Biblical Understandings of Children and Childhood:

Marcia J. Bunge, Ph.D.Professor of Theology and Humanities Christ College, Valparaiso University

Director of the Child in Religion and Ethics Project Australia, July 2012

Biblical Understandings of Children and Childhood

• Provide a foundation for theologies of childhood and child theologies.

• Help strengthen the Church’s commitment to children.

The Bible expresses six insightful and central perspectives on children that can:

-broaden our conception of children -strengthen our commitment to them in all

areas of the Church-and provide a foundation for theologies

of childhood and child theologies

BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVES AND RESOURCES FOR THEOLOGIES OF CHILDHOOD

1. Gifts of God and Sources of Joy

(Ex: Genesis, Psalms, Jeremiah, John 16, Comenius, Luther)

2. Sinful Creatures and Moral Agents

(Ex: Genesis, Proverbs, Psalms, Romans)

• Born into a “state of sin.”• Carry out “actual sins.”• Infants and young children are not as sinful as

adults; they should be treated tenderly.• Some who viewed children as sinful also viewed

them as equals and thereby shattered barriers of gender, race and class. (Ex: Francke)

3. Developing Beings Who Need Instruction and Guidance

(Ex: Deuteronomy, Proverbs, Ephesians, Chrysostom, Comenius, Luther, Calvin)

4. Fully Human and Made in the Image of God

(Ex: Genesis, Cyprian, Rahner)

5. Models of Faith and Sources or Vehicles of

Revelation

(Ex: Samuel, Gospels, Schleiermacher)

6. Orphans, Neighbors, and Strangers in Need of Justice and Compassion

(Ex: Deuteronomy, Psalms, Gospels, James, Francke, Wesley, Brueggemann)

If we neglect the six biblical themes and focus on only one or two, then we risk falling into deficient understandings of children, and we risk treating children in inadequate and harmful ways.

Dangers of Narrow Understandings of Children

Examples of Dangers

• If: we view children primarily as gifts of God and models of faith

• Then: we might neglect nurturing and guiding them.

• If: we view children primarily as sinful and in need of instruction

• Then: we might neglect learning from and delighting in children.

Examples of Dangers

• If: we view children primarily as victims

• Then: we might neglect hearing their own voices and recognizing their own strengths.

Examples of Dangers

• If: we perceive children primarily as moral agents and participants

• Then: we might encourage them to use their gifts yet perhaps neglect to protect and guide them.

Examples of Dangers

• If: we focus primarily on nurturing only “our own” children

• Then: we might neglect reaching out to all children in need.

Examples of Dangers

Avoiding these Dangers

Incorporate a complex view of the child that holds together

the inherent paradoxes of being a child that are recognized in the Bible.

Holding onto biblical paradoxes and seeing children as:

– Fully human and made in the image of God yet also still developing and in need of instruction and guidance.

– Gifts of God and sources of joy yet also capable of selfish and sinful actions.

– Vulnerable and in need of protection yet also strong, insightful, and models of faith.

Holding in tension all six biblical perspectives of children will broaden our conception of children and strengthen our commitment to children in

many areas of the Church.

IMPLICATIONS

1. Enrich Worship, Spiritual Formation, and Religious Education

2. Strengthen Child, Youth, and Family Ministries

3. Advance Child Advocacy Efforts Nationally and Internationally

4. Support Faith-Based Organizations that Work with Children at Risk

The Child Development Training and Research Center

5. Strengthen theological education at seminaries and colleges so they include

attention to children.

How?

1. Ensure all students know that children (not just adults) are

-fully human,

-full members of the body of Christ, and

-gifts to the whole Church.

This helps foster:

ATTENTION TO CHILDREN ACROSS THE CURRICULUM

How?

2. Require and strengthen courses on religious education, child and family ministries, child advocacy, and faith-based organizations.

How?

3. Strengthen theological and ethical reflection to include both

– Theologies of childhood

– Child Theologies

WORKING TOGETHER AS MEMBERS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST

• All of us here honor and respect children.

• Together our work reflects attention to the six primary biblical perspectives regarding children.

WORKING TOGETHER WE ARE ABLE TO

• Attend to the complex needs and gifts of children.

• Work on many levels (locally and internationally).

• Work in many spheres (church, academy, public and political life).

• Share our work in many forms and types of discourse.