There is more than one reason to care for and protect the lives of children, whether they have been born or are still living and growing in their mothers’ wombs. Some of these reasons we share with many other people, whether they are Christians or not, for God has placed the knowledge of His Law in the hearts of all people. So, for example, we who are Lutherans For Life can rejoice that non-Christians at times hold firmly to the truth that all human life has value and should be protected. On this issue, we can rejoice that the Mormon group, even though they are non-Trinitarian and non-Christian in their teaching, stand on the side of life. Scientists, whether they are "religious" or not, can readily see that human life begins at conception; for these and other reasons, they sometimes stand with us on behalf of the unborn. At times we find agreement with a variety of persons and groups because God’s Law teaches that it is wrong to take innocent human life—and unborn children are innocent human lives. And His Law is just and good.

Is there, however, a way that our stand as Lutherans For Life can also flow out of the Gospel, the Good News of how God is for us in Jesus Christ, to save us? Yes, and, in an important way. Matthew 18:1-5 can show us how. Here is a well-known passage that may not be as well-understood as it is well-known.

In this chapter the disciples, of course, are up to their old tricks; they are competing and comparing. Since Jesus has just told them that they are the sons of the King (Matthew 17:24-27), now they approach him with a question, and ask, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" (Matthew 18:1) They want to know about status, and about prestige, and about prominence. Not surprisingly, they have things all wrong and completely backwards.

We can tell that the disciples have things backwards because Jesus does not even answer their question at first. First He teaches them—not for the first time—how He and His Father relate to sinful human beings. He takes a little child, puts it in the middle of their contentious circle, and says, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). In effect, Jesus says, "Look. If you don’t change and become like children, you won’t even be saved at all!" What can Jesus mean by this? As moderns, we sometimes think that children are somehow "role" models, or that they possess certain "virtues" such as innocence, or purity, or faith. Even some ancient Christian commentators take this approach, thinking that Jesus refers to children who do not have impure desires or the like.

In the Old Testament and in Jesus’ day, however, the view of children was different, and much more fundamentally accurate. To be sure, God’s Old Testament people loved their children, and also in first-century Judaism children were to be cared for and not abused or aborted. Nevertheless, what was the view of children? Children were seen as weak, as vulnerable, as not able to care for themselves. Children need to be trained, or they’ll go bad: "Bring up your child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord," the Scripture tells us (Ephesians 6:4 KJV). When Isaiah is announcing God’s judgment against rebellious Israel, he describes the worst it can be: "For behold, the Lord GOD of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply, all support of bread and all support of water, the mighty man and the solder . . . And I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them" (Isaiah 3:1-2, 4 ESV). Children cannot rule, for they are not wise. Nor can infants do things for themselves; they are powerless.

This is what Jesus means. Only people who are powerless—and who admit it—will be saved. Only people who are like children, which is the opposite of what the competing and comparing disciples are being in Matthew 18, will enter the reign of heaven on the Last Day. You can’t even be saved without being like a child—without acknowledging your helplessness and need of a Savior.

Only after He taught them (again!) this crucial truth is Jesus ready to answer their question, "Who is the greatest?" We can hardly believe His answer! "Whoever humbles himself [acknowledging his need] like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Amazing! To Christ, the "most greatest," the most important people, are the ones who are most in need of help! To our Savior, the most prominent and significant people are needy, weak sinners! In the good news of our God, those who have nothing to offer God can expect to receive everything from His grace! Only those who refuse to turn and acknowledge their need will not be saved. But He will help and forgive and save everyone who is like children—all who come to Him with their sins and their sorrows.

Now, ponder this with me. If this is how it is with God, it teaches us something very important about the way we treat one another in the church. The most important person in your congregation, in Jesus’ eyes, is the weakest and most vulnerable member. This amazing reversal is what the Good News is all about. Too often, we compare ourselves with one another and engage in various kinds of one-upmanship. Think how different your congregation’s life and work would be if you more fully embodied this way of dealing with each other!