This is a time when we present annual reports and vote on various issues. In the midst of the business side we can forget the simplicity of the Christian faith.
As Christians we have a paradox: as we mature the younger we become!
What I mean by this is that as disciples we recognise that we grow up to be children! We embrace this as we realise that next to the knowledge of God we are still children.
We are called to be child-like not childish.
Matthew 18: 1-5: At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
We have spent some time this year outlining a refreshed vision and priorities.
Our battlecry is: To make Jesus known to everyone, everywhere.
We have four priorities to try and express this:
- Mission: Reaching out with the Good News, both home and away.
- Discipleship: Teaching and equipping people to become more like Jesus.
- Worship: Facilitating authentic worship where everyone is invited to encounter the presence of God.
- Legacy: Nurturing and investing in our children, teenagers and young adults - the future church today.
Now, are these there to make us great? To make ANCC the best Chruch in town, or Berkshire, or to export what we have around the world?
Nope. Greatness in the Christian life is never the goal.
In a status driven culture the most important factor in these verses:
“The child in this story is that he had no status, no importance, except as a responsibility for others to care for. To become like a child is therefore to renounce any notions of self-importance and to embrace insignificance.” This is true humility (Africa Bible Commentary, (Matthew 18:2-5).
Being Child-like is Being Dependant
Yet Jesus celebrates the humility that comes from the child’s weakness, defenselessness, and vulnerability. The child can really do nothing for himself or herself and will die if left alone. It is this kind of humility that Jesus uses as a visual aid to contrast the world’s form of greatness to the greatness of the kingdom of heaven.
Like the values established in the Beatitudes (5:3 - 10), this is an explicit pronouncement of grace to those who seemingly are unworthy of the kingdom, but it is also a pronouncement of condemnation on those who think themselves to be worthy but are not. Those who wish to enter the kingdom must turn away from their own power and self-seeking, and in childlike humility call on God’s mercy to allow them to enter the kingdom of heaven. The child becomes a metaphor to Jesus of the values of discipleship.
(Micheal J Watkins, NIV Application Commentary, emphasis mine.)
To be a disciple means that we will surrender our self-sufficiency and craving for position, and acknowledge our complete dependence upon Jesus.
If we think we can achieve the vision for the church and for our live on our own, we will fail.
Being Child-like is Having Naivety
The child Jesus pointed to was a ‘little child’. It speaks of maybe a toddler.
A child is naturally trusting. It means that there is not a higher faith level for us to progress but a simpler faith level in us:
Matthew 17:20: He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Child-like faith means doubt has no place in our heart because we have complete trust in our Father God that He is working for our good (Matthew 7:11; Romans 8:28).
So, whilst we have a big vision s a church, we have a bigger trust that God will accomplish it:
Ephesians 3: 20-21: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen
So much of what we have stated as our direction is out of control of the leadership team.
As Senior Pastor here, I nor the elders, nor Pastor Billy can make you worship, make you a disciple, make you missional or make you invest in the future legacy of the church.
We point to these things, encourage these things, tell you how these things will benefit you and others, but ultimately it is up to each of us to adopt them.
My constant prayer is for a Divine naivety, that I believe God can do it, will do it, is doing it and will complete it:
Philippians 1:6: being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Being Child-like is Knowing You Have Access
Being child-like is knowing that your Heavenly Father has all the time for you in the world.
Story: One of our grandsons once said he was so excited I would be visiting because I would play with him. When we arrived after being stuck in traffic for hours, his exclamation was not “hello”, but “Pops, come and play!” He had his whole day mapped out. It never occurred to him that I might be tired from the journey. He had access to me, that was all that mattered.
Now he’s a little older, he waits. He has been told by his parents to let me rest on arrival. Is he growing up? Learning to contain his excitement? In our adult minds, yes. But in reality he is growing away from being child-like.
My friends, you have access 24/7 to the loving embrace of God. Don’t forgo that to appear mature.
Ephesians 2:18: For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Wrapping this up
This year will likely bring things we did not expect.
There may be problems we did not anticipate.
There will be blessings we could not have imagined.
There will be battles to fight and victories to be savoured.
Through it all, let’s remain:
Child-likely dependant, trusting and in God’s presence.
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