IT IS not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish" (Matt. 18:14). Little ones are people of God and are to be treated as such. The Lord Jesus demonstrated interest and concern in the winning of children. And to those apostles who rebuked the parents of some children for bringing them to Jesus, He said, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God" (Mark 10:14). This declaration that the kingdom of God belongs to such children as those whom He took in His arms and blessed implies that children can truly be members of His church.
The responsibility of the church to children is therefore grave business.
God wants every child of tender age to be His child, to be adopted into His family. Young though they may be, the youth may be members of the household of faith and have a most precious experience. --Child Guidance, p. 486.
The struggle for the hearts and minds of children is now on. Certainly in a world pregnant with the sense of approaching doom we would do well to follow Jesus' example and set this generation of children in our midst. We would teach them of Jesus and of His soon return. Let us face the fact that strong and effective forces are at work in the world to destroy the plan of God and to prevent the Christian imprint from being placed upon the life of the child. The task of winning children to Christ is not simply a matter for casual interest and sporadic activity. It is a continuous struggle "against cosmic powers, against the authorities and potentates of this dark world, against the superhuman forces of evil in the heavens (Eph. 6:12, N.E.B.).* Lucifer, brilliant and powerful, leads a rebellion on earth against God and includes each child in the struggle.
Our church does not have the field to itself in molding the young. There are many competitors, aggressive and clever, as well as competitors who take advantage of antiquated methods and inactivity. My plea is to accept with renewed determination the challenge and responsibilities of child evangelism. "In childhood the mind is readily impressed and molded, and it is then that boys and girls should be taught to love and honor God." --Ibid.
Jesus said, "Forbid them not, to come unto me" (Matt. 19:14). Literally, stop hindering them from coming to me. Certain impedimenta may block the road of ready advance in child evangelism. It is ironic that some processes designed to clarify can easily cloud the issue of salvation. Thought structures intended to convey divine truth may clog the conduits. A sharp paring knife is indispensable equipment for that pastor or worker who would speak in fresh, pungent words to children. A paring knife to prune away archaic shibboleths, meaningless trap pings that have a way of hanging on with as little justification as crusty barnacles do on the side of a ship. Rethinking, re working, and recommitting ourselves to evangelistic methods that include the children seem to be in order--indeed imperative.
A Premium on Children
Jesus places a premium upon children. He presents the congregation the great opportunity of accepting boys and girls, appreciating their voices, taking them and their world seriously. The children need to know that they belong to that community of believers that is held together by the love of God. It must not appear that the sanctuary is too sacred and intellectual to be profaned by the children of the church and the neighborhood. Children are to be an integral part of congregations. They are involved with the living community. They are a part of the church that gathers today.
Appreciation for children is to realize their profound place in the ministry of the church. To be aware that we are to minister to their world if we are to minister to them is to reveal to us the dimension of our evangelistic task. To appreciate the children is to know that they participate naturally in general worship that involves them. Without inhibitions and bearing the full brunt of the harshness of modern society, they can participate joyfully where adults mumble. It is easier for children to be caught up to forget their scars. When they are taught to sing, to pray, to speak of Jesus, they are able to participate in worship earlier than some of us realize.
Empathy seems more naturally theirs. Praise, too, is natural. So is prayer. So is love. This childlike worship is genuine and natural. Conversion does occur on the child level.
With increase of years it is probable that there will be a decrease of sensibility to divine things, a diminished susceptibility to the influences of religion. Every day Satan works to fasten them in their habits of disobedience, their spirit of impenitence, and there is less probability that they will become Christians. --Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 80.
The children and youth are Christ's purchased possession; He has bought them with an infinite price. . . . The Spirit is continually striving with them, seeking to draw them to God; and the laborer together with God will feel his responsibility, and will earnestly work to win souls to Christ. --Ibid., pp. 158, 159.
As the Spirit of God draws the hearts of the children and youth, you draw with tenderness and love, inviting them, and pleading with them to give their hearts to God. --Ibid., p. 158.
