Article June 13, 1983 Issue

Receiving the children

Prepared for the Church Activities Department of The Mother Church. Second of eight articles.

JON GIB HARDER

A memorable scene in the Gospels finds the disciples asking Christ Jesus, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" His answer begins with an action: "Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them." Then he explains the need to become as children in order to enter the kingdom, adding that "whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me."^{Matt. 18:1-5.} In light of these words, the very first words of Article XX of the Manual of The Mother Church by Mrs. Eddy take on special meaning: "Pupils may be received in the Sunday School classes of any Church of Christ, Scientist, up to the age of twenty years...."

Mrs. Eddy's statement leads to some important questions:

How ready are we to "receive" these young people, in the fullest sense of that word?

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