Article September 1, 1934 Issue

Children of Light

HERBERT BUCHER

Mary Baker Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 236): "Jesus loved little children because of their freedom from wrong and their receptiveness of right. While age is halting between two opinions or battling with false beliefs, youth makes easy and rapid strides towards Truth." And in the Holy Bible may also be found references to the little children's love for the truth. Even as Jesus pointed to children as exemplifying the pure, tender qualities in consciousness that most readily assimilate the lessons he taught, so in her inspired writings does our beloved Leader point to children as showing simple trustfulness and faith in God, good. Careful and reverent study of Jesus' precepts and Mrs. Eddy's writings on this subject will bring much light and raise thought to a higher level of understanding with regard to the child-thought. When the disciples rebuked those who brought the little children to him our Master said, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

Childlikeness, from the mortal standpoint, denotes incompleteness, a mental state in which a mortal is not yet fully aware of his supposititious existence in matter. Childlikeness, as recognized by the master Christian and Christian Science, may be said to denote an approach to that simple, acceptable condition of thought wherein one knows one's self as the child of God, infinite Spirit. In Matthew we read, "And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." From this we may see that to "become as little children" is not to revert to the ignorance or partial knowledge of human childhood, but to put off all that is opaque, incomplete, and ungodlike and to put on, or reflect, the spiritual qualities of trustfulness, humility, and receptivity to Truth, as expounded by the great Way-shower.

Mortals, whether experiencing infancy or age, are dwelling in a darkened, false sense of existence apart from God. In God's eternal spiritual universe there is only radiant light and loveliness, and man, the child of God, is always aware of this spiritual light which he reflects. Man is immortal, else he could not be the reflection of immortal Mind, whose radiant presence makes impossible the suggestion that darkness or mortality has presence or being.

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