I was grateful to be given the opportunity to be the guest speak at Clarity Church for their “Written In Red” series last month. I have included it here with the transcript below it.
Clarity Church: Written In Red: Child Like Faith
Greeting
Good Morning everyone. If you haven’t met me or don’t know much about me, I am Gary Cartagena. If you are tongue challenged, and can’t roll your R’s, it can also be pronounced Car-Ta-Hay-Na. I am one of the co-leaders of the Plymouth Community group with my wife, Debbie.
Spoiler Alert
I think part of me does that because I like to understand where the journey is going to take me, but if I am honest, I think mostly I want to know if it’s worth it.
Since you get to listen to me today, I’m going to give you some quick spoilers.
- I tend to talk fast. If I am going to fast, let me know and I will try to accommodate.
- We are going to talk about the words of Jesus… Specifically on the idea of having Faith like a child. Our primary reading will come from Matthew 18 (18:1-5) (plus Matthew 19:13-15) but we’ll spend most of our time here. Even though I’ll jump around to help us grasp some key ideas.
- Whether you are a long-time believer or someone who is just starting to explore faith; all of us were given the opportunity to be called the Children of God and co-heirs in His kingdom. And that is huge. I hope to do a good job of explaining why it’s such a big deal.
So, for those of us who like to prepare, you can find that spot in your Bible while I go through an introduction.
But I want to make something clear. This was not my job or training. I did not go to a Christian or Bible school. I do not have a degree in Bible-ology. (and yes, that was a made up word)
I am a product of community:
Others have poured life into me. That means they spent the time to actively engage and share the astonishing and historic reality of Jesus. They taught me how to read the Bible, how to understand context and reference materials. They modeled how to pray and how to listen to the leading of God’s spirit as he answers prayers. They walked alongside me when I struggled with addiction and anger issues. During this time, I learned that I could be thefather and husband that my family deserved, even though my childhood baggage and the earliest models I held onto for that role, were from a broken family and a father who gave us his leftovers, as he chose the world over us, and eventually left.
Community showed me, I was a beloved child of the most loving father in existence. And because of them, I KNOW: I am loved, I am valued, I am forgiven.
I am not perfect in any of these roles, but I am better than I used to be… and I am better every day because of my desire to pursue after Jesus…
It’s because of that community, like a child who wakes up the day after Christmas, I get the opportunity to talk about how amazing my Heavenly Father is, and how great are the gifts he has given…
Head knowledge vs heart knowledge
How many of you are familiar with the difference between head knowledge and heart knowledge? Phil talked about something like this when he mentioned knowing about something vs. actually KNOWING. Maybe you aren’t familiar with my exact terms but if you hear me speak again, you will hear me use these them again, so let me explain what I mean.
Head knowledge is all facts and trends, 2 + 2 is generally 4. Water is wet, the sky is blue, and at least according to Audacity online, Tom Brady is the most decorated NFL player of all time…
That last one was to see if y’all were paying attention… …But, for the most part, these are facts. Sometimes people regurgitate them or recite them, but in general they don’t necessarily instill passion or incite life change, unless you happen to be a huge football fan or an NFL pro.
On the other hand, Heart knowledge, are things we don’t just know, it’s knowledge we FEEL at our core. We believe in them. We restructure our lives around them. When Heart Knowledge is heard and accepted, it moves us, because it REQUIRES a response. It makes us to DO something.
Today, my goal is to share a few pieces of head knowledge. They will be primarily scripture and commentary, but as I share these quotable bits, I hope some of my points become heart knowledge. To help that, I’ll discuss why childlike faith matters and what we can or should do about it. Sound fair?
Children of God
Today, we are looking at the words of Jesus. In Matthew Jesus speaks of children in a most beloved way and he compares the disciples and those of us who follow, to that of a child.
The passage where we will start our journey together today is Matthew 18:1-5
Matt 18: 1 At that time (hour) the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “So who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a small child and had him stand among them. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes(receives) one child like this in my name welcomes me.
To set the scene, Jesus is with his crew, the disciples and his followers. And the disciples were having a discussion among themselves. Well, it wasn’t really a discussion, it was more like a heated debate, about who was the most important to the ministry. If we cross reference this with Mark, in chapter 9 we see that they were actually on the road to Capernaum, and during their travel time they were arguing among themselves, all while trying to keep it out of Jesus’s earshot. But once they reach their destination, and the place where they’ll be staying Jesus confronts them about it. And the best part about this exchange, is that Jesus knows about their argument the whole time. If we look at this interaction in Luke, we get a better picture:
Luke 9:46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them...“
The questions that dominate my mind and probably the minds of those listening are: Does he mean literal children? Do we have to become young again? Is this a metaphor, and if so, what does it mean?Who are the children?
One of the great things about the words of Jesus is that he is often completely literal while still conveying a much deeper meaning. In this instance Jesus talks about children in two slightly different contexts. The first is about becoming like the children, and the second is about welcoming the children into His presence.
To answer the last question first we can look at Paul’s Letter to the Romans:
Romans 8:14 For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons(children). 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, (Daddy) Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children…
Who are the children? Those who want to know and believe in Jesus.
However, Jesus has never been exclusive to just believers. Scripture makes it clear that “while we were still sinners Christ died for US…” (Romans 5:6-11) or to put it more personally, ” While I was still sinning, Christ paid the penalty for me…”
This is not a contradiction in our theology. In fact, it’s an enforcement of it. We see Jesus live this out in Matthew 19.
Matthew 19: 13Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 Jesus said, “Leave the little children alone, and don’t try to keep them from coming to me, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these (heaven is made of such ones).”15 After placing his hands on them, he went on from there.
There is a great truth here about bringing people to meet Jesus that I don’t have time to go into, however, Jesus desires NEW children to be led to him, because that is how He builds His family.
Remember, each one of us who now believes, started our journey as the kid across the crowded room who was brought to Jesus. (Our Father has open arms)
I have never experienced this among our church family but let us still be careful in this very polarizing world not to become guarded or jaded. Let’s never make this an US vs THEM scenario. Because if it was, then the “WE” could have never become an “US” to begin with.
What is Child-Like Faith?
Since we are given the right to become Children of God, what are the characteristics of children that Jesus is looking for?
Children, in general, have many qualities that we associate with them.
Some of the more, let’s say entertaining qualities are impatience, restlessness, the inability to whisper, and a knack of saying out loud the one thing that everybody else is thinking, but are too polite to say.
Who knows what we call those things, or that behavior pattern?
Yes, that’s right. That’s being childish… and that is NOT what God is looking for. In fact, we are reminded in Ephesians 4:14 that we need to grow up and NOT be childish.
Because there is a distinct difference between being childish and child-like.
So, when Jesus points to children and says we must be child-like. What does He mean?
Fortunately, He doesn’t make us wonder too long; he lays it out in the very next sentence:
Matt 18:4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
The Message Bible translates it like this:
…Whoever becomes simple and elemental (or basic) again…
See, the qualities that make us great in the kingdom of heaven do NOT come from Performance, Prestige or Pride. You can’t earn it and you can’t influence it. Actions, words, or connections don’t matter.
The qualities Jesus is looking for, that make us great in His kingdom, come from a foundation of humility and simplicity.
Let me say that again…
The qualities Jesus is looking for, the qualities that make us great in God’s kingdom, come from a faith founded in humility and simplicity. So, what does that look like?
I want to suggest Three child-like qualities we can pursue to uncomplicate our faith and reinvigorate our spiritual walk.
There’s a quote from compellingtruth.org/childlike-faith.html:
compellingtruth.org/childlike-faith.html
“The world sometimes misunderstands the idea of childlike faith, thinking that Christians are childlike because they believe in myths and fairytales. But this is not the Bible’s meaning when it compares us to children. Instead, childlike faith is a metaphor for trust, dependence and love, and an encouragement to ask for what we need.”
Reliance:
Children are humble because they are innately aware of how little life experience they have. They know that the world is new to them. Foods, people, experiences. They know that they don’t understand it, and they know that they are reliant on parents and care givers.
Because of this reliance, they eagerly ask. They ask for food, they ask for safety and shelter, they ask for comfort, or to be held. And with a reliance comes trust. A trust based on the reality that their needs are being met. Even more than that, they ask for their heart’s desire.
I looked at the best gifts in 2021 as cited by USA Today Online. Number one on the list is the National Geographic Mega Crystal Growing Lab.
Whether it’s the Mega Crystal Growing Lab or the latest Nintendo Switch (number 3 on the list), they aren’t afraid to ask. They aren’t afraid to hear the “no”, or “wait” because if they don’t ask, they won’t ever hear the “YES” from the parent who loves them…
With a reliance on God comes trust. A trusting based on the reality that He is meeting our needs.
So let me ask you:
- How are you reliant on your Heavenly Father? Are you walking through life, completely self-sufficient?
- What have you asked God for lately?
- For what are you trusting in God?
Mary Beth Chapman, Wife of Stephen Curtis Chapman, wrote the book “Choosing to SEE” about how her family struggled to move forward after the death of their daughter Maria. In it she wrote:
“I know God loves me and my family. I know God is sovereign and He knows what is best for us. I know He has our days numbered and makes no mistakes. I know that He will bring beauty from ashes . . . that is what I cling to in order to make it through another twenty-four hours.”
Mary Beth Chapman, Choosing to SEE
That’s her reliance on God.
Teachable:
With their unintentional humility, children KNOW they don’t know. They may not know WHAT they don’t know. They just know that they don’t know it. In one of my previous lives, I was a daycare caregiver and preschool teacher. And I got to observe “the age of questions”.
Who is familiar with this?
It’s that stage between ages 2 and 4 when the questions begin. Soon the new parents will know…
The ‘Why’ questions start first. Those are soon followed by ‘who’ and ‘what’ questions.
Why is the sky blue?
Why do dogs have fur, but birds have feathers?
Why do I have to go to bed if the sun is up?
Kids are little scientists. They are constantly testing their boundaries and the process of cause and effect, sometimes without processing the idea of consequences, all because they are new. They are learning about the world around them, and this makes them incredibly teachable.
Humility in our faith means asking for clarity on the things we don’t understand.
A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.- William Shakespeare
The ability and need to “ask and question” is so important to our faith that it is a part of the Bible. If you ever feel uncomfortable asking questions take a look at the Psalms. Many Psalms contain questions like WHY is this happening, or How Long will this go on. There are even some that ask Where God is in the midst of suffering.
Psalm 42:9 I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
God the father sees us as children exploring our boundaries. He witnesses our struggles, and He sees our attempts to become who He designed us to be. And He gives us the love and support we need to grow. This is the essence of grace. He forgives us when we fall short of His standards, and He encourages us to pursue being more like Jesus.
A child is not afraid to ask when they don’t understand, and they hear and absorb the answers. Sometimes they ask again because they don’t understand the answer, but they’ll still ask.
Questions are at the core of seeking after God. Learning to LISTEN to the answers are what make that seeking complete.
Prov 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; … … 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
Jeremiah 33:3(God Says: ) Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
Answers can come from all kinds of places. They can come by way of a Bible verse or teaching, an inspirational idea, or a person. But His answers can almost always be confirmed in scripture. An answer from God will not break His promises or commands.
So let me ask you:
- Where can you learn or grow?
- Have you asked you Heavenly Father for guidance?
- If so, are you open to receive his answer?
Gratitude:
A byproduct of asking should always be gratitude.
Sometimes we don’t even remember asking, but we have clothes, transportation, food, internet, smart phones more powerful than the entirety of the Mercury Space program that put the first man on the moon.
You asked for those things at some point, and while you may not remember, God does.
And not to be self-serving, but when a child is grateful, how much more inclined are we to do things for them?
1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always, 17 pray constantly, 18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
With gratitude comes enthusiastic praise. When you are grateful don’t hold that inside. Share your gratitude with others.
Psalm 9:1 I will thank the Lord with all my heart; I will declare (tell of) all your wondrous works. 2 I will rejoice and boast about you; I will sing about your name, Most High
That’s enthusiastic praise.
Have you ever been in the company of a young child, like a toddler, when they are eating? I don’t know your experience, but I can’t tell you how many times a little one has tried to feed me cheerios with their sloppy, slobbery little hands.
And I almost always take it. One, because of how immensely adorable they are, and two, because I understand that they are showing an expression gratitude for something that they have been given.
If you are grateful and are worried about being boastful, then learn how to share, just like the little ones do. Gratitude does not only come in the form of “Thank you”. Gratitude when shared with others becomes generosity.
- If you have money and savings and are grateful, you should be giving and giving generously.
- If you have food and a shelter or a home and are grateful, you should be extending hospitality.
- If you have free time because your needs are met or your kids are grown, (I am calling myself out on this one) you should be serving others.
- AND SINCE we are loved and accepted by our Heavenly Father, which we all are, we should be sharing HIS love with each other AND those disconnected from Jesus.
These are expressions of gratitude.
So let me ask you:
- What are you grateful for?
- What have you praised God for?
- With whom are you sharing your expressions of gratitude? And how?
I want to close our time, with a challenge…
Take A Step In Faith:
Over the next few weeks, I want you to make a list or send yourself notes. Extra credit if you share that with your community or friends. You can use paper or a digital device, but I want you to write yourself notes every day. If you are using your phone, send yourself a text or email.
- Write down anything you for which you are relying on God. Health? Patience? Gas?
- Write down any areas in which you want or need to learn and grow. Where can you be teachable?
- Write down what you are grateful for and how you are sharing gratitude with others.
Then Pray over these things and as God responds to prayers check your messages. (Show My Little Blue Book of Prayers) …
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May Jesus have His way with your day
He is Founder and consultant for Tek Management,
Founder of the Men’s Leadership site: CalebStrong.org,
Co-Founder of the online Bible study app: BibleCounts
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