They’re So Innocent
My girls, I mean. My older daughter is nine, and my younger daughter is seven. We’ve taken great care to shelter them from a lot of things. We censor the television shows and movies they watch, the books they read, the music they listen to… There’s a lot of trash out there, and granted many things will just go over their heads when they are young. However, now that we are reading the Bible together, the girls are getting quite the education! The Bible is God’s Holy Word, and I believe that it contains everything we need for right and holy living. The cool thing about it is that God tells it like it is. Sin came into the world almost from the very beginning, and with it came evil and wickedness of all kinds. We’re just starting to get to the stories of Sodom and Gomorrah (you know where the term sodomy came from, don’t you?), but I’m thinking we’ll probably skip over a few parts.
This past week we were reading in Genesis 17 together before school. The part about God making a covenant with Abraham. Here’s the gist of the story:
“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, … You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, … The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God… Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.” Genesis 17: 1, 5, 8, 10, 11
From the seven-year-old: “Mom? What’s circumcision?”
Oh great.
Yes, I explained what it was to them. Then I sent them off to school and didn’t think anything about it. That night as I was tucking my youngest into bed, I asked her if she learned anything from our Bible reading that morning.
Her response: “Yeah, I learned about cutting the skin off the boy’s wee-wee.” Giggle, giggle. “And I told Brett W. about it at school.” Giggle, giggle.
Yes, I think we are officially skipping the chapters about Sodom and Gomorrah. They can read about that when they are older.
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But isn’t censoring exactly the wrong approach? Either it IS a family lecture containing everything we need for right and holy living, in which case your children should read every single story, e.g. how just and righteous Lot drunkenly impregnates both his daughters in Genesis 19:35-37, or how God sends two bears to maul 42 children for calling a bald man a bald man (2 Kings 2:23-24), or it just ISN’T.
My two oldest are boys so the circumcision thing has been an easier topic for us. I agree that there is a lot of stuff contained in the Good Word that is just a bit too much for little ears. It can be downright embarrassing sometimes. 🙂
Out of the mouths of babes…lol. The Bible truly makes for entertaining reading. I wish more people would read it. I’m taking it very slowly…one chapter at a time.
If you don’t mind me asking ,what type of bible are you using to read with them? Is it a children’s bible? I am on the hunt for a nice children’s bible for my kids and would love any suggestions if anyone has any.
thanks!
@Andrea – The Bible is indeed God’s Word with everything we need – in due time. There are plenty of “adult” topics that we will discuss with them when they are ready to comprehend them. They just aren’t ready yet.
@Jeanette – We are reading together out of the NIV, but the girls each have Bibles of their own that are NIRV – New International Reader’s Version.
rofl!
So great you’re reading with your family!! I remember when I was teaching an early morning religion class to high school aged kids, we got to that part. One of the girls asked what it was. I told her that it was a sign of covenant between God and his chosen people. As soon as I got home I called her mom and let her know what happened so SHE could educate her daugher one on one as the girl would have been MORTIFIED had I explained it during class. BUT it’s an event I’ll NEVER forget!! LOL
BTW I’d skip Song of Solomon if I were you:)
oh how wonderful. lol
The bible is not “quite the education”. A lot of things written in the bible are just plain wrong. The earth is older than 6000 years, we do not originate from two people and you cannot heal leprosy by laying on of hands.
Please, give your daughters books about animals, or about stars, or about the human body to inspire them! That’s what I read when I was a kid, and now I am a doctor and CAN heal people.
@Dr. Andie – I’m sorry you feel this way. I highly recommend that you check out The Truth Project for more information about the Bible’s validity and the Christian worldview. It’s highly scientific – I think you would appreciate it.
“Lesson 5 – Science: What is True?
Science, the “systematic study of the natural world,” brings to light innumerable evidences of Intelligent Design. But Darwinian theory transforms science from the honest investigation of nature into a vehicle for propagating a godless philosophy. ” –The Truth Project
It is not at all scientific. There aren’t “innumerable evidences of Intelligent Design”, there isn’t even one. Or can someone name one?
I feel sorry for your kids, who are not allowed to be inspired and humbled and amazed by real science and the natural wonders they can experience with their senses, but have to read a book which is evidently false.
@Dr. Andie – You are attempting to debunk an argument you haven’t even heard. I find it more a lot more difficult to believe the theory of evolution – based on the lack of scientific evidence – than to believe in a Creator. If you really want to know if the Bible is true, I suggest you study it. God promises to reveal himself through His Word. Start with the gospel of John. He loves you – more than you will ever know.
P.S. Science and natural wonders become even more amazing in light of God’s Word.
Psalm 19:1-4
Censoring at a certain age is certainly a good choice for responsible parents, these things can be discussed later there is no great rush. Moral standards, I will not go into that as it is a personal choice, some don’t know what it means. I am quite they will be taught about all the sordid bits and other things like evolution other religions and beliefs all in good time. Doctors, herbalists, holistic doctors and naturopaths provide the tools ie medicine or treatment for the body to heal it’s self. Miracles and also the other side of things like possession do happen. Oh boy Doc has a lot to learn, if by chance they get the opportunity to witness one of these phenomenas will they go running to the head doctor. There are many people who have witnessed these happenings and they are quite sane. There are also many who will never see or experience these happenings in their lifetime.