Little Children
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Straight to the Cross
COLUMN: Field Notes
Little Children
By Michael E. Brooks
"Let the little children come to me, and do not
forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God"
(Mark 10:14).
Overpopulation is one of the world's greatest
problems. More than six billion people now crowd
this planet, with two nations (China and India)
hosting populations of more than one billion each.
China has imposed strict regulations governing
family planning in an effort to limit future
population growth. Western cultures have achieved
similar results through education and peer
pressure. Still, the world continues to hold more
and more humans each year.
Increased population means more little children.
And therein lies a paradox for many. We don't want
more people than the earth can reasonably sustain.
But we love children. They are precious, even
priceless, and we know that we must continue to
replenish the earth. Therefore our attitude
towards "population growth" is mixed. Obviously
the answer is to continue to have children, just
not too many. Equally obviously, such a goal is
easier to state than to achieve.
My visits to Asia have helped me understand the
enormity of the problem. They have also helped me
to appreciate the value of children. Whenever I
visit a new village in Bangladesh, India or Nepal
I am overwhelmed by the sheer number of children
that greet me. I am a novelty to many of them and
they are eager to see and touch me. They love for
me to take their picture. They attend all meetings
and studies and enjoy hearing the Bible taught.
Their openness and affection helps illuminate
Jesus' statement, "of such is the kingdom of God",
and his teaching that "whoever does not receive
the kingdom of God as a little child will by no
means enter it" (Mark 10:15).
The Bible is clear that God loves children.
"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb is his reward. Like arrows
in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of
one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver
full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall
speak with their enemies in the gate" (Psalm
127:3-5).
The question of how many children should be born
each year, or to whom, is difficult. Much less
difficult is the attitude which we should have to
those who are born. We must value and love them.
We must protect and care for them. And we must
bring them to Jesus.
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