Faith Like a Child - New Evangelizers

What does the phrase “we must have faith like a child” really mean?  How can we mature in faith yet act like a child?

The phrase came from one of Christ’s own teachings.  Jesus told His disciples, “Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.”(Luke 18:17, NAB)

As a man, this is great news for me.  Women constantly claim that men are more immature, and my wife would agree that I act like a child sometimes.  I must be on the right track, right?

Wrong.

Having faith like a child does not mean that we are given the green light to act like a child.  It simply means that we need to accept God with the purity and innocence of a child.

One of my greatest joys is sharing the faith with my little girl.  She is seven years old and smart as a whip.  Despite her intelligence, she accepts what I teach her about the faith wholly and completely.  She doesn’t have adult logic and reason to stand in her way.

As we grow older, we grow wiser, but sometimes, our perceived wisdom gets in the way of true wisdom.  Wisdom comes from finding answers to life’s many questions, but as adults, that only leads us to asking more questions.  When it comes to faith, we might begin to ask too many questions, and we stand in our own way toward a deeper faith in Christ.

My daughter depends on me to teach her about the world.  That dependence relies on trust.  She trusts that what I am telling her is true.

Likewise, we need to be open to the truths being taught to us by the Church.  My daughter trusts her father for the truth, and we need to look to our spiritual fathers for the same guidance.

At times, she will ask more questions, but this is not to question what I am teaching her.  Instead, it is only because she wants to know more of the truth.  The more I tell her, the more she soaks it up like a sponge.

Are we a sponge?  Do we soak up the truth?  Or are we that generic brand paper towel from those TV commercials, unable to soak up everything on the table?

Have faith like a child.  It’s not about being immature.  It’s about leaving our adult logic and reason behind in the pursuit of a greater truth.

Lean not on your own wisdom but trust in the teachings of our spiritual fathers, who, for centuries, have shown us the way to the ultimate Truth: Jesus Christ.

Copyright © 2012, Chad R. Torgerson

Chad R. Torgerson

Chad R. Torgerson works as an IT Analyst for a Catholic publishing group. In his spare time, he enjoys writing and sharing his faith on his website, Waking Up Catholic, a guide to the Catholic RCIA process. and is also the Co-Founder of Assisi Media, a new Catholic publishing company focused on using new media to reach everyday Catholics. His new book, Waking Up Catholic, is available in eBook and paperback formats.