One of the most difficult things to teach children is the seventh commandment. Children from the ages of three to ten know nothing about what happens in marriage. They understand little of the atrocity of committing adultery.
Should we even teach children at so young of an age about the seventh commandment? Our hesitance comes from a proper discretion. We are discrete with children, and we hide certain things from them until they are ready for them.
Our opposition does not have the same discretion. Children are taught sex education in the public schools starting at Kindergarten. In Kindergarten, they are taught, "Thou shalt commit adultery." We must first teach them, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." We must first teach them that homosexuality is wrong. That God created marriage to exist between one man and one woman, and that same-sex marriage is not an alternative lifestyle.
We must be discrete with children. But we must teach them the command, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." They can learn specifics much later in life (and Lord willing they will learn those specifics much later in life), but we must not deny them the command that God has given to everyone: "Thou shalt not commit adultery."
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Dumbing Down the Commandments
Those who teach young children often seek to "dumb down" what they are teaching the children. They know that children do not understand nuances, so they seek to simplify things for the children. Making something simple so that children can understand it is one thing, but dumbing it down is something entirely different.
It is a daunting task to simplify something for children. How can you describe something for children that they have never experienced? How can you tell them about something that they cannot intellectually comprehend? A teacher must put a lot of thought into explaining the stories just so in order to teach the children. It takes time. It takes practice. It takes a lot of work.
When a teacher does not make the effort to simplify the material for the children, one of two things happen. Either the teacher teaches at an adult level, and only a handful of the children pick up bits and pieces of the lesson. Or the teacher dumbs down the information, excludes certain important facts, and teaches the children a half-truth.
For example, consider the episode between David (before he was a king) and Nabal. David and his men had protected Nabal's flocks. When it was time for sheep-shearing, David sent a message to Nabal asking Nabal for some meat.
A teacher who was dumbing down the information would say that it wasn't fair for Nabal to have so much wealth and not help out those like David who had very little. There are some serious consequences with this way of portraying what happened. If Nabal was supposed to give his wealth away to the poor, then all rich people are supposed to give their wealth away to the poor. Recall what David did when Nabal refused to give David some food: David and his men mounted an assault upon Nabal. Does that mean that poor people can take wealth by force? Obviously, dumbing down this story causes problem after problem after problem to creep up rather swiftly. We must be responsible for what we teach. We must make the effort as teachers to simplify things so that children understand us and so that we don't dumb down material which needs to be taught clearly.
It is a daunting task to simplify something for children. How can you describe something for children that they have never experienced? How can you tell them about something that they cannot intellectually comprehend? A teacher must put a lot of thought into explaining the stories just so in order to teach the children. It takes time. It takes practice. It takes a lot of work.
When a teacher does not make the effort to simplify the material for the children, one of two things happen. Either the teacher teaches at an adult level, and only a handful of the children pick up bits and pieces of the lesson. Or the teacher dumbs down the information, excludes certain important facts, and teaches the children a half-truth.
For example, consider the episode between David (before he was a king) and Nabal. David and his men had protected Nabal's flocks. When it was time for sheep-shearing, David sent a message to Nabal asking Nabal for some meat.
A teacher who was dumbing down the information would say that it wasn't fair for Nabal to have so much wealth and not help out those like David who had very little. There are some serious consequences with this way of portraying what happened. If Nabal was supposed to give his wealth away to the poor, then all rich people are supposed to give their wealth away to the poor. Recall what David did when Nabal refused to give David some food: David and his men mounted an assault upon Nabal. Does that mean that poor people can take wealth by force? Obviously, dumbing down this story causes problem after problem after problem to creep up rather swiftly. We must be responsible for what we teach. We must make the effort as teachers to simplify things so that children understand us and so that we don't dumb down material which needs to be taught clearly.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Teaching Kids New Material
When teaching kids new material, you need to tell them the answers. You should never ask a child a question that you have never answered before. A child comes into the world ignorant of everything. They do not know what revenge is. They know how to take revenge, but they don't know what revenge is. So you must tell them.
The best way to do this is to use a story to show what taking revenge looks like. Then tell them that it is bad. Give them a good reference to the Scriptures (something that God has actually said). Then give them a clue word. By clue word, I mean, a word that you will use in your stories later on to clue the kids in on which commandment you are talking about.
For example, when talking about "revenge" always mention that vengeance is the Lord's, He will repay. Always use the clue word "revenge." And emphasize that word. Repeat that word a couple of times throughout the story. Ask the kids what sin was committed: "revenge." This is all very basic, but you must never forget that repetition is the key. The kids need to begin to recognize the sin of revenge, and they need to be able to call it by its biblical name.
The best way to do this is to use a story to show what taking revenge looks like. Then tell them that it is bad. Give them a good reference to the Scriptures (something that God has actually said). Then give them a clue word. By clue word, I mean, a word that you will use in your stories later on to clue the kids in on which commandment you are talking about.
For example, when talking about "revenge" always mention that vengeance is the Lord's, He will repay. Always use the clue word "revenge." And emphasize that word. Repeat that word a couple of times throughout the story. Ask the kids what sin was committed: "revenge." This is all very basic, but you must never forget that repetition is the key. The kids need to begin to recognize the sin of revenge, and they need to be able to call it by its biblical name.
Revenge - First Commandment
There once was a boy named Thomas. And Thomas was friendly to all the kids in his class. But one of the kids in his class, a tall boy named Oswald, like to pick on Thomas. Oswald poked Thomas in the back sometimes. Other times Oswald stole toy trains that Thomas had brought to school. And other times Oswald would call Thomas names.
All of these things upset Thomas a lot. But Thomas knew if he told the teacher what Oswald had done, the teacher would punish Oswald.
One day, however, Thomas brought in a bright red fire engine. His mom and dad had given him that fire engine the day before for his birthday. He brought it to school so he could show all of his friends. The lights lit up on it, and it made a real fire engine sound too. All the kids at the school gathered around to look at it and hear its siren. When it was time to learn letters, Thomas put the fire engine in his backpack.
Well, later that day, after naptime, Oswald decided that he wanted Thomas's red fire engine. It was so shiny, and made such a great noise, and it even had a ladder on the back! Oswald knew that it was the coolest toy he had ever seen. So, Oswald sneaked over to Thomas's backpack, and pulled the red fire engine out of his backpack. Then Oswald began to play with it, but he was very careful not to make a sound at all. He pulled the ladder up and down, and he rolled the fire engine this way and that way.
Finally he decided to put it back, but he wasn't careful with it. He dropped the fire engine by accident and broke the ladder off. Thomas saw him when this happened, and Thomas went and told his teacher. The teacher punished Oswald for breaking Thomas's toy and for trying to steal it. But the teacher couldn't fix the toy. Thomas's bright red fire engine was broken.
Thomas was very upset. And even though Oswald had said he was sorry, Thomas was still upset. It just wasn't fair that Thomas's fire engine was broken.
Later that day, during letters time, Oswald poked Thomas in the back, and Thomas had had enough. Thomas turned around, grabbed Oswald's finger, and began to try to hit Oswald. Thomas wanted revenge.
Was it fair that Thomas's fire engine was broken? No. Oswald had done a bad thing by breaking it.
Was Oswald punished for breaking Thomas's toy? Yes. The teacher punished him.
Was Thomas supposed to start fighting with Oswald to get revenge? No.
God says, "Vengeance is Mine. I will repay." How much power does God have? All the power. God will punish people like Oswald who steal and break other people's things. It is not your job to punish them. At school, it is the teacher's job to punish. But, we are supposed to realize that God will judge us for our sins, and he will judge other people for their sins.
Who saw Oswald break Thomas's toy? God.
Who wrote the Ten Commandments? God.
Who will judge us by the Ten Commandments? God.
New Question: Vengeance is GOD's. GOD will repay.
All of these things upset Thomas a lot. But Thomas knew if he told the teacher what Oswald had done, the teacher would punish Oswald.
One day, however, Thomas brought in a bright red fire engine. His mom and dad had given him that fire engine the day before for his birthday. He brought it to school so he could show all of his friends. The lights lit up on it, and it made a real fire engine sound too. All the kids at the school gathered around to look at it and hear its siren. When it was time to learn letters, Thomas put the fire engine in his backpack.
Well, later that day, after naptime, Oswald decided that he wanted Thomas's red fire engine. It was so shiny, and made such a great noise, and it even had a ladder on the back! Oswald knew that it was the coolest toy he had ever seen. So, Oswald sneaked over to Thomas's backpack, and pulled the red fire engine out of his backpack. Then Oswald began to play with it, but he was very careful not to make a sound at all. He pulled the ladder up and down, and he rolled the fire engine this way and that way.
Finally he decided to put it back, but he wasn't careful with it. He dropped the fire engine by accident and broke the ladder off. Thomas saw him when this happened, and Thomas went and told his teacher. The teacher punished Oswald for breaking Thomas's toy and for trying to steal it. But the teacher couldn't fix the toy. Thomas's bright red fire engine was broken.
Thomas was very upset. And even though Oswald had said he was sorry, Thomas was still upset. It just wasn't fair that Thomas's fire engine was broken.
Later that day, during letters time, Oswald poked Thomas in the back, and Thomas had had enough. Thomas turned around, grabbed Oswald's finger, and began to try to hit Oswald. Thomas wanted revenge.
Was it fair that Thomas's fire engine was broken? No. Oswald had done a bad thing by breaking it.
Was Oswald punished for breaking Thomas's toy? Yes. The teacher punished him.
Was Thomas supposed to start fighting with Oswald to get revenge? No.
God says, "Vengeance is Mine. I will repay." How much power does God have? All the power. God will punish people like Oswald who steal and break other people's things. It is not your job to punish them. At school, it is the teacher's job to punish. But, we are supposed to realize that God will judge us for our sins, and he will judge other people for their sins.
Who saw Oswald break Thomas's toy? God.
Who wrote the Ten Commandments? God.
Who will judge us by the Ten Commandments? God.
New Question: Vengeance is GOD's. GOD will repay.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Obeying Your Teachers When It's Hard - Fifth Commandment
There once was a boy named Robert. And Robert had a problem. He liked to ignore his teacher, turn around, and talk to his friend who sat behind him in class. The teacher got so used to Robert turning around to talk, that the teacher would put him in time out whenever he did that.
One day, Robert's friend was playing around behind him, and he was talking to someone other than Robert. Robert began to turn to look behind him, but as soon as he began, he stopped. He didn't want to get tricked into disobeying his teacher again. But the teacher had already seen him begin to turn around, so his teacher put Robert into time-out.
When Robert heard his teacher say, "Time-out, Robert," he began to protest. But, instead of protesting, he decided that he needed to obey his teacher. Robert put himself in time-out and obeyed his teacher.
Did Robert do anything wrong before his teacher punished him? No.
Did Robert do the right thing by obeying his teacher even though he was being punished for no reason? Yes.
Who saw that Robert was being punished for no reason? God.
Who saw Robert obeying his teacher? God.
Who will reward Robert for obeying his teacher and accepting the punishment his teacher gave him without arguing? God.
There is coming a Day of Judgment. On that Day of Judgment, God will tell everyone that Robert obeyed God's commandments by obeying his teacher, and God will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
One day, Robert's friend was playing around behind him, and he was talking to someone other than Robert. Robert began to turn to look behind him, but as soon as he began, he stopped. He didn't want to get tricked into disobeying his teacher again. But the teacher had already seen him begin to turn around, so his teacher put Robert into time-out.
When Robert heard his teacher say, "Time-out, Robert," he began to protest. But, instead of protesting, he decided that he needed to obey his teacher. Robert put himself in time-out and obeyed his teacher.
Did Robert do anything wrong before his teacher punished him? No.
Did Robert do the right thing by obeying his teacher even though he was being punished for no reason? Yes.
Who saw that Robert was being punished for no reason? God.
Who saw Robert obeying his teacher? God.
Who will reward Robert for obeying his teacher and accepting the punishment his teacher gave him without arguing? God.
There is coming a Day of Judgment. On that Day of Judgment, God will tell everyone that Robert obeyed God's commandments by obeying his teacher, and God will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
God is in Control - First Commandment
Story goes with the question: How much power does God have? All the power.
When I was a child, my family and I were on a vacation. We were driving in our van. Our van had a door on it that was really hard to close. We really had to yank on the door to get it closed. But once it was closed, it wouldn't jostle or make any noise whatsoever; and if it was closed right, it would take quite the yank to open that door. Sometimes, we would not close the door the right way, and whenever that happened, the door would jostle to let us know it wasn't closed all the way. And if it wasn't closed all the way, the door could just fly open with even the slightest yank.
One day, we were travelling back home from our vacation. We had begun early in the morning before the sun had come out, and we were making good time. After we stopped for breakfast, we got back on the interstate. The interstate was crowded. We had cars behind us and cars in front of us. We had a huge 18-wheeler truck on one side of our car and we had a small red convertible in front of us.
All of a sudden the door started jostling. My mom told my dad that the door probably wasn't shut right, so my dad pulled over to the side of the road. But when my mom got out of the van to check our door, she couldn't get it open. The door was stuck very tight, and wasn't loose at all. My parents were a bit perplexed by this, but there's no sense in staying on the side of the road when you need to get back home.
My dad got back on the interstate and we started traveling, but all of sudden the traffic came to a halt. Some accident had happened up ahead of us on the road. When we came up on that accident, we found the big 18-wheeler had run over and flattened the little red convertible that had been in front of us.
God is in control of all things. God made our door shake so that we would be safe and not be in that accident. God also made that truck run over that red convertible. We cannot always understand God's will for our lives, but we must submit to His will.
How much power does God have? All the power.
When I was a child, my family and I were on a vacation. We were driving in our van. Our van had a door on it that was really hard to close. We really had to yank on the door to get it closed. But once it was closed, it wouldn't jostle or make any noise whatsoever; and if it was closed right, it would take quite the yank to open that door. Sometimes, we would not close the door the right way, and whenever that happened, the door would jostle to let us know it wasn't closed all the way. And if it wasn't closed all the way, the door could just fly open with even the slightest yank.
One day, we were travelling back home from our vacation. We had begun early in the morning before the sun had come out, and we were making good time. After we stopped for breakfast, we got back on the interstate. The interstate was crowded. We had cars behind us and cars in front of us. We had a huge 18-wheeler truck on one side of our car and we had a small red convertible in front of us.
All of a sudden the door started jostling. My mom told my dad that the door probably wasn't shut right, so my dad pulled over to the side of the road. But when my mom got out of the van to check our door, she couldn't get it open. The door was stuck very tight, and wasn't loose at all. My parents were a bit perplexed by this, but there's no sense in staying on the side of the road when you need to get back home.
My dad got back on the interstate and we started traveling, but all of sudden the traffic came to a halt. Some accident had happened up ahead of us on the road. When we came up on that accident, we found the big 18-wheeler had run over and flattened the little red convertible that had been in front of us.
God is in control of all things. God made our door shake so that we would be safe and not be in that accident. God also made that truck run over that red convertible. We cannot always understand God's will for our lives, but we must submit to His will.
How much power does God have? All the power.
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