Brian Hamilton

Children’s Theology

I’ve been reading and re-reading this set of posts on children’s theology over at Faith & Theology (Ben Myers) during the past few days, deeply impressed. There’s something about hearing the insights of children that humbles me and leaves me in awe. Like one friend’s recounting the story of a former child soldier offering the counsel, “Forgiveness is divine.” Or another child in South Bend admitting, “I fight because I’ve never learned another way to respond.” And Ben’s three year-old asking, “Dad, do we have life because God has life in him and he puts his life in us?” That’s a question I’m only just learning to ask. In the light of these questions, Jesus’ own words and actions make sense:

People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:13–16)

22 December 2006 |
tags: Bible