God is abstract. He is invisible. He looks not at actions but the heart.
So people needed physical structures to meet ‘nowhere but everywhere’ God. We also needed a book in which we can visually read about what God wants from us. Yet, our individual relationship with God is considered spiritual realm. This makes it special and very individualistic, but it also makes it difficult to capture in words and pass them along. God is abstract.
So where do we start when we teach our children about God who is nowhere to be seen?
At very young age, their world is largely physical. If not seen now, it doesn’t exist. Then we need to start there. We need to emphasize the invisible, spiritual values that are so prevalent throughout our lives but not obvious in physical world. Love, care, responsibility, fairness, empathy, understanding are a few examples based on which kind and considerate actions and words develop. We need to guide our kids to perceive loving hearts behind kind words and jealous hearts behind hurtful words.
How is this going to help children learn more about abstract God? If they understand they’re surrounded by invisible values all around, it wouldn’t be too difficult to realize there is God behind scenes even though he is not physically seen. If the children can feel unseen values as strongly as they see the physical world, spiritual world becomes so natural.
Changing words, always, is the first easy step we can take. How we phrase things is how we shape our kids’ perspectives. Focus the language on invisible qualities. ‘Your heart is so kind; your words are warming my heart.’ ‘I am hurt by those words; it left a big scrape in my heart.’ ‘I felt like your dad really understood my concern and he lifted heavy boxes out of my heart.’ Using physical qualities to explain what is going on in heart can be a good way for younger children to visualize what is not visible.
With older children, we can emphasize abstract qualities like ‘trying,’ ‘struggles for the better,’ ‘commitment to priorities,’ ‘desires to help,’ and ‘seeking meanings.’ Open discussions about invisible realm behind visible actions and words is necessary. Questions would be asked about ‘what is behind desire to only do videogames,’ ‘what made them uncomfortable about this situation,’ or ‘why certain things are bigger deals for them?’ Asking these abstract questions that helps older kids to dig deep within their heart and find their own abstract answers is essential in spiritual lives. Sometimes one seemingly tiny action or word can blow up to be huge issues because there is something bigger going on in non-physical world. Understanding this difference and discerning what is truly important in the lives as christians will be their wisdom they need in order to make good choices in challenging situations.
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