Childlike faith?

As we enter the last few days of Advent, those with good memories may recall that this time last year my four-month-old daughter was starring in our church’s immersive Nativity scene, and I was led to reflect on the enormity of Jesus’s sacrifice in taking on the absolute powerlessness of a newborn. What a difference a year makes! We head towards our Christmas celebrations this December as the proud parents of a confident, inquisitive and extremely determined toddler, whose ongoing mission to uncover the contents of every sealed box and cupboard in our house frequently tests the limits of our (hastily and imperfectly fitted) childproofing systems. It’s joy of a different kind: instead of marvelling at our daughter’s total dependency and fragility, this year we marvel at her growing understanding, her unexpected physical strength and fearlessness, the sense of an emerging personality and will which is quite different from our own.

Perhaps inevitably, then, I find myself returning to Luke’s pithy summary of Jesus’s childhood, which covers twelve years in a single sentence:

The child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him. (Luke 2:40).

There’s much to reflect on in these few words, especially the way it highlights Jesus’ growth in the three areas central to the developmental trajectory of any young child: physical (strength), mental (wisdom), spiritual (grace). I find myself craving more details about what life was like for Jesus the toddler! Did he really pass from infancy to adulthood untroubled by the daily conflicts that befall every young child (‘no crying he makes’)? Or did he too respond as our daughter does when her intentions are thwarted by an attentive caregiver (these batteries look delicious! these steps are surely climbable! this dog must be friendly!); when she discovers the power of the word ‘no!’ at mealtimes or bedtimes; when she can only communicate her tiredness through tears or tantrums?

The brief glimpse of Jesus’ adolescent character we get from his visit to the temple (Luke 2:22–38) makes me rather doubtful that his childhood years could have passed purely in dutiful, uneventful acquiescence, the halo-tinged blandness of the stained-glass window. Instead, I think we can see in Luke’s account the sense of a child growing not only in capability, but also in awareness: as Jesus’ sense of self formed, as he navigated the uncertainties and limitations of childhood, he came gradually to the realisations about his identity that would underpin his adult life and ministry.

This makes me think again about Jesus’ famous words in Luke 18:17, that we must receive the Kingdom of God ‘like a little child’ if we are to enter it. I think we can all too easily read these words through an idealised image of childhood, perhaps even the image of Jesus the ‘no crying’ infant. From that perspective a childlike acceptance of God’s Kingdom is passive, serene, unquestioning: we don’t do anything, we just sit obediently and watch God do His thing. Those of us working as Christians within academia may even have seen this verse weaponised against the perceived dangers of intellectual activity: why risk thinking too much about your faith? Just accept it like a child!

If that’s our viewpoint, I think we urgently need to revisit our image of childhood. If our toddler is anything to go by, a childlike embrace of the Kingdom involves curiosity rather than bland acceptance (we’ve not entered into the season of endless ‘whys’ yet, but I’m sure it’s on the horizon); active participation rather than passivity (everything we do, she wants to do); and above all joyful enthusiasm as much as quietude or timidity. Accepting the Kingdom of God like a child means throwing ourselves into it wholeheartedly; not being afraid to tell God what we need, or ask Him about the things we don’t understand; watching intently what He is doing, so that we can join in.

As we remember Jesus the child, then, let’s embrace His Kingdom with childlike energy and boldness. I pray that amid the turmoil of the world you will encounter the joy of His presence this Christmas.

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Mark Hutchinson

Lecturer in Music at University of York

I studied music at the University of York to doctoral level, specialising in composition, contemporary music and music analysis, and oboe and piano performance. My book 'Coherence in New Music: Experience, Aesthetics, Analysis' (Ashgate, 2016) uses creative metaphors and ideas taken from a variety of different disciplines to analyse recent music from the classical tradition. As a lecturer at York my teaching focusses on piano performance, contemporary music, and modules focussing on the intersection of music, society and philosophy. I'm really excited when I find contemporary music and art which reflects on the realities of the modern world in a way that honours God's gifts of creativity.

Latest posts by Mark Hutchinson (see all)

• Childlike faith? - December 18, 2024
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• Art in times of crisis - October 3, 2022