A Return to Childlike Simplicity

This is something I've given thought to recently.  I'm going to say this, and try to articulate it with the same simplicity that I'm arguing for, because I firmly believe this is biblical.  I'll show you what I mean.

It seems that Christians say a lot of things that are rather confusing.  If we put these statements together, even statements from one person, we sometimes find contradictions and nonsensical conclusions.  And often these statements run contrary to our natural intuitions.  Let me give some examples.  Its been said: "all sins are equal".  That would mean that murder is equal with telling a lie.  It not only runs contrary to our intuition, but it also happens to be unbiblical.  Its also been said: "Christianity is not about being good".  Again, that seems counter-intuitive, but we just accept that it must somehow be true.  We believe the people speaking for Christianity, but are we comparing their words with Christ's words to see if we should?  One extraordinary aspect of Christ's words is that they're very simple and easy to understand.  He talks about the most profound things, but talks in such a way that a 10 year old could understand Him.  I'll quote some things written in the gospels, and I'll start with this one:

I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.  Mark 10:15

This verse is a very good reason for believing that Jesus speaks things simply for a good reason.  A 10 year could understand Him, because all of us are supposed to receive Jesus' words like a 10 year old.  The more you try to intellectualize and complicate Jesus' words, the harder it will be for you to understand Him.

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.  Matthew 12:35

The next time you hear a Christian say "its not about being good" remind him of this verse.  Being a Christian is about being good man.  Call me crazy, but it seems obvious to me that being good is good.

Do to others as you would have them do to you  Luke 6:31

How does a good man bring good things out of the good stored up in him?  Answer: Luke 6:31

I am the vine, you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  John 15:5

How does a good man have good stored up in him?  If Jesus is in him, and Jesus is perfect, then certainly that man has good stored up in him.

If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.  John 15:10

It is a very precious thing to be in Christ's love - to be loved by Him.  Obey His commands and you will remain in His love.  Its very straight-forward

If you love me, you will obey what I command.  John 14:15

Again, very straight-forward

Anyone reading the gospels can see that Jesus makes many claims that are straight-forward, simple and easy to understand.  If all we did was to read the four gospels, it would not be hard at all to come to an understanding of what Jesus is saying.  But when we add all of the modern Christianese - all the Christian catchphrases, sermons and general chatter - it becomes much much more complicated and confusing.  We are forced to reconcile things that are said from the pulpit that seem to contradict things that Jesus said very simply, and indeed they sometimes do contradict.  I would caution someone with this: Always remember that Christianity is to be accepted like a little child, so if it seems too confusing for a little child to accept, then you may want to question whether you're actually hearing Christianity or hearing a jumbled mess of fine sounding lies.  Bottom line: What Jesus said is very easy to understand and He never lied.  Don't let the chatter of men confuse you.  Read the Bible, specifically the gospels.

Now when we try to communicate the truth to other people, how about we try this: Lets present the same simple truths that Jesus presented to us.  And we can even speak of these truths with the exact same words that Jesus used.  Getting back to childlike simplicity, I believe, is getting back to our foundational truths - truths that seem to have been ignored.