2023.07.09 Shaking Hands and Kissing Babies

Shaking Hands and Kissing Babies

Psalm 90:10-17 • Luke 18:15–17

Luke 18:15–17 NASB 2020

15 Now they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. 16 But Jesus called for the little ones, saying, “Allow the children to come to Me, and do not forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”

Apparently in the early 1800s, it became a normal thing to hand one’s baby to a politician for a photo op and, of course, a kiss. [T. Roosevelt]

According to an exhibit at the George W Bush Presidential library, Martin Van Buren was the first president known for kissing babies. A few presidents and candidates have refused the practice. Some politicians “were for it before they were against it” - President Andrew Jackson was handed a baby in 1833. He reportedly took the child and said, “Ah! There is a fine specimen of American childhood!” He then handed the baby to his Secretary of War and instructed him to kiss the baby.

Grover Cleveland flatly refused the practice. In 1968, Richard Nixon told his campaign manager, “I won’t wear a silly hat, or kiss a lady or a baby.” He said he was afraid these stunts would make him look like a jerk.

But most politicians don’t refuse kissing babies.

Democrats do it [Obama]

Republicans do it [Bush]

Even Russian leaders do it - [Brezhnev]

oops wrong picture [Putin]

As someone whose job involves sometimes being handed babies from parents, I can assure you from my baptismal experiences,

it doesn’t always go the way you hope. [Crying]

I’m not sure why people feel the need to hand their child to famous people, but today’s story demonstrates this is not a new phenomenon. And just so you know it’s not because the parents are asking for a miracle or something,

look at WHY they’re bringing them again at verse 15

Luke 18:15 NLT

15 One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him.

I would be honored to shake a President’s hand regardless of whether I liked their policies or not. But handing off my baby - that just seems strange to me.

So … moving right along… continuing to verse 16,

What do we learn about GOD?

What do you learn about GOD from this story?

God isn’t too busy or too important or too whatever to be bothered by children.

In fact, he then HONORS children by saying "...the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these”! Now, I’ve often heard this misread as children having a special place in the Kingdom. While that may make us feel warm and fuzzy … it is not what Jesus is saying here. He’s saying people LIKE children possess the Kingdom of God.

He’s telling us to be childlike in our faith, and this statement must be important … it’s recorded in all three synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke).

What does it mean to be childlike in our faith? [non-rhetorical]

The Logos Bible Factbook says: “Childlike - An attitude of simple trust and faith, to be distinguished from childishness.”

HEY!!

An attitude of simple trust and faith

An attitude of simple trust

My oh my … we are so good at complicating things, aren’t we?

Our society has taught us well to distrust everyone and everything. But God demonstrates that he’s trustworthy, and then tells us that we should trust him like a child trusts his parents.

What do you learn about HUMANS?

What do you learn about HUMANS?

We think we know what and who is important.

We think we know what is and is not appropriate.

We apply our own ideas of importance and propriety to other people.

Friday, I attended a funeral outside of Indianapolis for Aaron Smith, a State Trooper killed when the criminal leading a high-speed chase swerved into him as he tried to deploy stop sticks. I wore a suit and tie … like you’re supposed to.

Yesterday, I led a memorial service here wearing khakis and a shirt and tie. Leading a memorial in something other than a suit felt weird. It felt wrong. At the family’s insistence, I once led a funeral in jeans … and it felt weird.

I think I know what is and who is important.

I think I know what is and is not appropriate.

But I try hard to not force my own ideas of importance and propriety on other people. Sure, there are limits. I don’t ever see myself officiating a wedding in a Halloween costume.

But Jesus’ disciples have decided they know what is proper in this context, and Jesus says, “No.”

He tells the whole crowd (including his disciples), “you have to come like one of these comes … to own God’s Kingdom.” Simplify.

What can you SIMPLIFY in your life?

What can you SIMPLIFY in your life?

Some classic boundaries people have drawn in Western Christianity:

When praying, one must pray in King James English (thee, thou, though)

When attending a worship service, one must wear the best clothes they own. (Men wear suits, women wear dresses)

Only the pastor should touch Communion elements

Communion bread should be crackers; whole wheat; Hawaiian bread

We only use grape juice for communion; wine

We only baptize babies; we only baptize adults; we only baptize once; we’ll baptize a million times

We pour water; we sprinkle; we dunk; has to be moving water

We have all kinds of complications. And some may be more valid than others.

But the point of today’s Jesus story is that all people can come to Jesus, and they should come simply. He sets no limit on who can come or how their dressed. So, don’t let any of the artificial boundaries we’ve set up keep you from coming to Jesus.

Shaking Hands and Kissing Babies

Come like a trusting child

Own the Kingdom of God for yourself

And walk away changed by his grace and his mercy.

SIMPLE