We live in a world that is in darkness. And in a Christendom in which darkness also increases hand over hand. We've already talked about it on this site.
But it also means that darkness is increasing in the environment where our (grand) children are. They are taught in every possible way that they can experience God or God's Spirit.
Kids closer to God
In evangelical schools you may come across a program called “Kids Closer to God”. It is a teaching method that you can use in school or church in addition to the Bible method you already use. It contains practical lessons to get started with the topics prayer, Holy Spirit and worship.
In principle, the same happens here as described in the contemplative and charismatic ways. The positive effect on attitude and behavior of the children is mentioned. But also “we can teach the children how prayer and worship can bring you closer to God and how God's Spirit can help you here and now”. For example, somewhere in the curriculum it says “The children learn that you can listen to God in the silences, and that prayer is a conversation with God“.
In the whole description there is only a short sentence “that Jesus is God's Son who died for our sins”. So the focus will not be on content.
Dangerous lessons for the kids!
Godly Play
In May 2016 there will be an introductory meeting of Godly Play in the Netherlands. The aim is to give children a broad experience of spirituality and to introduce them to the 'Christian tradition'. The contemplation is evident here. If this program grows in the Netherlands as it has in other countries, we can fear the worst.
Samuel
The question is what should be central to an education according to God's Word. As the core of our Christian life priesthood it will not come as a surprise that this same theme should be central to education. A beautiful illustration of this is the beginning of the life of Samuel (1 Samuel 1 and 2).
It already starts with his mother, who had the wish that her son'appear before God and abide there forever' (1:22). She herself knew the secret of living before God and she wished the same for her son.
He worshipped the Lord
Then she brought himwhen he was young' to the temple. They slaughtered the bull they had brought and brought Samuel to Eli. There begins the service of Samuel, for it says:And he bowed down there before the Lord” (1:28). You can also translate 'And he worshiped the Lord'.
You can ask how it is possible for a young child to worship the Lord. The answer can only lie in the faith of his mother, who has taught him to know the Lord. She testifies of her faith in the hymn (chapter 2).
I rejoice in Your salvation
We're not going to go through the whole hymn, but focus on what I think is the core.
“My heart rejoices in the Lord, my horn is lifted up in the Lord; my mouth is wide open against my enemies, for I rejoice in Thy salvation. There is none so holy as the Lord, for there is none but thee, and there is no rock like our God” (1 Samuel 2:1-2).
Hannah knew that the Lord God is a holy God; "No one is so holy as the Lord," she says. She knows she cannot exist for that holy God. But her secret is that she knows that that same holy God Himself brings the salvation she needs! That is the faith of a righteous man. Therefore she knows 'the joy in the Lord' and she rejoices in the salvation of the Lord. She rejoices in that holy God who is also her Savior.
She undoubtedly taught and passed that on to Samuel. That is why it may read of young Samuel when he arrives at the temple, "He worshiped the Lord."
After that, Hanna's guidance did not stop. Samuel ministered before the Lord, clothed in a linen priesthood (2:18). Samuel knew what it was to offer sacrifices to the Lord. Rejoice in the Lord and rejoice in His salvation. Those are sacrifices in your heart to the Lord. But it was also a growing process, in which he was still guided by his mother. Every year she brought him a new outer garment. She thus helped him "grow before God," so to speak. So that it could be said "(…) young Samuel grew up with the Lord” (2:21).
Pass along
When we as Christians know the salvation of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, we rejoice in Him. Then we may bring our children to the cross of Calvary to make sacrifices to God, just like us. Then we may teach them to thank the Lord Jesus for His great work on the cross. Then you can go to the cross together in case of sin and disobedience to remember what the Lord Jesus did for us.
If we keep bringing our children to the Lord Jesus, wouldn't they also begin to thank the Lord themselves? Then we may also help them to understand more of it as they grow older, so that their simple priestly service to God becomes more and more valuable. We get to make a bigger rug for them every year, so to speak.
God's work
Then God does a work in their hearts for Himself. After all, the Psalmist has already said it and the Lord Jesus takes it over when He says:
“Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings You have brought praise to Yourself?” (Psalm 8:3; Matthew 21:16)
The praise and thanks of our children, grateful for the cross of the Lord Jesus, is of great value to God's heart!
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