Kids can get it; give them a chance

My older three boys and I have been reading through the Scriptures at night before bed. (The oldest of the boys is just shy of 6 years young.) Last week we finished our first text, The Good News According to Mark. We are now in the early portion of The Good News According to Luke.

I’ve chosen to read through these texts from the Scriptures themselves (using the New Living Translation), and not from the children’s Bible story books. A few months ago I read to the boys one of our children’s versions of the Tower of Babel story. Then I read about Moses, then Joseph and his brothers. I then picked up the NLT and said, “Alright, now let’s see what these stories are like in the bible, guys.” They were okay with that idea. The first one I read was about the Tower of Babel. Immediately our oldest, without my asking any questions—all I did was read the short passage—said, “So there weren’t any angels?” He recalled in the children’s book the story mentioned angels leading the different groups into different regions after the languages were confused. No angels showed up in the Bible’s version.

I wanted to cultivate that keen listening and curiosity that at least our older two boys have (the two year old likes to chatter on about whatnot and whatever while I read, silly lad). So I took them through the other stories (e.g. Moses and Joseph) from the NLT. Whenever there were tough words or concepts, they were quick to ask for a bit of clarity. And at least the oldest has been quite able at distinguishing the differences between the kiddy versions and the originals. The kids then wanted to read about Jesus, so I jumped into my favorite of the Good News accounts, Mark. After finishing that up, we started Luke.

And by golly the kids get it. Without dumbing down or repackaging the life and teachings found in the Good News accounts, with some simple questions and discussions, our kids get it. For example, we read through the sixth chapter of Luke’s account the other night. This was the key portion (this is from the NET):

But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other as well, and from the person who takes away your coat, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your possessions back from the person who takes them away. Treat others in the same way that you would want them to treat you.

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to be repaid, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, so that they may be repaid in full. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to ungrateful and evil people. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Lk vi.27-36 NET)

I told the boys if someone was being evil to mommy and daddy, we have to show them love in return. If they were hitting us, we were not supposed to hit back because that’s not love. If they were treating us poorly, we’ve got to treat them beautifully.

And our oldest said to me, “Maybe that’s what I should do. Because sometimes my brothers hit me, and I hit them back. I should not hit them.”

I responded, “Show them how to act, right? Show them love and that hitting is wrong?”

“Yeah,” he said quite contently.