Child theology

Thursday, Sep 20, 2007

20 Comments

1. We have some stories of our own here. When our oldest was three he sang “Before the Throne” with the following lyrics:

   Because of sinless Savior died,
   My sinful soul is counted three;
   For God the just is satisfied,
   To look on him and part of me.

   You can read more about it here http://dinghome.net/2006/02/03/the-gospel-according-to-our-matthew/

   Now that he’s five, his theology is somewhat better. Recently he sang “Lamb of God” and changed the lyrics to:

   “Your only son, You choose to kill. . . . .”
   Not the prettiest lyrics, but he’s theologically correct.
   http://dinghome.net/2007/08/10/my-son-the-revisionist-singer/

   Thank you for sharing. I enjoy child theology.

   Comment by Lois (September 20, 2007 @ 5:33 pm )

2. I love child theology as well. In… ahem… a different context, I was corrected by my six year old when I was holding our baby boy and cooing at him in a sing songy voice something like, “You perfect little sweetheart, you’ll never do annnythiinggg wrong, will you? I’ll never ever spank you and I won’t let Daddy ever eeevvverrr spank Mama’s sweet boy.” etc. etc. You know the kind of things mommies say to sweet baby boys when they think no one is listening.

   My six year old walked into this little sing songy love fest between baby and me and said, “Oh NO! Do you HATE Noah?” with eyes wide as saucers.

   I had to do some serious back peddling, crow eating and self-correction to assure my young theologian that I actually do know Biblical truth on this subject… and I have to watch my theology even when I think no one’s listening!

   Comment by Lady Why (September 20, 2007 @ 6:58 pm )

3. Oh my! I love this! Our kids have had some theological mishaps as well!

   Our boy was just telling his Grammy that the story of Joshua is too sad for him tonight, because in the end , he dies. She went over the Soverienty of God with him again and he just declared, “I do want to grow up and have a wife and kids and all that stuff, but I’m flexible, you know. If God wants to take me right now, I’m willing because it’s up to Him to decide, you know. I think that God is going to attach a really long chain to my back and when it’s time for me to go to glory He’ll just press a button and the chain will take me up.”

   Comment by Heather (September 20, 2007 @ 9:14 pm )

4. This was some 13 yrs ago. Our youngest was in Christian School. she was in 1st grade. They had evidently been talking about satan, and the part he plays in the evil that happens here on earth. That night she came home and needed to have a very serious talk about what they learned in school. (her daddy, a marine at the time was stationed in Japan, so no help was coming on the advice front)
   She said since the devil was to blame for all this evil going around, she felt that if he would just accept Jesus Christ as his savior, all would be made right in the world. She asked if we could start praying for his salvation. I made a few attempts at explaining he knew exactly who Jesus was, but was not at all interested in salvation. Pretty much the impossibility of the whole thing. But she was not having any part of it. She said, “you told me ANYBODY could except Jesus as their savior” and I want to pray that the devil will accept Jesus into his heart. So I threw theology to wind for a month and we prayed the devil would accept Jesus as his Lord & Savior! NOt theologically correct, I know. But I also know that God knows the heart of a 6 year and her good intentions. I’ll treasure her zest for knowing salvation is for all who accept it, till the day I meet that wonderful Savior face to face.

   Comment by D (September 20, 2007 @ 9:57 pm )

5. My dad used to video tape my sister and me answering questions about theology. When quizzed on Eve’s temptation, my sister said: If the snake asked me, I’d say, “no thank you, I’m not hungry right now!”

   Comment by Mrs. J (September 20, 2007 @ 11:05 pm )

6. So not exactly “child-theology”….this is more like a cry for help.

   We were singing at family worship time and the lyrics were from a song called Glory to the Lord. They go like this:

   Who holds the righteous by the hand?
   Who is the Way in this marvelous hour?

   My daughter was 4 at the time, and sang, quite heartily and beseechingly:

   Who holds the righteous by the hand?
   Who is the Way when my Mommy is sour?

   Sigh. Not that *I’ve* ever been sour….

   Comment by Barbara (September 21, 2007 @ 7:53 am )

7. Hi Amy,
   Wayne Grudem did a condensed version of Systematic Theology with his son Elliot. It is called ‘Christian Beliefs’ and my husband has enjoyed using it with my sons. It could easily be used with older children who have had, ahem, plenty of early exposure to theology. :o)

   Comment by Lisa W. (September 21, 2007 @ 8:52 am )

8. I have quite a few child theology stories from my crew, but one of my most cherished was when I was talking to my two oldest boys when they were around 5 and 3 (now 21 and 19) and in the midst of cowboy mania.

   The oldest commented, “God is 268 million miles big.” In my earnestness as a young parent to keep them straight, we launched into a discussion about God’s actual, Biblical attributes. My older son, the more verbal of the two at the time, quickly got on track and brought up quite a number of attributes which I hadn’t really realized he knew. The younger son just sat there and listened to everything we said.

   As the conversation wound down, I really wanted my younger son to participate and asked him if he understood what we’d been saying. His response? To nod slowly in the oh-so-wise-beyond-his-years of a three year old. He then leaned forward towards me across the table and added in a conspiratorial tone, “Yes, Mom, and He’s BULLET-PROOF too!”

   Comment by Elise (September 21, 2007 @ 9:47 am )

9. Hi Amy,
   I enjoy your website. Just wanted to pass along this info. Have you seen Franklin Springs Family Films website? They just came out with a family film titled Inherit the Land …about families around the country living the agrarian life. Thought you might want to check it out. Any one know anything about this film company…They seem to be Christian, but no mission statement.

   Comment by L (September 21, 2007 @ 12:15 pm )

10. sorry, here is the address http://www.franklinfilms.com

    Comment by L (September 21, 2007 @ 12:16 pm )

11. sorry, here is the address http://www.franklinsprings.com Sorry for the mix-up, don’t go to the one franklin films….It’s Franklin SPRINGS !

    Comment by L (September 21, 2007 @ 12:17 pm )

12. L, I just the other day found Franklin Springs. I found a video they have put out of a string quarter made up of four sisters. The music was beautiful and I am looking into finding out more about them. I think I heard of Ken Carpenter a while back on Vision Forum’s web page. I am not sure about that one though. As for their mission statement check out where it says “Vision” at the top of the page. That kind of tells what they are about.
    Sorry Amy for straying from the topic at hand! I didn’t know how to answer her anyway else though.

    Comment by Rhonda (September 21, 2007 @ 8:51 pm )

13. My 2 yo needs that class before the next time she goes street evangelizing.

    I was waiting outside a shop full of breakables while my husband checked something and she climbed the steps with her ice cream.

    She started shouting about how God loves Pinkie (what she calls herself). Pinkie sins and God forgives her. She sang a song I couldn’t understand and then offered God a lick of her ice cream in thanks.

    Comment by Dana (September 22, 2007 @ 10:30 am )

14. One day in the midst of potty training my 2.5 year old daughter, I was cleaning her up following an accident. She sat on the toilet (a little late) as I used a washcloth to wipe her legs. “Mama!” she said, “I am a disciple…and you are washing my feet!”

    So that makes me Jesus? Smile

    Comment by Jenny (September 23, 2007 @ 11:55 am )

15. Hi L,

    Yes, I saw the trailer and look forward to getting my hands on a copy. Thanks for the head’s up!

    Comment by Amy Scott (September 24, 2007 @ 1:16 pm )

16. I have given you an award if you wish to claim it! Go to http://blog.athomewithkris.com/?p=830

    Thanks!

    Comment by Kris (September 24, 2007 @ 2:03 pm )

17. Just this morning, MY 3 yr-old daughter very emphatically told me that Jesus wasn’t God, because He’s God’s Son! I had to start referring to Jesus as God, the Son, for the rest of the morning. Here is what we say to help:

    God, the Father
    God, the Son
    God, the Spirit
    Three in One.

    It doesn’t mean much to her right now, but someday, it will.

    Comment by Lindsay (September 24, 2007 @ 2:56 pm )

18. once during devotion time, a friend of ours asked his son what the devotion had been about.

    very solemnly, the boy looked up and answered:

    “The A-Fossil Paul!”

    Comment by Elizabeth (September 24, 2007 @ 4:59 pm )

19. I’m really enjoying the posts on this subject. I have to add one about myself. When I was about 8 we were singing the hymn “I am Resolved” in church. For those who may not know it, the chorus goes,”hasten, hasten to Him. Hasten so glad and free” Well, there was a kid named Jason that was always in trouble and I thought the song was especially for him, “Jason, Jason to Him…” lol. I was amazed a few years later when I realized that the song had other words!!

    Comment by Kelli (September 24, 2007 @ 8:29 pm )

20. Hi Amy,
    I have given you an award on my Website. If you would like to have a look click on the link below.
    http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/grief4baby/398190/

    Blessings,

    Amanda Axelby
    Australia

    Comment by Amanda (September 26, 2007 @ 5:30 pm )

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