Painful Role Models for Children 

Readings for this week:  2 Samuel 6: 1-5, 12b – 19; Psalm 24; Amos 7:7-15; Ephesians 1: 3 – 14; 

Mark 6:14-29;    http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearB_RCL/Pentecost/BProp10_RCL.html

Those of us who work with young children and delight in their presence cannot ignore the brutally gruesome image:  the young girl [i] asks for the head of John the Baptist on a platter, no less, and presents it to her mother (Mark 6: 25-29). 

Why would God allow such a miserable image in the holy book?  Why was a child necessary?  Why

On the one hand, I believe the scholars who suggest such inappropriate images in the Bible validate its authenticity.  Certainly today, such words would not be “politically correct” and would be eliminated by the slash of an editorial pen. 

On the other hand, do these references speak to the importance of the seemingly lowly in God’s plan?  Herod and Herodias wielded the power yet it was a lowly child who enacted the evil.  Painfully, the girl’s mother used her for evil gain.  Shamefully, the father delighted in his young daughter’s dancing.

When I interviewed children for my research, they clearly turn to their parents, family members and friends of the family for role models.  We are called to contemplate prayerfully the evil role models Herod and Herodias performed for their daughter. 

Children are vulnerable and at risk in the home and in the community.  There are at least two child protection issues this raises for us:

1.  Certainly, God’s church has been shamed by the evil behavior towards children within the church revealed over recent decades in both Catholic and Protestant denominations. 

How do we build frameworks to protect children within the church from rare, though horrifying evil?

2.  We promote--- as we should--- a family ministry approach over taking children in isolation from their families to minister to them. 

How do we work with families and protect children from evil that occurs in rare circumstances such as this one?

It is so difficult and unpleasant to reflect upon pain suffered by children in our culture of prosperity.  Yet we must confront it solemnly and prayerfully.  How is God calling us to respond lovingly and protectively?

Reflections with Children:  
This conversation would be unsafe and inappropriate with children under 7 or 8 years although children may raise the issue themselves at a younger age and should get a straight, but simple response.
*  What clues suggest to you that somebody is doing something evil or wrong?  How can you tell?
*  How can we respond when people ask us to do evil things?
*  How might you have responded if you were the young girl?
*  What if the person who asks you to do evil is a family friend?
*  What if the person were a family member?
*  With whom in your family might you talk about such a thing?
*  Imagine you have a child friend who feels something is wrong or unsafe at their home in their family.  With whom might you suggest another child talk outside his or her family?


Reflections with Adults, including Children's Pastors and Teachers
*  What positive role models did you experience as a child?
*  Did you every experience any evil adults or adults who did things you had been taught were wrong?  How did you feel?  How did you respond?  With whom did you talk about it?
*  How did you learn right from wrong?
*  If children tell you something is wrong, how might you respond, even if you think it could be a fanciful story?
*  What kinds of boundaries do we set for children, at home, school, the church and community to protect them from evil?
*  What kinds of evil or wrong-doing do you think might build character and what kinds do you think would have long-term negative impacts on a child?  How do you know?  What makes you think that way?  

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[i] Κορασιον.  (Korasion) is translated as a young girl, the same Greek word used in Mk 5: 42 in which the girl is identified as 12 years old;  likely indicates the onset of puberty although in many cases refers to a little girl (diminutive form)  (James Strong.  The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words.  1996.  Nashville:  Thomas Nelson.   #2877 and Nida, Eugene A. and Johannes P. Louw.  1996.  Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based Upon Semantic Domains.  United Bible Societies.