A Child's Perspective On the Word
Seeing God through the eyes of a child is powerful.
Somehow most of Christendom has caused the word of God to become something to yawn about. For a great number of people, especially Christians, hearing God’s Word is like having to sit and listen to someone’s dream. You know that in the end it will take you nowhere and benefit you nothing, but you have to listen because it’s the respectful thing to do.
Yesterday, one of my teens was doing his teen Bible study lesson (nothing like reading the Bible to fire up a teen) and he said under his breath, “I hate this!”
To try and take away some of the boredom, I picked up the Bible and began paraphrasing the passage that he was reading from Luke 9:10-17. As I began to read my teenage son showed no greater interest, but something miraculous happened with my two-and-a-half-year-old daughter.
She was standing on the floor at the end of the dining room table playing with some of her toys and as soon as I began to read she stood still, folded her hands, bowed her head, and closed her eyes. Her mother and I watched in amazement. And as soon as I read the last word of the passage, she said, “Amen,” and went back to playing with her toys.
No matter what we may believe about the Bible, one thing is for sure, there is power in the teachings of Jesus.
“I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Luke 18:17 NIV).
Forever learning,
Johnny
14 comments:
What an interesting insight. I have noticed that this younger generation has almost lost the art of reading. It has become an antiquated form of communication and learning. CDs, radio, audio tapes, internet, tv, movies, etc...No one has time for it, nor the patience. Yet, they love story telling. It has inflection, facial and body language, and the ability to adapt on the spot so the listener stays engaged. Strange how the archaic genesis of our religion were stories and oral traditions passed down and perfected for centuries. Then the written word became a necessary tool and adapted for historical purposes, but now I wonder if the written word has the power of a spoken word. We all love the person who entertains us with funny jokes and embellishments, not many are impressed with the friend who brings their books to coffee at Starbucks and reads it to you. I think I am just rambling the loose beginnings of lucidity. Perhaps you can assist me in thinking this through, but perhaps we need to pay less attention to reading the Bible and more to simply telling the stories of when we were growing up and how we learned Godly lessons. My kids love those stories and hate reading the Bible. Yet, they can get the same truth if we phrase it correctly. Isn't that how our religion started?
John,
I just told Staci the same thing with regards to reading the Bible at the dinner table.
I have experienced shear misery at the table every time we try to read the Bible with our children. The kids make jokes, talk to each other while we read, I tell them to stop, they don't stop, they start laughing, I get angry and tell them to stop a little louder, someone gets his feelings hurt, I get tired of trying, close the Bible, and everyone finishes supper sad and miserable.
Now isn't that lovely.
So, I was telling Staci yesterday that I think we should use the teachings of the Bible as the basis and then talk to our children about principles of godly living using everyday illustrations.
I did this with my youngest son and I had a good experience.
The lesson was "turn the other cheek" and I asked him if someone hurt his feelings at school, what's the best thing to do? He said, “Hurt them back.” So, I responded by asking him if that's the "best" thing to do or the most popular thing to do. He said that it's the most popular. I asked again, agreeing with him that it’s natural to want to hurt them back, but what would be the best thing to do? He said, "Walk away."
Thanks John.
Grace and peace,
Johnny
I miss spending time with you and your family.
Jason,
I miss hanging out with you and your wife too. Life just keeps on passing by and changing.
In fact, I was thinking about the two of you today and how your wife always cracks me up and how you love to talk about really cool stuff.
Thanks, Jason.
Johnny
Aw, pocket Johnny...Did I tell you how I am not amused that you changed from 'Pocket Johnny' to 'Flock's Diner'? Nope, not impressed...not one little bit,
However I am at peace with your deicison.
I like this entry. It made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
I liked "Pocket Johnny" too.
One thing we've done with our house church that works really well, is we read a story from the Bible to the kids, however as we do so we have a couple of the adults act it out. The kids love it and the adults actually get into it and enjoy it as well. You can have the kids help acting out the stories as well. Then we talk about the story.
Obviously that won't necessarily work during dinner time, but it would work after dinner sitting in the living room.
Walker said:
Two comments:
1. "this younger generation has almost lost the art of reading"
I'm not sure how it applies, but my older daughter has alsways beenh a big time reader and her faith and walk is awesome. (She started at Ohio U this fall - I fully expect it to be almost entirely converted by the time she garduates {G}
2: Some of the best advice I heard years ago for raising children: as they are growing up, use TV and movies as a source of discussion: "Do you think Mary Kate is making a mistake in hiding that ... from Uncle Jesse?"
"Do you think that dad is being fair in grounding him/her?"
"Is Kevin being really honest with Winnie? What about her response? What else could he have said? How else could she have responded?"
This gets your kids used to talking to you about values but in a non-threatening, non-confrontational way -- far better, I think, than "Sit down, I want to talk to you about ...."
No one wants to be told to sit 1down and talk about xyz.
But if your kids get used to talking about values and decision making etc in the context of other, fictional folks, they can come to feel comfortable talking to you about themselves -
In part because, I believe, by asking them stuff as they grow up, if you really ask and listen to them, you show them you value their views and ideas.
It has worked well for me, at any rate.
I can tell you are a wonderful father. I stand behind my comments about the "lost art of reading". In our country 1/3 of all kids will drop out of HS. Our literacy rate is low for a leading industrialized country.
In the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) assessment, 1994-98:
The mean prose literacy scores of U.S. adults with primary or no education, ranked 14th out of 18 high-income countries;
The mean prose literacy scores of U.S. adults with some high school, but no diploma or GED, ranked 19th out of 19 high-income countries;
The mean prose literacy scores of U.S. adults with a high school diploma or GED (but no college), ranked 18th (tie) out of 19 countries;
The mean prose literacy scores of U.S. adults with 1-3 years of college, ranked 15th out of 19 countries; and
The mean prose literacy scores of U.S. adults with a bachelor's degree or higher, ranked 5th.
Now, even if a person is literate, it may not mean that they are capable of biblical exegesis. Reading a blog, wikipedia, or a short statement about the news is not the same. Although there is nothing wrong with that. I guess I was just saying that I think we may need to adjust our teaching methods.
By the way, you really rekindled my interest in Existentialism. I am re-reading and re-thinking my stance. Its interesting...I have tried to find a theology that fits a post modern view, but I keep gravitating back to Tillich and Bultmann. Have you ever found a philosophy that just fits...with no effort or adjustment? Thats how I feel about those guys.
I was not a good reader as a child and am even worse as an adult. I find it frusterating and wish that when I was a child my parents spent more time reading and writing with me. That is a mistake I vow not to make with my child.
>>Have you ever found a philosophy that just fits...with no effort or adjustment? Thats how I feel about those guys.
I don't want to create the impression that I am a scholar or even "well informed" in that area.
To the extent that I have read them, everything fits pretty well, but as I heard a wise woman say a couple of years ago: "if you're going to pursue the truth, you have to be prepared to change your mind."
Walker,
That is great advice from the wise woman.
I have found that to be wonderfully true, refreshing, and liberating.
Grace and peace,
Johnny
Walker said:
Off point for this thread, but I can't find your email link
As I understand it, you've been focusing recently(?) on adopting a 1st century Jewish perspective on Biblical matters, esp in understanding Christ's ministry (as "opposed" to more Greek oriented thought processes.)
I've been digging into PERRIN & DULING, "THE NEW TESTAMENT An Introduction: Proclamation and Parenesis, Myth and History" (Which is not written for an 'Evelyn Wood Speed Reading Dynamics' graduate!)
In their chapters on Paul, and in rereading Romans (my Bible study group's latest project) I get the impression Paul had a very Hellenistic approach and mind set, not withstanding his impeccable Jewish credentials
I even now think I see a decided dialectic approach in Romans.
Since Paul really provides a significant theological underpinning to our understanding, I figure there must be something I'm missing in your current 'thesis.'
Hey Walker,
Brad H. Young wrote "Paul the Jewish Theologian." In that book he brings to light many of the very Hebraic undertones of Paul's teachings.
Even James said that Paul's writings were being misunderstood in his time. Young does a good job of taking the writings of Paul back to their Hebraic roots as Paul the Pharisee taught and spoke to a very non-Jewish audience.
Young's book is an informative but easily read book. Check into it. I think you'll gain some insights.
Grace and peace,
Johnny
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