Have you ever wondered how much potential lies untapped within our younger generation? Picture this, a 12-year-old boy named Jesus left behind by his parents during a journey. Imagine their panic when they realized he was missing, their frantic search that lasted three long days. Now, imagine their surprise when they found him, not lost or scared, but in the temple, teaching and astounding others with his wisdom. This isn't just a story, but a lesson, a testament to the immense potential of the young. Mirroring this tale is a verse from the book of Jeremiah.
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. Just as Jesus, at a tender age, astounded adults with his wisdom, our children too hold a profound potential to enlighten us if we only let them. The wisdom of a child can be surprising, especially when they're given the opportunity to explore and understand religious teachings. In schools, children are guided in various subjects, molding their minds, shaping their understanding of the world. Why not extend this guidance to spiritual teachings as well? By introducing Bibles in schools, we open a door for them, a door that leads to a path of understanding, wisdom and ultimately peace. Every child has the potential to teach us something new, something profound, just as Jesus did at the age of 12.
But for that to happen, we need to give them the tools, the teachings and the freedom to explore their faith. We need to remember that children aren't just the future, they're also the present. Their voices, their wisdom, their potential, it's all here right now, waiting to be tapped into. So let's look to our children, listen to them, learn from them. Let's give them the chance to astound us with their wisdom, just as Jesus did in the temple. Because remember, just as Jesus, at a tender age, astounded adults with his wisdom, our children too hold a profound potential to enlighten us if we only let them.
What if we could tap into this potential by introducing religious education in schools? Imagine a world where wisdom is not confined by age or experience. In the passage from Jeremiah 33, three, we are invited to call upon God and he promises to show us great and hidden things that we have not known. This divine invitation is not just for the learned scholars or the experienced elders, but for everyone, including our children. The story of Jesus teaching in the temple at the tender age of 12 is a testament to this.
His parents, Mary and Joseph, were astonished by the wisdom that flowed from him, wisdom that was not expected from someone his age. This incident paints a vivid picture of the potential that lies within our children, potential that could be tapped into through religious education. By introducing Bibles in schools, we are providing our children with an opportunity to engage with the divine, to seek wisdom beyond their years and to share it with us. This is not about indoctrination, but about empowering our children with the tools to explore faith and morality, to question, to reflect and to grow.
This is an invitation to unlock the doors of wisdom in the hearts and minds of our children. It is a call to give them the chance to explore the teachings of the Bible, to engage with the stories, the parables, the lessons and to interpret them in their own unique ways. It is a chance to see the world through their eyes, to understand their perspectives and to learn from them just as much as they learn from us. It's a call to let our children lead us to new understandings, to show us things we did not know and to remind us of the wisdom that can be found in unexpected places. Like Mary and Joseph discovered, sometimes the wisdom we seek is right before our eyes in the hearts and minds of our children.
But what if not everyone agrees with this approach? Now that's a question we often encounter. It's a valid concern and it's one we can address through the lens of Romans 14. In this chapter of the Bible, we're reminded that we're not here to please everyone. We're here to follow our own faith and beliefs. It's a powerful message, one that resonates with us today, especially in the context of introducing Bibles in schools. You see, just as John the Baptist and Jesus faced criticism for their ways of living and teaching, so too may we face judgment from others. There may be those who question the validity of religious education, who challenge the place of the Bible in our classrooms. But it's important to remember that criticism is not a sign that we're on the wrong path. Quite the contrary. In fact, the presence of opposing views can serve as a testament to the strength of our convictions. It can remind us to stand firm in our beliefs, to hold steadfast in our faith. (Watch video below for more)
Comments