Then Jesus called a little child over to sit among the disciples, and said, “I assure you that if you don’t turn your lives around and become like this little child, you will definitely not enter the kingdom of heaven. Those who humble themselves like this little child will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. (Matthew 18)
Tuesday evening, after the pre-school concert at First Presbyterian Church of Brandon, Rebekah and I were talking with some folk about her out-of-town speaking trip this past weekend. Rebekah had delivered words of inspiration, hope and encouragement to a large church seriously in need of all three.
“That’s ninety-nine percent of the reason either one of us ever gets in the car or hops on a plane to speak anywhere,” I said. “Jesus is the only message we have, and encouragement is pretty much the only subject we ever talk about. Promise, hope, love, grace, reconciliation, restoration, and new life.”
PRE-SCHOOL ROCKS! I’d say the same reasoning lies behind our enthusiastic commitment to attend events such as the FPCB Pre-School Spring Concert. Because it’s impossible to sit through songs such as “Shout to the north!” – interpreted by pre-schoolers as “SHOUT to the north!!!!” – without smiling, being encouraged, and thanking God for the new life that’s so evident, and so compelling.
Abundant life – real and eternal life, more and better life than we ever dreamed of – literally bubbles up all over the place around here, and we are so grateful.
I believe that’s one of the reasons Jesus admonished his followers to adopt the disposition of children. It’s not immaturity God favors, it’s the lack of cynicism. Children, Rebekah pointed out one day in a sermon, interact with the world around them with their arms wide and their hands open; whereas adults tend to stand with their arms folded and their fist clenched tightly shut.
PREACH IT, KIDS! The word of encouragement from children is that hugs are better than handshakes, sharing is more fun than holding on to “what’s mine,” and the spiritual intuitiveness that we’re born with is still more real than the cultivated unbelief that builds a wall, brick by laborious brick, between so many adults and the visceral, instinctive memory of God and the deep understanding that God is our home.
So my word for today is ENCOURAGEMENT. The word means, literally, to give courage, to inspire with spirit and confidence. These children do just that; they give me the courage and the confidence to live this “real and eternal life, more and better life than [anyone] ever dreamed of.” – DEREK
Maybe, because I work with preschoolers, I have a simplistic view of what constitutes a beautiful life – but I still agree, it’s all about Jesus and Love. Everything else pales in comparison.
🙂
Ohhh you’re so NOT going to like this, but…
When Jourdan was younger I told her a certain color was another color – for no other reason but to prove a point to my wife about indoctrination: Say it often enough a concept BECOMES reality – truth or not.
Get ’em while they are young as they say…along with the Bible verse that supports it.
I wonder when you take a child so young and impressionable where the boundaries lay between teaching and indoctrination?
If you have a group of grown-ups who say to a child, “There is a house on the hill, I can see it, We all can see it. Can’t you see it?” But in real-life there is no house on the hill at all. The poor kiddo, under tremendous pressure will eventually begin to admit that he too, sees the house on the hill. And his brain will hard wire a house on the hill that never was…
Reason is the Devils harlot, who can do naught but slander and harm whatever God says and does.
-Martin Luther
You say “You’re not going to like this” as if you’re making some revelation that’s earth-shattering!
Well I guess an alternative is to teach children something else, like a life of faith is not valid, or that commitment to a faith community is not a priority, or that being guided by the teachings of Jesus doesn’t have value, or not to listen to their hearts, or… any one of a hundred other things, or non-things. Regardless, we do teach our children. We either teach them about God or we teach something else. They don’t grow up in a vacuum whatever way we choose to go.
This time I’m fully aware that I’m twisting your post…and I am apologizing…
But I’ve always been curious about the phenomenon of teaching vs indoctrination
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No no..you are right..kiddos will learn “something” and it best that loving and caring adults control what goes into their memory banks.
It’s an interesting psychological question / observation…for anyone in any culture in the world…is it heartfelt and honest belief or faith (about anything) or is it because they have no other frame of reference? in the end is it all the same? Does it really matter?
Is there a difference spiritually? Would God say something along the lines of yes you believe, but not as a result of free will choice? You believe because you were told to believe.
Very interesting – my head is just spinning
Don’t hurt yourself! But I see what you’re thinking. If I’d been brought up in another culture, I may well be a faithful participant in another belief system (and possibly resistant to Christian missionaries!). That’s certainly something we must consider. However, given the fact that I know God through Jesus, and that I have a real confidence in that experience, then all I can do is to extend the same opportunity for blessing to others – including children. I’ll also grant God the grace and the wisdom to deal with people individually, because my job is simply to share my blessings (something I could well improve in).
Great conversation…Thanks man
Later… Peace.
Tim, aren’t you really talking about critical thinking? Children learn this through teaching, both truth and falsehoods. Did Jourdan not grow up being able to say “No dad, that’s blue, not green”? Then there’s the difference between teaching fact, and sharing your life experience, which may not be based on hard facts. Both are of value.
Yes, Ma’am…critical thinking…reasoning…looking for the details.
Cultural norms passed on…rather like eating a dog is a bit taboo in the US but quite fine elsewhere. Neither morally right or wrong just different.
Terrorist believe they are justifiably moral in their actions – we Western culture types say not. Like Derek said, had you been born and lived under that influence you would stand a great chance of adopting that behavior…if not exposed to any other frame of reference. They, in their own minds are believing correctly – just as much as you are.
Seems to me, when it comes to analyzing good, bad, truth, or falsehood, it can all hinge on cultural exposure. What is good and moral behavior to you or me is not necessarily so for others.
Its a strange dilemma, I think, philosophically speaking, that there may be no good or bad, just different.
Very good observation, Tim. I think we came full circle to the “get ’em while they’re young” idea – to instill the values that we think are important.