Smoodock's Blog

Often the little ones, whom Jesus mentioned in Matthew 18:6 and 10, are interpreted to mean weak ones in the faith, or those who are just beginning their walk with Christ. While this may certainly be true of **some** little ones, it certainly is not so of all. Consider what Jesus said in Matthew 18:4: “unless you humble yourself and become as a little child… YOU SHALL NOT **ENTER** THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN!” (paraphrased and emphasized). Therefore, anyone who has entered the Kingdom of Heaven, must be a child of God or a little one. The two are a description of the occupant of the Kingdom of Heaven.[1] While anyone may ‘receive’ or ‘offend’ a little one, Jesus put doing so in the context of in-House activity (Matthew 18:4). Thus, he who “receives one such child” (Matthew 18:5) is as one brother receiving another brother in Christ. Consequently, then, whosoever **offends** one of these little ones, who believe in me” is also a brother in Christ, for he, too, has **entered** the Kingdom of Heaven, albeit, this one is in a state of rebellion, acting as the world does to achieve its goals (cp. Luke 22:24-27). This is how the offense is committed. Nevertheless, how does this act, done privately in the Church, affect the world at large?

It is necessary that we understand the thrust of Jesus’ statement in Matthew 18:4, vis-à-vis there is no room for competition in the Kingdom of God. God calls us and has a plan for each of us. One child isn’t greater than another. Children are children; that is who they are. In other words, the greatest anyone could ever be is to become a child in the Kingdom of Heaven. Children by nature are eager to learn and put their learning into practice. To prevent that from occurring is an offense against God and against one’s brother. Jesus gives each new child the same liberty he has given his older children in the faith (2Corinthians 3:17; cp. Galatians 5:1, 13); if this seems unjust to the more experienced child, they are in danger of offending their brother (cp. Matthew 20:12-15). It is easy to forget that the experience one has in Christ has occurred, only because that one was given great liberty in the faith to learn (even from mistakes) and put his learning into practice (cp. 1Thessalonians 5:21). To disallow such liberty in our less experienced brethren halts their growth in Christ, sometimes for the rest of their lives. “But…” one may ask: “…while this may be so, how could it possibly affect the entire world?

If we can agree that “lording it over” our less experienced brother is wrong, and against the teaching of Christ, then halting the growth of a brother causes the inexperienced child in Christ to become dependent upon his more experienced brother in the faith. Now, the more experienced brother is no longer following Jesus (Luke 22:25-27). Instead, he seeks to achieve his goals in the same manner as the world does theirs (Luke 22:25). The world exercises its authority in a context of having power over others. The more folks the king rules, the greater authority and ability to achieve what he desires.

It is a corrupting matter that one embraces, when he exercises authority over his brethren. Such authority has never been given him by Christ. That “little one” and other “little ones” whose growth in Christ has been halted are viewed as a commodity that will increase the power of the rebellious brother, and by using this commodity, according to his will, he is able to bend the will of those powerful folks in the political arena. So, the rebellious brother can and does affect the world, when he offends a little one in Christ?

One may say what he will about President Trump—good or bad, for it doesn’t’ matter, as far as this study is concerned.[2] The fact remains, and it can be proved by looking back to the 2016 Presidential Race in America, Donald Trump would never have been elected in November of 2016, if it were not for the Christian evangelical voting bloc. When Christians view the power that crucified their Lord as an ally, believing a political alliance is necessary to complete a “Christian” agenda, something is very wrong. The Church, as an entity, is supposed to be politically innocuous. Remember, Herod and Pilate viewed Jesus as “harmless” with respect to their rule, and Christians, according to that name, are supposed to be followers or imitators of Christ! How can we be imitators of Christ, if we are better known for our politics than for the Gospel we preach in Christ’s name? What message should we be sending the world (Mark 16:15; cp. Matthew 28:19-20), because our politics and Christ’s Gospel are not the same message!      [EB1] 

[1] An occupant of the Kingdom of Heaven is placed in contrast to “the kings of the gentiles” (cp. Luke 22:25-26).

[2] I’m writing this study in September of 2024, during the Trump/Harris Presidential Race. Election day is a little more than a month away.