Trey Sullins, a local children's minister, presented a few weeks ago at a seminar I attended.Trey believes that spiritual education must equip us to handle the most difficult questions life can hurl at us. Those questions arrive early for many of our children, and we do them a disservice if we teach them only a watered-down version of faith that can't hold up under trial.
Trey told us about a summer program focused on the theme that God always loves us, but there are days on which He does not choose to protect us.
A powerful illustration of this principle centered on the story of Stephen, stoned to death by an angry mob in the streets.
In order to free up their throwing arms, the mob laid their coats at the feet of a young man nearby. His name was Saul.
Even in God's unfailing compassion, He did not protect Stephen from evil on that day, because a larger plan was unfolding.
Trey asked the kids whether what Saul witnessed on that day would have stayed in his mind for a long time. They said yes.
Perhaps images of that murder of a gentle man flashed on Saul's blind retinas when he lay prone on the road to Damascus. How often did Saul think of Stephen's last words of forgiveness, as Saul sat in his blindness and neither ate nor drank for three days?
On the days when God chooses not to protect us, it's hard not to rant or sob: "How can THIS work for good?"
But as Trey so concisely reminded us, it's always good. We just can't always see it.
I don't remember the ages of the children Trey taught this difficult lesson, but after listening to him speak, I know I'd trust my own child to his judgment and his loving spirit.
Hard questions unanswered can blow a child's faith right over a cliff.
Hard questions faced squarely will give a child iron handholds and footholds on the rock.
I'm grateful for those dedicated teachers like Trey, with such selfless love for children.
Do you know one? Tell me about a great teacher. So often, their efforts go unrecognized, but they mean everything to the children who pass through their care.
7 comments:
Many of the valuable lessons I've learned didn't come from a "teacher" but rather from a person who had faced adversity. These people had trusted in God to bring them out on the other side and He hadn't failed them. In that way, we are all teachers when we share our lives--triumps and failures-- with others.
You know the teacher I must name is Gwen Stewart. Like my high school math teacher Peggy Smith, Gwen will long endure in the minds of her students.
As for the Lord's protection, I prefer to think that there are times when He puts protection of soul or heart or mind above protection of body. Stephen's faith was protected by God that day. God was glorified in it. And Stephen received the promise of Jesus in John 8:51: "Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death."
(And BTW, how I LOVE that photo!)
I think of my friend Helen's husband John. He has taught children's Bible studies throughout the years. He recently "retired" from his full time job to become a teacher in the public school system. He feels called to be a positive role model to teens, particularly boys without that presence in their home.
I love your point that difficult questions can destroy a child's faith. We too often over-simplify God to our children, and when He doesn't act as they expect Him to it can be a hard thing to understand.
Recently I heard David Jeremiah say that doubts that are buried eventually lead to bitterness or agnosticism, while doubts that are voiced and wrestled with lead us to deeper faith. So true.
I am grateful for my father being an excellent teacher of God's Truth in our home. I think I often take for granted the solid faith he imparted to us by not being afraid to let us ask difficult questions.
Barbara - True. I've met some people who showed me what it meant to face adversity with peace, and they are great teachers.
Anne - Another great point! But I do think there might be certain events or seasons in a person's life so tragic that it would be hard to see in that moment what He was protecting.
Debbie - I like just knowing that there are people out there who feel called into the public schools. It's a worthy mission. Thanks for that.
Kristi - I like that quotation from David Jeremiah. This is the second quotation someone has passed to me this week that I really liked. :-)
Agreed, Rosslyn. In the moment, we cannot see what the Lord is doing--and do not need to. We need only to trust (more easily said than done).
Academic answers WITHOUT the knowing of the heart are toothpick crutches even for adults. Diluting our life to a "one size fits all" or a "three step plan" dishonors our lives and the One who created us.
When our children ask for or need some answers, we need to give them some substantial 'tried and true', knowing that we know that we know answers or go to the One together Who does.
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