What defines having faith like a child?

I. Introduction to Childlike Faith

Childlike faith appears in Scripture through direct teachings emphasizing the posture of humility and trust before God. This concept is notably highlighted in the accounts where Jesus instructs His followers to become “like little children” when approaching the kingdom of heaven.

“Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3)

“Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Mark 10:15)

These passages underscore the sincerity, purity, and wholehearted confidence children display toward authorities they trust, serving as a vivid illustration of how one’s faith in God should look.

II. Biblical Foundations

A. Humility and Dependence

The childlike faith Jesus commends interlocks with humility. In the same discourse where He addresses becoming like children, Jesus adds:

“Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:4)

Children rely on caretakers for daily needs. When believers display that same readiness to depend on their Heavenly Father, they mirror the vivid illustration Jesus provided. Such dependency rejects self-sufficiency and acknowledges that God, as Creator and Sustainer, is the ultimate provider (Psalm 145:15–16).

B. Trust and Confidence

When a child leaps into a parent’s arms, the child does so believing that the parent will catch and protect them. Biblically, faith demands a similar conviction that God is faithful to keep His promises. This theme recurs throughout Scripture, such as:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)

Children do not typically approach trusted caretakers with prolonged doubt. Instead, they rely on the consistent security offered. In the same way, childlike faith embraces the certainty of God’s unchanging nature (Malachi 3:6). Archaeological findings, such as the numerous manuscripts corroborating the biblical texts across centuries, lend external support to the trustworthiness of God’s revealed word in Scripture.

C. Openness to Learning

Children are naturally receptive to teaching and correction. Jesus’s directive to become like a child often highlights teachability (Matthew 18:3–4). Rather than adopting rigid pride, childlike faith remains willing to learn, grow, and submit to God’s instruction. This motif weaves throughout both Testaments: from the restoring power of God’s precepts (Psalm 19:7) to the repeated wisdom exhortations of Proverbs (cf. Proverbs 1:8–9).

III. Characteristics of Childlike Faith

A. Genuine Wonder

Children hold a sense of awe and joy in daily discoveries. In parallel, childlike faith marvels at God’s majesty—whether in the breathtaking scope of creation or the details of a flower’s design. Even as modern scientific discoveries continue to reveal astounding biodiversity and intricacy in nature, these findings can encourage believers to praise God, recognizing the grandeur declared by Scripture (Psalm 19:1).

B. Willing Obedience

The childlike follower responds with readiness when parental guidance is clear. Similarly, in Scripture, Jesus calls for joyful obedience (John 14:15) rooted in love for Him. Childlike obedience is neither begrudging nor resentful; instead, it is eager, reflecting trust in the One who has spoken.

C. Simple Honesty

Children often communicate directly, voicing their thoughts without concealing them. Authentic prayer, exemplified throughout the Psalms, likewise invites believers to honestly pour out praise, lament, or petitions. True childlike faith approaches God with sincere motives, mirroring the transparent prayers seen among biblical figures such as David (Psalm 51:10–12).

IV. Potential Pitfalls and Clarifications

A. Not an Excuse for Immaturity

Childlike faith does not sanction childishness or disregard for growth. Scriptural admonitions call believers to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). While trusting God wholeheartedly, believers are also urged to mature in understanding and discernment (1 Corinthians 14:20).

B. Not a Suspension of Reason

Children ask many questions. Faith like a child invites a pure trust yet does not imply abandonment of thoughtful inquiry. The biblical authors themselves often wrestled boldly with God (e.g., Habakkuk 1:2–4). The reliability of the biblical manuscripts and historical corroboration—such as references to biblical events in archaeology (e.g., the discovery of Hezekiah’s Tunnel inscription aligning with 2 Kings 20:20)—allow for confidence that seeking truth honors God.

C. Guarding against Blind Naivety

Religion can be manipulated if believers fail to discern. Scripture repeatedly commands testing messages against the truth (1 John 4:1). Genuine childlike faith does not mean leaving oneself vulnerable to deceit; rather, it rests on a firm Scriptural foundation, responsibly verifying teachings with the counsel of God’s Word.

V. Practical Expressions

A. Prayerfulness

Prayer carried out with childlike faith focuses on honest expressions rather than lengthy formality. Jesus taught, “When you pray, do not babble on like pagans” (Matthew 6:7). Instead, believers should speak openly as children do with a trusted parent, confident in God’s attentive care (1 Peter 5:7).

B. Worship in Joy

Children often sing, dance, and celebrate with abandon. Scripture underscores the importance of wholehearted worship (Psalm 150). Worship performed with childlike faith allows the heart to rejoice unreservedly, reflecting the enthusiasm and delight found in childlike wonder.

C. Readiness to Forgive and Receive Forgiveness

Children are renowned for the speed with which they can reconcile. In addressing anger and hostility, the Bible continually calls believers to swift forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32). Emulating a child’s quickness to restore a relationship magnifies God’s grace, extended to humanity in Christ.

VI. Conclusion

Faith like a child is marked by humble dependence, openhearted trust, and genuine wonder at God’s greatness. It does not reject growth or thoughtful inquiry, but it does resist the pride and skepticism that often accompany adulthood. Scripture’s frequent focus on the belief and actions of children underscores that a trusting posture before the Lord characterizes those who enter His kingdom.

Childlike faith rests upon the certainty of God’s fatherly care, demonstrated throughout biblical history and reaffirmed by the consistent manuscript record and external corroborations. By keeping hearts pliable and receptive—much like a child’s—believers align themselves with the timeless call to trust and exalt the God who desires His people to come freely and confidently, assured of His goodness and faithfulness.