BE CONVERTED INTO LITTLE CHILDREN GAIUS: I want you to be converted into becoming little children in the faith of Jesus Christ. AUSTINE: Oh you now speak about little children. Well I have outgrown little children in faith, because I am now a matured Christian: I am a man, not a child or babe in the faith. Do you know how long I have being in the faith? Do you know how many years ago I gave my life to Christ? Please, do not try to convert me again into Christianity because I a staunch Christian for many years now. GAIUS: I am not trying to convert you into becoming a Christian or born again the second time, rather I am trying to convert you into becoming little Children. There is difference between becoming a young convert in Christ Jesus and becoming little children. You do not have to remain a young convert, but you must remain as little children if you must enter the kingdom of heaven: As it is written, “Jesus said, “Verily I say to you, ‘Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). AUSTINE: Who was Jesus talking to then? Were they the new converts or the old-matured converts? GAIUS: Jesus was talking to his disciples, who were old with him by then. Infact, his disciples had even known how to perform miracles, baptize people, cast out demons, saw Jesus in Glory at the mount of transfiguration etc. when Jesus spoke to them about being converted into becoming little children. In one occasion, these disciples of Jesus whom may be considered as matured in the faith, resisted the little children that were coming to Jesus (Not knowing that those little children had more right to receive the kingdom of Christ than they themselves): Therefore Jesus said to them: “Encourage little children to come to me, and do not discourage them: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say to you, ‘Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” (Luke 18:16-17) And if you offend one of these little children that believes in me, it will be better for you that a large millstone was hung around your neck and you were drown in the depths of the sea (Matthew 18:6). AUSTINE: Where the disciples of Jesus later converted into little children? GAIUS: Yes, they were. Jesus called them little children couple of times. Examples include: 1. Jesus called them “Little Children” after he washed their feet and when he set an example for them to follow and gave them a new commandment to love one another (John 13:33) 2. He also called them children when he met them by the fishing point after his resurrection. 3. Infact, since they must receive the kingdom as little children, he said to them: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). AUSTINE: How can a man who is supposed to have grown in the faith, asked to be converted into a little child again when he is already matured? GAIUS: That was similar to the question which Nicodemus asked saying, “How can a man be born again when he is already old? Can he enter again into his mother’s womb and be born?” (John 3:4). You spoke about growth from childhood into maturity: But I tell you, growth belongs to children and not to men. The day you cease from becoming a child in the faith is the day you cease from growing in the faith. Growth is more connected with children than with men; but maturity is more connected with men than with children. So to gain both growth and maturity in the faith, we must be both men and little children, switching from one to another: 1. We must switch from being little children to becoming men when we are dealing with understanding which is maturity; but, 2. We must switch from being men to becoming little children when are dealing with malice. As it is written, “Brethren, be not children in understanding: however in malice be you children, but in understanding be men” (1 Corinthians 14:20). Malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies and all evil speaking are not found in little children with is the reason why growth is found in them because of sincerity: As it is written, “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby: If so be you have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1 Peter 2:1-3). AUSTINE: [1Corinthians 13:11] When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. How do relate this with what you are teaching me about becoming little children? GAIUS: Good. In my analysis of that reference, when Paul was a child: 1. He spoke as a child: meaning that even as a child he could speak; 2. He understood as a child: meaning that even as a child, he had understanding or he could understand thing; 3. He thought as a child: meaning that even as a child, he could think. These three things he said he did as a child are things connected with men literally: so what he referred to as childish things are what other men may see as matured things such as speaking (with tongues of men or angels), understanding (all mysteries and knowledge) and thinking according to the beginning of that chapter you read (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). So in this context, being a child and childish things are not about growth but about separation or putting away or discarding the things in part when perfection comes. Growth means improving on something, but putting away childish things means to divorce those things. He put away childish things because he had to embrace perfection. He classified understanding, knowledge, prophecies, faith that moves mountain, speaking with the tongue of angels or men, all the demonstrations of the gifts of the Spirit as childish things, if love is lacking in them. All things become childish things if love is absent: and all childish things must be put away or set aside for love which means being a man in that context: As it is written, For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. (1 Corinthians 13:9-10). Therefore it is written, My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth (1 John 3:18). Remember, Jesus called them little children before he gave them a new commandment to love another (John 13:33-34).
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 08:45:55 +0000
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