About Me
Gina
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
A Child's Faith
Portrait of Faith, Kids
While doing a Bible study on the Helmet of Salvation this morning, I said something that got a reaction out of my 6 year old that surprised me.
I said, "When I became a Christian at 15..."
Timmy, "What? You're a Christian?"
My mouth gaps open in unbelief. "You mean you don't think I'm a Christian?"
Timmy: "No."
Trying not to sound too offended and shocked. "Why do you say that?"
Here's where my ultra sensitive child starts to lose it. He hangs his head, hides his eyes and avoids my question. I push a little and he says, "Christians are nice and good and don't yell." At least that's what I thought he said. I was still getting over my surprise and probably did a little reading between the lines.
Something else happened that sent him into a mini fit, throwing a pencil at me. (I think when he gets embarrassed or thinks someone is upset with him, his anger takes over. But he's learning to take a time out on his own and then is back to normal.)
I got him to calm down a minute, but he wouldn't look at me. I tried to dig deeper, and I learned he didn't think he was a Christian and didn't know if he would go to Heaven or Hell. Apparently he has this "works" mentality of Salvation. He thinks if he's good then he'll go to Heaven. I explained to him all about God's Grace, and if you've given your life to Jesus, and He is in your heart, then you're a Christian and going to Heaven.
Then came the million dollar question, I'm sure the theologians are still debating.
"If a Christian kills everybody, is he still going to heaven?"
My honest thought was I don't know. But my response, "If he kills everyone than he's not a Christian."
So what would you have answered?
While doing a Bible study on the Helmet of Salvation this morning, I said something that got a reaction out of my 6 year old that surprised me.
I said, "When I became a Christian at 15..."
Timmy, "What? You're a Christian?"
My mouth gaps open in unbelief. "You mean you don't think I'm a Christian?"
Timmy: "No."
Trying not to sound too offended and shocked. "Why do you say that?"
Here's where my ultra sensitive child starts to lose it. He hangs his head, hides his eyes and avoids my question. I push a little and he says, "Christians are nice and good and don't yell." At least that's what I thought he said. I was still getting over my surprise and probably did a little reading between the lines.
Something else happened that sent him into a mini fit, throwing a pencil at me. (I think when he gets embarrassed or thinks someone is upset with him, his anger takes over. But he's learning to take a time out on his own and then is back to normal.)
I got him to calm down a minute, but he wouldn't look at me. I tried to dig deeper, and I learned he didn't think he was a Christian and didn't know if he would go to Heaven or Hell. Apparently he has this "works" mentality of Salvation. He thinks if he's good then he'll go to Heaven. I explained to him all about God's Grace, and if you've given your life to Jesus, and He is in your heart, then you're a Christian and going to Heaven.
Then came the million dollar question, I'm sure the theologians are still debating.
"If a Christian kills everybody, is he still going to heaven?"
My honest thought was I don't know. But my response, "If he kills everyone than he's not a Christian."
So what would you have answered?
4 Comments:
AH, kids' theology. I'm actually looking around for a few good books to help me with my kids' questions like that!
Gina--I feel exactly the same thing that your son tried to express--what kind of example am I when I lose it with them so frequently?? I think that my daughter is starting to understand the reality of what we think we should do and what we actually do (because she sees herself slip up too). We talk about that a LOT.
Even kids who know a lot about the Bible can't help but fall into that works mentality. "I'm a Christian, because I go to church, and obey my parents, and try to be good." They also know that Jesus is the one who saved them.
As far as the question, I think that your answering it that way confirms his thoughts--that Christians are nice and do good things, not bad ones (although on a deeper level, I understand what he was saying). I guess I would answer that if a Christian happened to kill everybody, but then he really knew it was wrong, and he confessed his sin to God, that he would go to heaven. I would use it as an opportunity to share why Jesus died--for everyone's sins.
Ooh, this is a toughie. I also must say that every mom/dad must struggle with talking the talk and backing it up by walking the walk. I mess it up often.
I remember asking my dad, as a girl (he's a pastor), "What if a Christian backslides, and gets depressed/discouraged and becomes so sinful that no one can tell he was ever a Christian?"
My dad basically said that the first possibility is that they were never a Christian in the first place, or never learned how to rely on God. But then he said something that really made sense, and he backed it with scripture also (but I can't remember the passage, sorry!). He said that probably God would just take that Christian home before he did too much harm to God's name. A "sin unto death" type of thing. He'd still go to Heaven, but his life would be shortened.
Realistically, many new believers move out of the "baby stage" of Christianity. They don't realize the importance of putting on the armor, and preparing Biblically for times of testing and trial. Satan is like a lion seeking those he may devour and though he can't touch Christians without God's permission, he can and does try his best to wipe out their testimonies. I think many Christians are like AW Tozer said, kids on a playground of Christianity, unaware of the enemy's arrows whizzing around their heads.
I meant to say, "Many new believers NEVER move out..."
Sorry...
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