It seems hard to me to believe that anyone would try to restrict children from coming to Jesus. Having said that, I don't know a lot of things about ancient times. I do not know how children were viewed specifically. I know that women were considered 'less than' almost anything. They were bargaining chips in business, chattel and had no opinion worth listening to. Perhaps that is how some fundamentalists still view women but I pray we have risen above that. It was Jesus after all had women friends, spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well and had lengthy conversations with her at that. Jesus surely was a rebel, so who he allowed and welcomed into his inner circle should not be a surprise. Jesus said ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.
Who else would Jesus welcome into his midst? To my way of thinking, based on Scripture, Jesus welcomed everyone and especially those considered 'less than'. Women, foreign invaders, lepers, tax collectors, common sinners, adulterers.The lesson of the children and being childlike opens up great love but also great responsibility.
Any outsider, any marginalized, anyone that society puts down or casts aside are the ones that the faithful at least should be welcoming in, embracing and loving. What does that love look like? Is it feeding them? Is it acts of charity? I think Jesus calls us to liberating actions of equality. That means no only treating people equal but something more. We are called to dismantle the actions and systems that perpetuate inequality among God's beloved people. Even in ourselves, perhaps especially in our selves.
If these actions are a test of faith, I point to the American Taliban. Those hyper religious self righteous fundamentalist ( so called ) Christians who have no much more of an agenda than to minimize, ostracize and legalize the very actions that Jesus fought against. Perhaps even worse is that in their zeal they travel abroad without compunction to spread vicious lies and false interpretations of Scripture that promote an aberrant and abhorrent type of Christianity - if you can even call it that. They entice whole governments to act and legislate in unholy ways.
If we are to accept the 'children' of society into our midst we must take active and faithful steps to promote the real kingdom of God, the kingdom that is open equally to everyone. Everyone is equal to, not less than. All are called, all are welcome.
Luke 18:15-30
People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. But Jesus called for them and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.’
A certain ruler asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honour your father and mother.” ’ He replied, ‘I have kept all these since my youth.’ When Jesus heard this, he said to him, ‘There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’But when he heard this, he became sad; for he was very rich. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’
Those who heard it said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ He replied, ‘What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.’
Then Peter said, ‘Look, we have left our homes and followed you.’ And he said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,who will not get back very much more in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.’
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