Whenever a crime involves children, everyone gets rightfully enraged. We all understand that lost innocence can never be restored. Adult problems and selfishness invading the world of children is a grave travesty. This emotion will often find responses on social media quoting Jesus saying a millstone around the neck of the offender and tossed into the ocean is fitting punishment. While the punishment may fit, that is not the message Jesus is communicating. That is not the primary takeaway.
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. Mark 9:42 ESV
Sin Recruits
Sin can never be taken lightly. Small sins build into larger sins. Cain’s jealousy of his brother Abel eventually led him down a path of rage and murder. But most sins are learned from someone else. Leading the innocent into sin to corrupt and twist them is a greater evil than sinning alone.
Sin seeks validation. What is done in the cover of night in back alleys eventually finds its way to darken the light of Main Street.
Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. Proverbs 4:14-16 ESV
The path of the wicked recruits from those easiest to prey upon, and many times that is children. They don’t understand and they don’t have the power to push back. God sees all of this. His judgment on those who corrupt children will be great when eternity comes.
Innocence Lost
As a society and as people who value children, we should want to keep them from the evils of sin as long as possible. We put ratings on movies and advisory labels on explicit content because not all content is for children. Most of that content is not valuable for adults either. Those who make this kind of content fall into the category of sinners looking to teach others how to sin.
Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. Genesis 3:7 ESV
When Adam and Eve sinned by eating the fruit from the tree God told them not to eat, they were altered. Their minds saw the world in a new, anxious, and fearful way. As a parent, my hope is to teach my kids how the world works so they would not be naïve, but I also want them to stay innocent of the sin that makes men sick. It is a difficult balancing act.
Call to Holiness
Jesus is warning us all that the path of wickedness will bring certain judgment from God. It is better to be drowned than to go down the kind of path where childlike innocence in others is lost. Jesus puts this in such vivid terms to call men to personal holiness, to avoid such a life, and to avoid people who practice these things.
My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. Proverbs 1:10 ESV
Childless Society
One other aspect of what Jesus is communicating is that a sinful society eventually has no children. Mercifully, God removes them over time. The wicked avoid the innocence of children that highlights the corruption they wallow in. But this is not what God wants from us. He wants children and innocence to be normal.
If there are no children, how can we learn from their childlike faith as an example?
And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. Mark 10:13-16 ESV
Part of personal holiness and living a life that honors God should include having children around much of the time. If your life is organized in such a way that you avoid children or you hate children, then reexamine what has happened.
It is no wonder that as society grows rich and depraved, birth rates drop. But a productive and healthy society is one that values children and embraces childlike innocence. And childlike innocence keeps us open to the things of God.
