I am in discussions with Invisible Children and other agencies of relief and awareness (Revolution) regarding how do we start the conversation of the world's condition with 4th through 6th graders? How can we use a facility and program such as ours to begin giving them a Biblical worldview that is aware of the poverty and oppression throughout the world?
We "condition" our children from formation to view the world with a set of lenses that are "Christian" the moment we bring them into the nursery at church when their born. Pictures, music, stories read, pictures stories colored with crayons and watercolor, crafts, etc. The stories we tell give a view of what is out there for the child. The stories we don't tell has as much affect in the shaping and worldview as the stories we do tell. If we leave out stories we create voids of understanding and could be producing prejudice and ignorances that warp Kingdom perspectives. John 9 tells a story of the disciples seeing a blind man and saying, "who sinned... that this man would be born blind." That thinking did not cause compassion but judgement and a bit of condemnation on this man. We tell stories of how America is blessed by God because of her wealth which causes many to look down on other third world countries as unblessed, thus causing prejudices and ignorance, and in some cases oppression because they are deemed less than equals.
Ask a kid about the love of Jesus for the world and she will tell you, "red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world." But when asked about what the conditions are that most people live in, they cannot tell you, nor even comprehend the devastation.
How do we begin the conversation with that age so that when they are in high school, they are not unaware and have a Kingdom heart for "the least of these..."?
9 comments:
Maybe with stories? It worked for Jesus.
Don't know... it's just what came to mind.
There are stories to be told, of truths that are hard to hear...they go in to the deep places of the heart when the Holy Spirit engages.
Perhaps that is one way. To start.
Pray with your kids for those less fortunate. Sponsor a child with World Vision. Volunteer with your church to put together boxes and baskets that then get sent off to those less fortunate. Have your kids help. Parents are the primary vehicle for this; camps and churches can mainly supplement what kids will see their own parents do.
I don't doubt there is a great deal of health-and-wealth America-is-rich-and-blessed gospel out there and on the flannel boards, but it's not the whole picture and there's a lot more "awareness" than we might think, particularly in the PCUSA (where perhaps we've overcompensated for an earlier age that just gave the gospel without enough material support. The pendulum swings . . .).
For junior high and high school students, here's a phenomenal ministry to be exposed to: http://www.ijm.org
There's quite a bit of well-done children's lit picture books on different types of struggles. A few weeks ago I read one to my 9th grade class about a boy who accidently shot another boy at school (written in first person). Before that, another first-person about a girl escaping Japan with the help of a guide, separated from her mom and dad.
My bent would be to read things with children that you regularly spend time with. Books that aren't written with a direct tie-in to Christianity---that's your part of the deal, not a disconnected author's. Talking about the way their faith could relate to the story also takes it deeper. The child will be making their own connections with you instead of having that opportunity taken away by the story. It's also a big step in developing their moral and intellectual autonomy. Very Jean Piaget (I'm a big fan).
I can make a book list if anyone wants one.
I hope that we condition our children to see the world through eyes that are like Christs, instead of "Christian."
I agree with Micah (Hi, Micah!), that parents are the primary vehicle for this.
I have found that as I ask God for opportunities to serve or help with my children, He gives them.
At one time it was a handicap homeless man named George. We'd take him a meal and visit 2x a week at the motel he had been moved into by felllow SVPCers. What a blessing he was in our lives. What a blessing it was to watch my children have their arms around someone who the world saw as untouchable.
We were fortunant as a family this year to get to deliver Operation Christmas Child gifts to children whose parents are incarcerated.
And there are many more, daily.
We are always the ones getting the blessings.
We must have our eyes open, our hearts tuned to compassion,sensitivity, mercy, and giving out of the abundance (not just monetary) that has been given to us. We must use all these moments, as teachable moments.
Then when we read these stories from God's word. Our children will see a tangible, moving and living God.
This is such an inspiring and meaningful question!!!
I think beyond stories, which are good; are safe, real life experiences. I think for grade school students, you could simulate real life ways for them to serve others. This moves beyond the talk, to the do. World Vision, for sure could be a great resource.
Another way would be to 'make' kids need each other for a week, to foster meaningful community. I think that the love of Christ will be taught as well as a love for His children.
I think I have more ideas, especially if you have a captive audience for five days, but those seem like two good ones to add to the conversation....
PS viva la revolution'
If a story is told that does not fit into the box within which we see the world, is it still safe? A new idea can be very impacting...is it possible for this new idea to then change a person? Can a new idea change into a new thought, and a new thought then lead to a new thought process, a new lifestyle, a new world...
Can we begin with a story and have it lead to the recognition of a problem and then have that recognition drive a movement within ourselves to fix/help/change that problem? Too idealistic? I think Jesus desires to do it...but I don't know if this is the way he wants to do it...
I got a new one today called, "The House that Crack Built." $6.95 on Amazon.
It starts with a nice looking man: "This is the man who lives in the house that crack built."
Moves on to the soldiers who protect him, then to exploited workers, trailing down to the cities in America where people use the crack from the man who lives in the house that crack built to dull pain.
"This is the Street of a town in pain."
To gangs, individuals, to babies.
It's great because it casts such a big trans-continental picture of the chain. Is God concerned and active for these people? Does he want us to be, too?
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