When I was a kid, I believed in Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. I believed in Ghosts, boogie men and I even had an imaginary best friend named Mr. Catow (my mom and sister are giggling right about now). I believed in the impossible and I believed in all the irrational things that most normal kids believe in.
For the most part parents – So did you!
So why parents do you think it’s so hard for us to believe that our children believe in God, creation, and God’s plan of redemption with the death, burial and resurrection of His son Jesus?
Why do we have such a hard time believing our kids would listen to all of that info in and not only believe it but ultimately pray a prayer securing their salvation (and mean it)?
I’ll tell you why!
As adults we have a hard time believing in imaginary things because we all found out that all of those things we believed in as kids ended up not being real…except Santa Clause of course – wink, wink! Combine that with fact that most of us grow up learning that it’s socially unacceptable for adults to believe in irrational and imaginary things and it’s a wonder that any of us have a faith at all.
ALSO – we can’t believe that our kids can have a faith because we live with them and we ask – how on earth can the same kid that picks his/her nose, runs through the house while screaming (for no reason) and says things that make absolutely no sense — believe in all that crazy Jesus stuff?
I’ll tell you how!
THEY ARE JUST KIDS…and just like you when you were a kid –THEY JUST DO! That’s why Jesus loves them so much! While on the earth Jesus had the opportunity to tell us why we need to have child-like faith: Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:2).
Parents – Please don’t doubt your kid’s faith! That’s not to say you can’t question what their faith consist of but if your kids can believe the Gospel and God’s promise of salvation through his Son Jesus then for God’s sake – Let them!!!!. Get with you children’s pastor and let him/her help you determine if your kids faith is based on the right gospel or not. If not, they can clarify it for them.
So much more can be said here but the simple truth is folks, your kids have a natural ability that we lost as we grew up – it’s called Believing! Let them keep it as long as possible. Cheer them on for their faith and help them make it stronger by keeping them in church and modeling it at home. In other words, be a kid too and let your faith shine in front of your kids.
It’s ok to believe!!!
Brian
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