Jesus Loves Me This I Know, for the Bible Tells Me So
Jeneane Stevens, MEd, Executive Director
Celebration Christian Schools, Brentwood, California
“Our goal for children is that they become independent in their dependence on God. We want them, of their own will, to seek God and establish an eternity-long relationship with him” (Henley 1997, 30). Whether the students are 3, 8, or 18, the basic truths of discipleship remain the same. Jesus called everyone to be disciples. He requires that each person be responsible for his or her own growth. Everyone celebrates when a person comes to Jesus, but the new converts are often left to find their own path to growth. The simple children’s song “Jesus Loves Me” can sum up the journey of discipleship.
Jesus loves me …
Before learning takes place, it is essential to build a relationship with the student. Younger children need to feel secure, safe, and loved before they can understand the extent of God’s love for them. A warm, secure relationship with a caregiver enables a child to assimilate spiritual information. Children can learn math and spelling from anyone, but they can learn about Christ only from a believer. Many parents are ill equipped, or they do not know Christ, so the responsibility often falls on the teacher.
this I know …
The second phase of discipleship is to help the student affirm that he or she has a personal relationship with Jesus and that the student is ready to learn. For younger children, rather than a conscious commitment, openness to Jesus and to His teaching is necessary. The same holds true for unbelieving parents; an eagerness to learn may lead to a commitment. Parents of young children often learn and grow alongside their preschooler. Since the process is often nonthreatening, it gives parents confidence for further inquiry. George Barna states, “Every year, tens of thousands of parents are brought to faith in Christ because one of their children was so changed by his or her own relationship with the Lord that the parent could not ignore the power of Christ any longer” (Barna 2003, 49). It is interesting that many parents desire faith for their child but not necessarily for themselves. Catherine Stonehouse notes the following about this generation of parents: “They are spiritually hungry, desire a sense of meaning, long for trusting relationships, and want to give their children the stable family they did not have” (Stonehouse 1998, 65).
Children between ages 5 and 12 constitute the largest group accepting Christ as their Savior (Barna 2003, 34). Teachers must be vigilant and persistent in teaching salvation and in offering many opportunities for their students. Barna emphasizes the battle for our children: “If we do a great job of training children to love God with all their heart, mind, strength and soul, then we will no longer have to invest time battling over moral and spiritual issues such as abortion, homosexuality, gambling and pornography” (p. 51).
The teacher’s job is not over when a child accepts Christ as his or her Savior; it has just begun. Early education teachers should teach accurate Bible truths using the Bible. Teachers can also communicate truth through Bible songs and concrete activities.
for the Bible tells me so …
Teaching the inerrancy of Scripture has been diluted in our “feel good” world. In a day in which the world is telling children that everything is relative, caregivers must give them a moral compass and a love for Scripture to help them navigate their world. Barna captures the challenge before us: “If we effectively teach God’s principles and expectations to our youngsters and instill within them a thirst for righteousness and a passion for God, the need to wage a culture war will be eliminated by reshaping the culture from within” (Barna 2003, 51).
References
Barna, George. 2003. Transforming children into spiritual champions. Ventura, CA: Regal Books.
Henley, Karyn. 1997. Child-sensitive teaching: Helping children grow a living faith in a loving God. Cincinnati, OH: Standard Publishing.
Stonehouse, Catherine. 1998. Joining children on the spiritual journey: Nurturing a life of faith. Grand Rapids, MI: BridgePoint Book.
Early Education 12.3