In a world where the vulnerable are often overlooked, Jesus consistently brought children—those with no power, no voice—into the center of His ministry. He didn’t just bless them; He lifted them up as the ones to whom the Kingdom of Heaven belongs. As the Church, we are called to do the same.
Children often face overwhelming challenges—abuse, neglect, poverty, and the deep wounds of trauma. Yet, in the middle of these harsh realities, the Church is uniquely positioned to step into the gap. Jesus didn’t just speak words of blessing over children; He fought for their dignity and well-being. The Church can, and must, do the same.
We are called to be the community where children find safety, love, and hope—a place that rises up to meet their needs in the most difficult of circumstances. The question is: are we willing to step into the mess and offer hope, light, and life like Jesus did?
A Radical Shift: Jesus’ View of Children
In the Greco-Roman world, children were often viewed as property, nuisances, or at best, incomplete humans. Their value was determined by their ability to reason or contribute. This societal norm led to widespread child neglect, abandonment, and abuse. Children were regularly discarded, sold into slavery, or exploited.
Yet into this culture of devaluation, Jesus came. From His birth as a helpless infant to His ministry, Jesus embodied a radically different view of children. In a world where they were invisible and marginalized, He made them central to His message. His blessing of the children, rebuking His disciples for dismissing them, was a statement that was both countercultural and revolutionary: “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14).
In this declaration, Jesus is not merely saying children are worth our time; He is saying they are at the heart of His kingdom. In their simplicity, vulnerability, and openness, children model the kind of posture required to enter God’s kingdom.
Jesus’ warning in Matthew 18:6 is sobering: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Jesus takes the protection of our youth very seriously. May we all carry His heart to protect the innocence of children, while sparking wonder within them to know and love our God.
Vulnerable Children in Today’s World
The challenges children face today may not look exactly like those of the ancient world, but they are no less severe. Across the globe, millions of children suffer from poverty, abuse, neglect, and trafficking. UNICEF estimates that 140 million children worldwide have lost one or both parents, and in the United States alone, nearly 424,000 children are in foster care. Many of these children face a future marked by uncertainty, instability, and, tragically, continued exploitation.
The statistics are overwhelming, but behind each number is a name. There lies a name of a child created in God’s image, a child with inherent dignity and worth. As followers of Christ, we are called not to turn away from these children but to embrace them. The church must stand at the forefront of protecting children, advocating for them, and meeting their needs.
Practical Steps for the Church
In light of these challenges, how should the church respond? While the task may seem daunting, the answer lies in doing small things with great love, starting with the vulnerable children within our own communities.
- Ensure the Safety of Children in the Church: The church should be a place of refuge for children, but too often, it has been a place of harm. Churches must prioritize the safety of children by implementing strict child protection policies, performing background checks on volunteers, and creating environments where children are celebrated and protected.
- Advocate for Children in the Community: Just as the early Christians took in abandoned children, today’s church must look for ways to support children in crisis. This can include offering respite care for foster families, creating scholarships for underprivileged students, or partnering with local schools to provide meals and supplies for children in need.
- Address the Root Causes of Vulnerability: Many children face seemingly hopeless challenges such as poverty, abuse, or lack of access to education. The church should advocate and act toward holistic change while meeting immediate needs. This can involve partnering with organizations that work to prevent child trafficking, offering parenting classes to families in crisis, or providing safe spaces for children after school.
Stories of Hope: Mr. Williams
In a low-performing, inner-city Nashville high school, Derek transferred into Mr. Williams’ history class midway through the school year. Derek was a young man who had been through more challenges than most could imagine. Despite his troubled past and disruptive behavior, Mr. Williams saw something others had missed—potential, intelligence, and a heart hardened by abandonment.
Day after day, Mr. Williams refused to give up on Derek, encouraging him even when Derek pushed him away. In a raw moment of vulnerability, Derek asked, “Why haven’t you given up on me like everyone else?” Mr. Williams looked him in the eye and said, “Because I believe in you.”
A few weeks later, Derek was expelled, and the two lost touch with one another.
Mr. Williams knew that his calling wasn’t about tying up every story with a bow, but about showing up, loving relentlessly, and reminding each child of their God-given worth. Derek’s story is a reminder that sometimes, we may not see the fruit of our efforts, but the love we pour into others is never wasted. As the Church, we are called to stand with children like Derek, to never give up, and to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a broken world.
Go and Be the Hands and Feet of Jesus
Jesus’ heart for children is clear. He calls us not only to welcome them but to protect and advocate for them. This is the church’s call: to stand in the gap for vulnerable children, to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves (Proverbs 31:8), and to be the hands and feet of Christ in a broken world.
The task is great, but as Mother Teresa said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” The question is, what will you do for the children God has placed in your path?
The church’s responsibility is vast, but it starts with seeing every child as an image-bearer of God, worthy of love, protection, and care. Let us not turn away from this call but rise to meet it with the compassion and grace Christ has shown to us all.
This article goes along with the Image of God in Children section of our study. Join us as we walk through our Image of God study over the next couple of months!
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