In my last post I alluded to an upcoming post on the theological and moral ramifications of the various schooling options currently available to the average American. I’ve decided not to launch into that rats nest. If you’re really curious on my take, email me for a lunch. Suffice to say this, it seems to me that the whole issue is far more emotionally than theologically difficult. There’s so much good thought (and bad) written on the subject. But read the Bible people. Wrestle with Jesus. Read the Bible again. Get counsel from godly parents from all camps. Read the Bible. Did I mention to read the Bible? Yes, read Deuteronomy 6, but do so in light of the teaching of Jesus, about whom the entire Bible is written (Lk. 24:27). While Israel was instructed to be separate from their neighbors, they were also called to be a blessing to all people. There’s a balance between distinction and blessing. Christian parents need to strive for that balance in training their children.
Now on to this post…
I’ve seen a lot of Christian education stuff for kids over the last seven years. My wife has been involved in that area with the local church for a long time and we’ve seen more prepackaged children’s curriculum than I can remember. Some of it was really good, most was more marketing than anything else. Just like Christian music, it’s typically made to make money, not glorify God. It’s usually very watered down Bible stories (often inaccurate) packaged to look like Saturday morning TV or the latest Pixar movie. Don’t get me wrong here, Pixar makes some freaking cool movies, but I’m not going to use it point kids to Jesus. He’s glorious enough without digital rendering.
So here’s the thought – can you give children too much Yahweh? Can you tell them too much about the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit? You might think at first, “No, of course not.” But is that how you’re teaching your kids?
What have they been taught about holiness, wickedness, widsom, foolishness, judgment, forgiveness, condemnation, redemption, the hope of the return of the King?
I’m not being some Bible geek here (if there is such a thing). The point is that we usually dumb down what the Lord of creation has said about himself in order to make it palatable for children. But I’m not so sure we need to be doing that. I’m not talking about vocabulary either. It is possible to explain justification by faith alone through grace alone in Jesus Christ alone to a 4 year old. In fact, I believe one the best ways to find out if you really understand what you believe is to try and teach it to a child. If you can’t put it in simple terms that a kid can understand then you probably haven’t really understood it yourself. It’s easier to parrot something than it is to live and be transformed by it.
I’m talking about putting the meat out there. Telling your kids that Christians are getting killed and cut in half today, even as they were centuries ago (Heb. 11:37). Looking your children in the eyes and explaining how we (even mommy and daddy) must be perfect to be with the perfect God. Letting them understand that it’s impossible. They get it. They understand the tension. They also are able to understand the gospel and how only Jesus, the “Word” who made the world in Genesis, left his heavenly place and became one of us. His sinlessness and holiness made him the only possible sacrifice for sin (all our decisions to turn away from God). He’s given everyone a way back to God, the only way that could have been given. His love wins again and always. I’m talking about taking your kids with you to share the gospel with the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons in your neighborhood. Take them with you to teach the Bible at the local coffee shop. Take them with you to visit the infirmed and elderly. And in every situation, “systematically and spontaneously” as a mentor of mine put it, explaining to them why, why, why – in light of Yahweh.
We need to kill the watered down, white-man-flowing-hair, just-be-good, learn-all-the-rules jesus that has infiltrated Sunday schools and Christian homes for too long. Open the “grown up” Bible alongside the children’s version and give those beautiful little blessing from God your personal translation, the daddy and mommy version.
Lastly, I had some concern for awhile about harming the kiddos somehow by telling them too much. Perhaps talk of hell, persecution, and judgment are too much for little ones. But I’m seeing that it’s not. Sure, if that’s ALL you told them you’re going to thrash them, just like churches who only teach judgment thrash adults (though the greater problem today is churches who never teach it). But I’ve seen that the full truth of Scripture is not harmful, quite the opposite. That which is too deep or difficult (either by design like the Trinity, or by my inabilty to teach it clearly) simply goes over their heads. Then I get another chance a couple days later.
If we don’t understand everything in the Bible…why in the world do we think we make children understand it all?
So study well, live what you read, and share it with your kids.
