From Background Notes [BN] for June 29th & 30th
written by Pastor Bob Brown:
What the church reclaims in the city is the priority of the child, as the hands of Jesus placed on children to bless and to pray.
What the church reclaims in the city is the priority of the child, as the hands of Jesus placed on children to bless and to pray.
In Jesus’ earlier comments, “these little ones” have the rapt attention of angels who in turn have the full attention of “my Father.” So, when you mess with children, you mess with God. Therefore, when the church observes how the social safety nets that protect children in the city have fallen away, then the church must honor and obey the commands of Jesus: “Take care that you do not despise these little ones,” which means paying close attention to not neglecting or ignoring or minimizing the safety of these to whom the kingdom belongs. There is no future for the kingdom in the city without the children. And there is no future for the children if stray bullets and shoddy housing and poor health care and closed schools make the streets a dangerous place to live. Putting such children at risk is, says Jesus in the account from Mark’s Gospel, a stumbling block that carries a high price as a capital offence. “Do not stop them.” “Welcome me by welcoming them.” We’re not making that up; Jesus said those things. “Let the little children come to me.” Hear the heart call of Jesus for the city. [BN, 8]
Join us this week in Study, Worship, Praise and Celebration at Chicago First Church of the Nazarene:
* Saturday 6:00pm
* Sunday 8:30am & 11:00am
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