Become as these…

All to often we underestimate the impact and power that young people can have in our congregations. We see them as mere children, and our perception of the abilities of children are seen as weaknesses. Children are dependant, innocent, ignorant, in wonder of the world around them, and easily distracted. They do not provide for themselves, but are reliant on a parent or guardian to make it to adulthood. They must be fed early on in their lives, because they can not feed themselves. They can be disruptive and unruly, and require discipline to become well rounded adults. They are moldable and are quick to mimic what they see around them. Even though they do something wrong we do not hold it against them, but we show them why it is wrong.
Yet our attitude is not the same towards those who are new believers in God. We are appalled when they do something that is out of the ordinary in a worship setting. We believe that they should be knowledgable enough to make the journey on their own. We hold the sins that they have confessed and been forgiven for against them long after God has forgiven them. We are appalled by their inability to provide for themselves spiritually. We act in un-Christian ways expecting no one to say anything, but we are the first to jump when they do the same things. We expect them to be fully mature believers in God, and to be completely independant in their faith.
Jesus paints a different picture.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of Heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of Heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever recieves one little child like this in My name receives Me.” Matt.18:1-5
Not only are we supposed to help those who are young in their faith, we are supposed to be just as dependant on God as they are. We should realize that we are innocent by the blood of Jesus, we are ignorant compared to the knowledge of God, we can only be fed by God and His Word, and we are his to mold. Considering these things will change our outlook on new believers, and on ourselves.