7/6/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
There’s a very common attitude among Christians, as well as followers of other religious traditions. This attitude says that we need to pursue true, special understanding of God. Often we are left to find that understanding within ourselves. Normally it is a deep and inner understanding which cannot be explained in rational or logical terms, but which is too deep for expression.
What does Jesus say here, in Matthew 11:25-30? He thanks God for making the sublime supernatural life available even to children. There isn’t anything secret. There is nothing which requires emotional or intellectual maturity. The deep things of God are sublime simply because they are understood by children yet not by those who would seek after them in a highly sophisticated way.
Does this mean the Christian faith is simplistic? Not at all. It means the Christian life is accessible.
The accessibility of Christianity is one of many reasons that throughout history Christians have included children in receiving the means of grace, through participation in liturgy, through baptism, and, at a relatively early age, through reception of communion. God’s kingdom does not depend on our maturity. It depends on God’s grace.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
There’s a very common attitude among Christians, as well as followers of other religious traditions. This attitude says that we need to pursue true, special understanding of God. Often we are left to find that understanding within ourselves. Normally it is a deep and inner understanding which cannot be explained in rational or logical terms, but which is too deep for expression.
What does Jesus say here, in Matthew 11:25-30? He thanks God for making the sublime supernatural life available even to children. There isn’t anything secret. There is nothing which requires emotional or intellectual maturity. The deep things of God are sublime simply because they are understood by children yet not by those who would seek after them in a highly sophisticated way.
Does this mean the Christian faith is simplistic? Not at all. It means the Christian life is accessible.
The accessibility of Christianity is one of many reasons that throughout history Christians have included children in receiving the means of grace, through participation in liturgy, through baptism, and, at a relatively early age, through reception of communion. God’s kingdom does not depend on our maturity. It depends on God’s grace.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
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