Monday
Nov242003
Young evangelist
Monday, November 24, 2003 at 9:52AM
Last night, I overheard Christina (age 9 as of tomorrow) talk to Josiah (age 4) about, well, everything spiritual. She was giving him her theology of heaven (did a good job, actually), on how to live is Christ but to die is gain, about what Jesus did for us, and so on. Some of her theology sounded strangely Baptist (probably a little too much focus on the afterlife and not enough on now, for instance) but there was no question that she felt it important to have this "spiritual conversation" with Josiah. Last night, she prayed with Josiah as he committed to follow Jesus. She could hardly get to sleep after. I have no idea what happened (Josiah's only 4 and there's great danger in overestimating or underestimating what might have happened), but all I know is that I witnessed something beautiful. The faith of a child absolutely blows me away.
Reader Comments (6)
I say, yeah!!!! Why worry about what it means or not! It's just cool. And if nothing else, it's a step in both their journeys. No negativity here buddy, really exciting stuff, we analize too much tough. (there's a price to pay for our heritage). I share your joy in this one!
I felt the same way when Christina made a similar commitment at this age. Who knows? But it's stuck. I think I'm not as much in love with the sinner's prayer but I'm excited at what can happen at such a moment. And I'm pretty happy about this.
Hopefully there will be fruitfulness to substabtiate a credible profession of faith, but God's Spirit works mysteriously in His time like the wind. Like my recent bible study said you can see the effects of the Spirit but not tell much else (from John 3).
I overheard Christina say that in heaven, you don't sleep. That seemed to get his interest. No bed times.
That's cool stuff. Someone's done a good job of raising these kids. Keep up the good work.
My Madeline (4) was at the dinner table the other night and made a comment about God dying on a the cross. I tried to explain that it was actually Jesus that died; that if God died we're all in trouble. Maddy says, "but God and Jesus are the same person." Remind me to find that kid's Sunday School teacher.