The disciples were wrong when they “rebuked those who brought” their little children to Jesus. Jesus in turn rebuked the disciples, saying, “Let the little children come to Me and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it” (Mark 10:15). In these words, Jesus was not attaching an age limit after which one cannot come into His kingdom or be saved. He was addressing an attitude.
Later we read the Lord’s interpretation of His words to the disciples: “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). Becoming as little children does not mean to become childish, but childlike. There is a difference. The word ‘childish’ is commonly used in a negative sense. It implies silliness or immaturity and is used to mock or disparage someone. ‘Childlike’ is a compliment. It describes the nature of a young child who is inquisitive, enthusiastic, and trusting. Thus says the Lord, “Become as little children.”
Adults should have interest in the Word and be anxious to hear and to share the Word of God. But underlying those qualities is trust that describes the faith of a little child. Think of the little child who runs to Dad or Mom for safety in time of danger or fear. When Dad or Mom holds out their arms and says, “Come,” the little child trusts implicitly that the parent will treat it well. The child implicitly believes that the word of Dad or Mom is good. When parents tell the little child that Jesus loves him or her, the child does not question, but believes. “Daddy and Mommy said so.” It is in that sense that Jesus is speaking when He exhorts us to “become as little children.” All who have such trusting, implicit faith in the Lord and His Word will enter eternal life. Become as little children “for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14).
Unfortunately, it does not take children long before they are tempted to adopt the skepticism of adults. To counter the devil’s influence, it behooves parents who are answerable to the Lord to faithfully bring “little children to Him, that He might touch them. . .” (Mark 10:13).
So how do Christ-believers maintain that childlike faith and trust in the Lord on one hand, and on the other, combat the skepticism that poisons the mind, and destroys the confidence of the heart? How do we nourish our fragile faith in a secular world in which truth is hard to come by and in which many think themselves wiser than God and in which many false prophets claim to speak for God.
A faithful minister of the Word invites his hearers to search the Scripture. Paul and Silas left Thessalonica. They had been persecuted and were sent away by the brethren “by night” to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews who were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica. In Berea they preached, and the Jews respectfully gave the Gospel a hearing, but note carefully, they “searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). The Scriptures they searched were the Old Testament and its prophecies. The result was that “many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks [Gentiles]…” (Acts 17:11-12). It is the spoken Word of God, and the regenerative Word in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism that creates faith in Christ unto salvation. It is the spoken Word and the Sacrament of the Altar that nourishes and strengthens the faith unto salvation. Begotten through the spoken Word and the Sacrament, the sinner is called, converted, regenerated unto the new life in Christ, and is sanctified to walk before God in true righteousness and holiness.
In a world of sin and shame, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16). Every believer can bank on it for “Thus saith the Lord.”
“Thus saith the Lord…” is used over four hundred times in the Old Testament. Additionally, there are many similar expressions used, such as: “It is written,” or “The Word of the Lord came unto me,” or “And God said.” Further, Paul wrote, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” (1 Corinthians 2: 12-13).
“’Thus saith the Lord’ is the only authority in God’s Church. When the tabernacle was pitched in the wilderness, what was the authority for its length and breadth? Why was the altar of incense placed here, and the brazen laver there? Why so many lambs or bullocks to be offered on a certain day? Why must the passover be roasted whole and not sodden? Simply and only because God had shown all these things to Moses in the holy mount; and thus had Jehovah spoken, ‘Look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount.’ It is even so in the Church at the present day; true servants of God demand to see for all Church ordinances and doctrines the express authority of the Church’s only Teacher and Lord.” (Charles Haddon Spurgeon 1834–1892)
When confronted with questions of faith and the Christian life, the first question that should come to mind is, “What does the Lord say?” Where Scripture gives the answer the Church and the ministers of the Word are bound by “Thus saith the Lord.” There is no intellect, nor cause, that overrides the Word of God. On the other hand, in such circumstances where Scripture does not speak, the faithful will speak and act in love “thoughtfully and without giving offense, in an orderly and appropriate way, whenever it is considered most profitable, most beneficial, and best for good order.” (Formula of Concord, SD X, 9.)
The church fathers confessed their faith in Scripture and expressed their faith in the words of the Lutheran Confessions found in the Book of Concord. The Confessions they produced out of necessity in their day speak the Truth. The confessions of the Book of Concord do not supplant Holy Scripture but are confessed because they are a faithful presentation of “Thus says the Lord.” The fathers risked their reputation and life and limb by standing fast in the Word. Today they would not recognize much of what is happening among many who claim the Lutheran name. Churches within Lutheranism today that no longer steadfastly confess the inspiration of Scripture, who tolerate error in the name of love, and who have let the world into the church, and no longer teach the Law of God or the precious Gospel with clarity have given up “Thus says the Lord” for a mess of human pottage.
Faithful Lutherans respect the fathers who stood fast in the Word of God and who passed on to their prodigy the inerrant Word, as well as the responsibility to declare the truth, the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth. The faithful walk in their steps, not because of the intellect or reputation of the fathers, but because they were faithful representatives of the Lord God.
There is no “Thus says the Lord” that says one must be a Lutheran to be saved. Anyone who would advance that idea would be guilty of the grossest false doctrine! However, thus says the Lord: “He who has my Word, let him speak My Word faithfully” (Jeremiah 23:28). The Lord also has something to say about those who put words in His mouth. “Behold, I am against the prophets, says the Lord who use their tongues and say, ‘He says’” (23:31). Lutherans who are compelled by the Word of God simply say, “If it is not Scripture, it is not Lutheran.”
That we recognize our weaknesses and our departures from the steadfastness we profess does not mitigate against the truth we hold that “Thus says the Lord” is the only correct teaching and practice in the Church. God’s Word alone seals the gift of salvation to sinners such as we, who rejoice in “Thus says the Lord:” “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). “Thus saith the Lord. . .Become as little children!”
Rev. Daniel Fleischer is a retired pastor, former CLC president, residing in Oakdale, MN.
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