, you are unwelcome in the Kingdom of God.
Remember when Jesus stated, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6 KJV) The proclamation only reflects that Jesus possesses the absolute right to define the boundaries of the Kingdom. Yet, Jesus does not merely describe the Kingdom; He grants access to the Kingdom based on the recipient's posture, as stated in Luke 18:17: "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein."
Like worldly systems, the disciples viewed access to Jesus in terms of status and achievement, which children lacked. For example, eligibility for the exclusive privilege of joining the Mensa International Society requires scoring in the top 2% of the general population on an intelligence test, which corresponds to an IQ of 132. This standard alone filters out 98% of the human population. Even Club 33, created by Walt Disney, grants you access to unique dining locations at the Disneyland Resort, but it has a decade-long waiting list, exorbitant fees, and a membership cap of only 500 individuals. As humans, we are a species obsessed with the red carpet mindset, constantly refining the criteria for who is "in" and who is "out." Yet, the requirement for the Kingdom of God is 180° from the norms of these world's systems.
Jesus chose to model childlike attributes even when children are morally imperfect. For instance, a child lacks the religious merit that Pharisees have. A child cannot boast about tithing, fasting, or having a long list of spiritual achievements. A child cannot try to buy his way into the Kingdom of God with good deeds because a child has nothing to offer. By putting a child at the center, Jesus challenges the idea that the religious elite earn their place. Therefore, the Kingdom of God is a gift that one must receive, not something that one can earn. Likewise, when believers cling to things, we must empty our hands to receive the Kingdom of God.
To understand the childlike attributes, we must distinguish between being childlike and being childish. Scriptures rebuke childishness—the refusal to grow in understanding or the desire to remain on a milk diet of basic truths. The writer of Hebrews explains the difference as follows: Mature believers must become adults in understanding by seeking the meat of the Word. Yet, the childlike quality Jesus demands relates to implicit trust. Such trust resembles a three-year-old holding his father’s hand as they cross a busy street. The boy may not understand the mechanics of traffic or the laws of physics, but he "trusts the hand that holds him." This trust is the intellectual surrender required of the Kingdom of God. Such trust is more than simply believing in God; it is trusting in God even when we do not feel the happiness of this world. Mature believers know that our Father has it all under control through our Savior, Jesus, even when we feel otherwise.
Ultimately, the Kingdom of God is not about passing a test or paying a fee. It is about a pilgrimage toward the Father, a 180° shift toward the childlike qualities you possessed in your youth.
