Key to Lasting Spirituality Can Be Found in Children

By Mark Hoerrner

The role of spirituality in the life of a child is different from that of adults. In fact, the perception of the divine in children is clearer, though the child may not understand the need or reason for a belief in God. But the faith is somewhat purer, most experts say, and can give adult Christians clues to enhancing their own belief.

A good working definition of child spirituality "is the child's development of a conscious relationship with God, in Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, within the context of a community of believers that fosters that relationship, as well as the child's understanding of--and response to--that relationship," according to Dr. Holly Allen, associate professor at John Brown University.

Jesus made note in his discussions with the apostles that to perfect a relationship with God, one must become like a child. It’s because of this that mature believers should readily consider not only a childlike faith, but should consider the directly the faith of a child from a scholarly and biblical perspective.

Allen advocates "intergenerational bible study," as she believes children learn a deeper faith through the social modeling of Christian study and behavior. In addition, children participate in the learning process which creates a more educated believer.

Researchers Dan Brewster and Patrick McDonald say, however, that there are many reasons to develop the spiritual side of children. The two propose three reasons for such a movement.

"The first, overriding reason for focus on children is that, more than any other segment of humanity," Brewster and McDonald say in The Great Omission, "children suffer, in a sense paying for the sins of adults.Today more than 37 percent of our children live in absolute poverty—a total of 674 million children."

The second reason lies in the fact that children make up one of the largest groups of humans on the planet.

"Almost one-third of the world’s population—nearly 2 billion people—is under the age of fifteen," Brewster and McDonald report.

Social modeling theory reinforces the Omission’s third reason—the ability to reach children during a time when their consciousness is still molding, while the children are still open to concepts.

"Childhood is the most formative and therefore the most strategic stage of life," the researchers note. "To shape an adult—each a child. Children need our attention more urgently than any other group of people, for childhood is quickly over."

George Barna, head of the Barna Research Group, agrees with the social theory.

"Absorption of biblical information and principles typically peaks during the preteen years," Barna says. "Habits related to the practice of one’s faith develop when one is young and change surprisingly little over time."