Help Children Develop an Accurate View of God

The world we live in; the one the children in our ministries - and in our families - are growing up in, is a confusing and difficult place. When I was a child - quite a number of years ago - nearly all the moms on my street were "stay-at-home-moms". Nearly all the families on my street went to church on Sunday morning. Nearly all the families on my street were two-parent families; I only knew one family where the parents were divorced. Yes, I pretty much grew up in a "Norman Rockwell" picture of a small town with tree-lined streets.

Today the children in our ministries (and families) often grow up with working moms, single parents, divorce and sporadic church attendance. They also grow up with a knowledge of things I did not know about until I was a teen - or older. Children are exposed to so many things; things which were not talked about when I was a child.

Even a look at the news today shows just how much our world is changing with the Supreme Court taking on the issue of same-sex marriage - definitely not a part of life when I was a child. And news reports earlier this week - frequently advertised on TV for the previous couple weeks - was the "transition" of a "famous" person as he is becoming a "she". Absolutely NOT part of the conversation I heard when I was a child, or teen even.

The world is not the same. The idea we can all do whatever we want to do because being "happy" is the most important thing. We do whatever we think is "right". Just a look through the Old Testament shows us this really is not anything "new". Over and over the people of Israel committed to following God, but in just a few years they were doing, "whatever was right in their own eyes" (Judges 21). 

So, how do we help children develop an accurate view of God in a world where they have anything but an accurate view of Him? I think there are a few things for us to keep in mind and be intentional about reminding children of as often as we can . . . 

• God loves them (John 3:16). 
• God has a good plan for them (Jeremiah 29:11).
• God knew what He was doing when He created them (Psalm 139).

And, be certain children know the Bible is for them. They can read and understand and live God's Word. In the next few days, I'll talk more about this, but what do you do to help the children in your ministry have an accurate view of God?