Child Capacity:  Human and Divine

Readings for June 24, 2012:  1 Samuel 17: (1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49
; Psalm 9:9-20 or 1 Samuel 17:57-18:5, 10-16; 
Psalm 133; Job 38:1-11; Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13
;  Mark 4:35-41

When I broke my leg, my orthopedic surgeon asked about my doctoral research. I told him I was studying how children form compassion and he replied with a snicker, “Children compassionate?  Isn’t that an oxymoron?”  Goliath, fatefully, had a similar reaction to David, “he disdained him, for he was only a youth…”(I Sam. 17:42).  In our Western culture it seems we are so quick to dismiss the cognitive, physical and social capacity of children. 

Jean Piaget, a cognitive developmental theorist of the mid-1900’s defined children’s moral development as rule-bound, as if they were merely able to copy, to codify the rules of the adults whom they respect (Piaget 1948)[i]. But, this is much too simplistic a reading of children’s capacity.  Recent neuropsychology research has shown that as young as 12-14 months, securely attached toddlers can anticipate the goal of another person and the help that person needs to achieve their goal (Tomasello 2009;  Thompson 2006;  View the video clips of the amazing findings of Tomasello and Warneken (Warneken research) if you are not convinced from your own experience. [ii] But what about the spiritual capacity of children? Warneken Research

We must not limit our perspective of children to human capacity alone-- that was Goliath's mistake!  Child theology calls to “place a child in the midst” (Matthew 18:1-6) and wonder why God has placed David, a mere child, to achieve this victory? [iii]

What enables David, a shepherd boy, who has fought off bears and lions to protect a lamb (I Sam. 17: 34-35), to rise to the challenge for God?  The text offers these insights:

1.  Right Heart: God saw in David, (“God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart” (I Sam. 16:7)) and saw a man “after His own heart” (I Sam. 13:14).  In Mark 4:

2.  Right Motivation: David wanted no heart of Saul’s army would to fail (I Sam. 17:31) from an army who “taunted, defied” God’s ways (I Sam. 17:26b).

3.  Right Spirit:  God’ Spirit “came mightily upon David” (I Sam 16: 13).  David, a child, did not do this alone; We must not glorify the child but be humbled by the child acting in the power of God’s Spirit!  “David was prospering in all his ways for the Lord was with him (I Sam 18:14).   It is not the child who holds magical powers, but the child in God’s hands who has power.  In the reading from Corinthians, Paul asks, “I speak to you as children, open wide your hearts also” (II Cor. 6:13). 

These biblical passages speak to a “both/and” view of child capacity.  Children BOTH have far more capacity than modern theories have led us to perceive AND they have limitless power when they are acting in the Spirit of God.  How does this understanding speak to us as children's teachers and pastors?  How does this understanding speak to us as adults learning to walk with God? 

Reflections with Children

What things do you do well?  In what ways do you sense your heart is pleasing to, right with God?  This story is from a different place and time: Jesus calls us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44).  In what ways do you see people today not following God’s ways?  How might you use “love” as your weapon? Are there any ways you are not following God’s ways?  How does God use love to invite you to His ways? 

Reflections for Teachers and Pastors 

Why did God use a child in this story?  What traits of a child make him the perfect fit to convey the message?  How can we shift our thinking from seeing children as in need of our direction, our telling, our lecturing to seeing children as capacity-laden? How can we humbly walk alongside children, to observe, to listen, to reflect with them about their experiences?  How can we help them see the strength in being with God in their day-to-day lives, not just the Goliath battles?  How can we help children see the world through God’s eyes, to recognize and resolve issues through God’s ways, all within our secure protection, open invitation and guided reflection?

Reflections for Adults

In what ways is our heart right with God?  In what ways is it difficult for us to give up our own “autonomy” and walk humbly with God?  In what ways is it difficult to let God’s ways direct our paths?  Our American culture is built upon the strength of individual creativity and “know how.”  How do we hold onto that creativity and listen to God?  Killing, especially inviting a child to kill, seems antithetical to Jesus’ teachings.  How does this violent story resonate with Jesus’ teaching and our cultural views of peace today?  Where are the seeming disconnects of stories in the Old Testament and Jesus’ lifestyle of peace and compassion?  How do we reconcile the two?  In the verses in Mark, Jesus challenges the disciples to be at peace, “Why are you afraid?  Have you still no faith?”  (Mk. 4:39-40) In what ways does our faith enable us to let go of our individuality and autonomy? 

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[i] Piaget, Jean. 1948. The Moral Judgement of the Child. Translated by M. Gabain. Glencoe, IL: The Free Press.

[ii] The fields of neuro- and cultural-pychology call this capacity to take the perspective of another as “theory of mind,” meaning the child can generate a theory of what is going on in the mind of another.  Tomasello. 2009. Why We Cooperate. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.  Thompson, Ross A. 2006. The Development of the Person: Social Understanding, Relationships, Conscience, Self. In Social, Emotional and Personality Development, edited by V. E. Nancy Eisenberg. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons.

[iii] White, Keith J.  2012.  Introducing Child Theology:  Theological Foundations for Holistic Child Development.  Compassion Intl.  http://www.hcd-alliance.org.  Accessed June 1, 2012.