Kids and the Bible

For lack of a better headline, I’d like to point out something that I’ve been pondering for months now, and I’d like to discuss something that often nags at me–kids and Bible “stories.”  I think that in today’s church, we’re beginning to teach kids Bible “stories,” and having them learn about cute little boats that took all the animals when there was a big rainstorm.  Not exactly what happened, and not exactly giving a lesson to learn.  Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that kids should be given scientific details and historical details.  I’m just saying that they should learn about three main things (in this Great Flood example): God saved Noah and his family from a worldwide flood, the ark was absolutely huge, and that Noah was saved because of his righteousness and obedience.  I don’t think that’s too much for small children to handle, do you?

That’s just one part of my little rant today.  For older kids (I’d say 9 and older), I think that the bigger picture needs to be shown.  There needs to be more detailed cause and effect (even more detailed for teens), and the moral of the “story” needs to be clear and discussed heavily.  It’s not so much the story, but the lesson to be learned and its implications.

I believe that they shouldn’t be taught as “stories,” either.  They aren’t.  They are important history lessons that God has intended for us all to learn and benefit from.  We need to take them seriously, as kids, teens, and adults.  They aren’t little stories that parents read to their little kids before bedtime.  They are historical accounts of people’s past experiences, failures, and successes.  Never forget that.  Never.

About the moral part of my commentary: I think that we as Christians need to start thinking more about the moral of what is in the Bible.  (Now, I’m not saying that we need to stop defending the historical and scientific value that is in the Bible.)  God put everything in the Bible there for a reason.  He has His reasons for everything.  He also is unchanging, so the reasons are still applicable.  Don’t just blow it off as something that can be ignored.

In closing, I’d like to say a few things.  One, I can understand why you might not want to take advice from a thirteen-year-old kid.  I have virtually no experience.  Yet, please take what I’ve said into consideration.  I’m no dumb thirteen-year-old kid.  Also, I’m not saying that I read my Bible as much as I should, and that I’m a perfect little Christian who does everything God says.  I’m not.  I wish I was, but no.  But, I always strive to be better, and I think that everyone (Christian or not) should always strive to do better, be it in this fashion of reading and applying the Bible, or just being a better, more moral person in general.