How to Teach Children that the Bible is True
What you call something is very important. As a parent, you were very aware of that when you named your children. Your children bear the meaning or the connotation of that name for life.
The lines from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet refer to this:
“What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”
The Bible places great importance on the meaning of names. Names were sometimes changed as the result of events.
God changed Abram’s name to Abraham and his wife’s name, Sarai, to Sarah when He told Abraham they would be the parents of many nations. Saul’s name was changed to Paul when he encountered God and Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter, the rock, when He informed Peter of his leadership role in the church. I have heard of people even in today’s time changing their names when they become Christians.
The naming of writings is also important. When we call the events and lessons in the Bible “stories” we imply that they are just that – stories. Children associate “stories” with make believe.
As a child, I loved to read fairy tales. Everything always turned out right for the hero or heroine. The beautiful girl always got her handsome knight and they always lived happily ever after. The heroes or heroines didn’t have any flaws or weaknesses. If they did, they found help from dragons or witches.
Being a very imaginative child, I could have lived in this world of make believe. Fortunately, God placed me in a home where the Bible was taught as truth and Grimm’s fairy tales as just what they are- make believe.
In the same way, you can make the Bible real to your children by teaching them that the events of the Bible are not fiction but reality. The Bible is a history book, although it is also much more.
The lessons we learn from the Bible are based on real events, like Jonah being swallowed by a big fish because he didn’t obey God and brave Queen Esther risking her life to save her people, the Jews. Then you then tell your children why you choose to live according to the Bible.
In this way, you can build the same character traits in your children that they have seen in the heroes and heroines of the Bible.
The Bible is non-fiction. In calling the events of the Bible history, which they are, you can correlate the history noted in the Bible with the history events that are taught in school.
For example, Jonah was dealing with that big fish at about the time that the First Olympic Games took place in 776 B.C. Your children will realize that Bible events are as much a part of history as the events they learn of in Social Studies.
Another method of making the Bible real is to learn about archaeology. Study what has been found that relates to the Bible. Ancient cities and artifacts discovered by archaeologists show that Bible events really happened. Visit museums that display this material and artifacts.
As your children discover that the Bible is real, their faith in God and the Bible will grow stronger and more solid because now they have a blueprint and directions to follow.
Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com
And now, I invite you to visit www.RuthWillms.com and download a chapter of my Christian children’s novel The Lion Tree to share with your children tonight. When you request your free chapter, you’ll also receive my monthly tips on talking to your kids about God and activities you can do as a family to learn about knowing Jesus. Ruth Willms is a Christian children’s author and parent educator who gives parents tools to teach Biblical principles to today’s children.
