Note: This post is excerpted from Chapter 5 of the book Indestructible Joy for the Next Generations. You can read the full chapter here.
Young children can understand complex theology if it is taught simply in age-appropriate language and connected to something they experience in their own lives. It requires thoughtfulness and preparation to bring difficult or complex theology to little children, but with practice it is possible.
For example, the sovereignty of God can be taught to preschoolers using the simple language and life connection that “God is the boss of all things.” A small child can understand the explanation that daddy is the boss of the family. Mommy is the boss when daddy isn’t home. Daddy has a boss at work who decides when daddy will work and how much daddy will get paid and if daddy can take a vacation. But God is the boss of everyone and everything—He is the boss of the stars, and the flowers and the snow and sickness—and God is the boss of mommy and daddy and the president—and God is the boss of me.
Connecting the real-life example to Bible stories puts content, context, and richness to the child’s understanding. For example, a preschooler can understand that as the boss, God is in charge of all things. He is in charge of the wind and the waves—like when Jesus stopped the storm. He is in charge of the armies of Israel and the enemies of Israel, and He sent hail to stop the enemy soldiers. God is in charge of sickness—so Jesus told the man whose legs didn’t work to get up and walk—and he did. God is in charge of the mouths of lions, and He shut the lions’ mouths so Daniel would not get hurt.
Teach Precept Upon Precept
Children can’t always see the “big picture.” Biblical truths can look more like a dot-to-dot picture to them, a smattering of unconnected knowledge. But starting with simple explanations at a young age, little by little we can begin to connect the dots until the big picture becomes understandable. Teaching precept upon precept is intentional; it is purposeful. It involves teaching terminology, verses, stories, principles, and concepts—and then step-by-step filling that knowledge with meaning.
How does a child understand the meaning of any big concept? We break it down for them. A baby doesn’t understand that a stove gets very hot and can burn you. But a baby can understand the meaning of the word “no” when he reaches his hand out toward the frying pan. When he is a toddler, he can understand that he must sit down at the other side of the kitchen when mommy opens the oven because he might get hurt. An elementary-aged child, under mommy’s watchful eye, can take something out of the oven with potholders. He has learned that the potholders will protect his hands from the heat. And a 12-year-old can be responsible enough to bake brownies by himself. All those concepts were learned precept upon precept.
Biblical truths are taught in much the same manner. At the pre-school level, we can teach all the major doctrines of the Bible stated as simple truths in simple language...and from that we progress to greater depth and scope.
Use Concrete Illustrations and Expectations
Jesus often taught by way of illustration, using concrete objects or situations in the real world to explain spiritual truth. He instructed us not to worry by pointing out God’s care for birds and lilies; He compared the impossibility of a rich man to enter heaven to a camel going through the eye of a needle; and He compared the Kingdom of heaven to a treasure in a field. He taught through story using parables to help those with eyes to see and understand spiritual truths.
God has given us the same rich context in which to teach children. His whole creation provides examples for us to bridge the gap between the concrete and the spiritual.
Relate Biblical Doctrine to Real Life
Bible doctrine is not divorced from real life; it is not something we assign to class-room teaching or family devotions. It is to be woven into everyday life as Deuteronomy 6:4-7 instructs us, talking of them as we sit in our houses, walk by the way, when we lie down, and when we rise.
Teach the Hard Doctrines in the Context of Other Bible Doctrines
Teaching about hell should be balanced by teaching about heaven; sin should be accompanied by redemption; and the wrath of God should be set in the context of the mercy of God—all of these doctrines should be part of the scope taught to children. Doctrines should not be taught in isolation but placed within the framework of the whole counsel of God.
The Bible is full of multifaceted truth. It is rich in its teaching about God and His involvement with His world and with man. Though suffering is a reality, so is the glorious truth that the day is coming when there will be no more suffering…and teaching these two truths in tandem spans the breadth of biblical teaching on suffering and provides balance.
Sow the Seeds and Trust God for the Growth
The Bible is a coherent whole, wonderfully complex, and wonderfully simple at the same time. It is easy enough for children to comprehend, and yet incomprehensible to the most astute thinkers. It is the inspired Word of God; powerful to bring about salvation as it displays the wonder of our great God and His multifaceted character.
We have been given the astounding privilege of instructing the next generation in the glorious truths of the Bible and to introducing them to Jesus. Matt and Elizabeth Schmucker wisely exhort parents to “Pack in truth while your children are little and trust the Lord to unpack it in his time.” Though children won’t immediately, fully understand the richness of what we are teaching them, neither have we plumbed the depths of the mysteries of God. We “see in part” as we mine the treasures of His Word. So too children. The Holy Spirit will bring understanding in His time. It is our task to faithfully teach the fullness of biblical truth.
