Songs In The Night

⁵ “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, ⁶ but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” – Matthew 18:5-6

Stylish Neckwear

In case you haven’t noticed, neckties are not so much in vogue any more.  Most men now seem to prefer wearing their dress shirts with an open collar.  I am sure this is welcome news for a professor I had at Michigan State in the late 1980’s.  He despised neckties.  His theory was that the first man to wear one was in the process of being lynched when the rope broke.  I haven’t checked with Wikipedia to see if his theory is accurate but it is humorous.

Deadly Neckwear

Jesus’ idea for neckwear in today’s passage is not quite so humorous.  With a child in his lap He warns his audience of the dangers of being used by Satan to tempt one of His children to sin.  After using the children as an object lesson to teach about the importance of humility, Jesus shows some of the spark that He revealed when He overturned the tables of the money lenders in the Temple.  The passion that He would show for the House of Prayer is now revealed for His children.  You would be better off wearing a millstone “necktie” and drowned in the depth of the sea than to experience My wrath if you cause one of My children to sin.

 Dangerous Pride

The disciples had questioned Jesus about greatness in the kingdom, Jesus then turned the conversation to temptations on earth.  With sin running rampant temptation is inevitable (v. 7).  We won’t stop it.  Just make sure you are not an agent or you might find yourself on the bottom of the sea.  Why does Jesus give this warning in this context?  Pride is ever prevalent and always dangerous.

It is in our fallen nature to be too self focused.  The quest to become “great” often involves hurting others.  Jesus was warning his disciples of the dangers that might be lurking behind the pride that motivated them to ask their question about who would be greatest in the kingdom.  Jesus’ very serious response exposes those dangers.  In no uncertain terms Jesus tells us we need to forget about ourselves and look out for the well being of others.  If we humble ourselves to do so we are less likely to be used by Satan to tempt others to sin.

Helpless Victims

Jesus often opposed the proud and self-righteous.  With a child in His lap He reminds us of the special place in His heart for the “simple” and “humble”.  Those the world is often too quick to step on to reach their “greatness”.  Those the world is often too quick to cast aside to satisfy their own selfish desires.  Those that Jesus wants us to protect, not tempt.

Much has been made recently of the atrocious actions of Dr. Nassar.  For years he abused numerous young woman in direct and gross violation of his position of trust as a medical doctor.  Young woman who were brought to him for physical healing will forever bear emotional scars.  For many of them their “innocence” and childhoods were “robbed”.  Accordingly, the public outcry for justice has been loud.  And rightly so.  Dr. Nassar is a solemn reminder for us of what can happen when sin is left “unchecked”.

“Godly” Outcry

As I think about today’s passage and the sins of Dr. Nassar I can’t help but think of some of the hypocrisy of our society.  While we demand justice in regards to Dr. Nassar, we allow the unborn to be aborted everyday.  Where is the outcry?  Aren’t the sins of an abortion Dr. just as perverted as those of Dr. Nassar.  Is lust more evil than greed?  Isn’t selfishness behind both sins?  With a child in His lap do you think Jesus would make a distinction, or would He passionately defend the protection of the unborn just as greatly as He would the young gymnasts?  We are not only talking about actions that violate the rights of young people and the unborn, we are ultimately talking about sin!  Direct defiance against the commands and character of God.

While we are on the subject of the “simple” and “humble” how about the “weak”?  How many of our handicapped and elderly are being victimized and taken advantage of today?  Again, where is the outcry?  I am greatly troubled by our societies infatuation with euthanasia and selective abortions.  Does our society really gain anything by playing God and eliminating the elderly or ill who are deemed no longer “productive”?  It is this same utilitarian mindset that propagates the elimination in the womb of those “feared” to be handicapped.  Do you see the dangers that Jesus warned about lurking behind pride?

Humble Action

My objective is not to heap unnecessary guilt on anyone.  Obviously I am not condoning the actions of Dr. Nassar.  My hope is to instill a repulsion for millstones.  At least as neck ware.  Check the pride in your own life.  Ponder the words of Jesus.  Take a child in your lap and think of the beauty of God’s perfect work in knitting that child in the womb.  Go to a nursing home and befriend some lonely person and ask them about their past and glean from their wisdom and experience.  Volunteer to help at an event for the handicapped and meet them at their level and see if God won’t use them to soften your heart.  As people full of pride there is so much we can learn from the “simple”, “humble”, and weak.  Jesus is still using them as object lessons to teach us.  Life is always sacred because it originates from God.  Sin is always dangerous because it opposes the will of God.

Don’t give in to the Tempter.  Don’t cause God’s children to sin.  Instead may you have the love and passion of Christ and look to be a protector of the “little ones”.  When we embrace them, we embrace our Savior.  Beats a millstone around the neck any day.

⁵ “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.” – Matthew 18:5