Easter was a few weeks ago and as the Children’s Ministry Director it is very important to choose the best way to teach the Easter message. There are a lot of different ages in my classroom and Jesus’ death is a heavy but important topic. I (and the Church) want to be teaching truth in a way that kids can understand but also does not diminish the truth.
Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection matters. It matters as much to a sinner of 50 or a sinner of 5. We are all humans who put things ahead of God, we all sin and fall short of His glory, we all make decisions that grieve His heart. But the good news of the Gospel and of Jesus’ sacrifice means that we can be reconciled to God. Those who believe, accept, and trust in Jesus are saved. That is the very basis of our faith.
Now how do we teach this to children, how do we tell them the truth of the evils in the world and the hope that exists because of Christ? The first thing to think about is that Children can see the sin and brokenness of this world, although we shelter them from many terrible things and prevent them (as much as is possible) from learning of certain things too young, sin is very prevalent in this world and kids are not immune to sinning or to feeling its consequences. This makes them knowing the hope and future that Jesus promises all the more important.
Seeing the sin in the world does not mean that we need to tell small children about everything that is wrong in the world. We can still protect them and not explain evil that they do not need to know about in details. “People being very mean to each other and hurting each other out of selfishness” is a suitable replacement for sins that they don’t need to know about in detail. But we need to be careful to not edit the world and the Bible to in a way that changes the story and runs the risk of lying to them. Jesus was tortured and suffered, that is a fact and to change that fact sets the story on a foundation of lies. It might go over easier right now, but when the kids get older and learn the true facts there will be problems.
Children are capable and always learning, they will decipher the world around them whether we like it or not. We need to be the teachers of truth in their lives. This applies to parents, guardians, and teachers, but it also applies to any of those in the church who interact with children. When you are asked a question, answer honestly, do not be afraid of the truth. Children are smart, they are building their faith and understanding of the world, the things they learn at young ages build the foundations for their beliefs for the rest of their lives.
A child who is upset over the pain that Jesus went through will not benefit from the answer “Oh Jesus didn’t suffer too bad, it was just a little boo-boo.” it might make them less upset now, but it does not help them come to terms with the magnitude of the sacrifice that Jesus made. A better answer would be “Jesus was hurt very badly and it is sad, but He rose again and He is in heaven waiting for us and giving us hope for life with Him.” Truth is important to God and should be important to all of those who deliver His message.
Do not be afraid of the truth and do not underestimate children’s abilities to understand the truth. Ages 5 and 50 both deserve the hope, healing, and new life that comes from the Cross.
I will leave you with a verse that I consider often when planning and teaching in Kids Ministry and some resources about practical ways to talk about the cross. “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6 NIV)
https://foundationworldview.com/blog/teaching-kids-about-the-resurrection
