Spiritual Formtion of Children

Frankfurter and Firefly Party.  The article headlines caught my eye in the religion section of my local newspaper.  A local church was hosting a party for children that included grilled hotdogs, s'mores, games until dark and then a firefly-catching contest.  The idea amused me as a creative and child-friendly activity. As I read on, my interest turned to disappointment.  The article continued, "The event will be included in a second of three one-day Christian formation experiences.  Children may attend the entire program or just the supper and contest, space is limited."1

The assumption that Christian formation can be summed up in a three-day experience or that any formation is as simple as food and games is a delusion.  Suggesting that children need not attend all of the day's events gives question to the purpose and importance of each activity planned for the day.  The very thought that Christian formation for children has a limited space is startling.

Spiritual formation has become a millennial buzzword in church ministry.  As this newspaper article illustrates, words can be easily misused and misinterpreted without clear understanding of meaning and significance.  Although spiritual formation is a ministry phrase of our day, the implication of spiritual formation is found in the Old Testament in God's law to Moses for the family and community structure for the Israelites. 

Most scholars use the term spiritual formation almost exclusively in reference to adults or teenagers.  Discussion of spiritual formation of childhood is difficult to find.2  I consider this not an offense, but the lack of understanding by church leaders and Christian educators in how to minister to children and their parents for the long-term effect it will have on the continuation of our faith and for the well being of our society. 

Some form of spiritual life is developing at a deep level in every child. "Healthy personal development prepares children for openness to God, whereas developmental dysfunction creates barriers to a life of trusting, growing faith.  To not be concerned about spiritual formation during childhood is to ignore the very foundations of the spiritual life."3  We must always remember that the Christian faith is never more than one generation from extinction.  Christian faith is not a matter of birthright or inheritance.4

I believe that the spiritual formation of children is reflected in the nature of God and in his creation and that God's vehicle for accomplishing spiritual formation of children is primarily through the institution of family. 

Spiritual formation is to know God personally and to become more like Jesus.  "Spiritual formation is a, step by step, stage by stage process through which a child, teenager, or adult is guided, encouraged, nurtured, admonished, and disciplined to embrace Christ as Savior and be discipled to develop as a Christian, through the work and power of the Holy Spirit."5

Spiritual formation integrates total personality development merging together the physical, intellectual, emotional, and social aspects with the spiritual as we guide a child in faith development.  It is the everyday living where God meets and walks with us, where we respond to God with our whole developing self.  Every portion of the journey is important because what we learn and whom we become along the way influences what we become in the future.6  God chooses to work not only within individual children but also through the families and faith communities in which they live and grow.  It is not the parent's responsibility to force a child's spiritual development, but to intentionally and systematically assist in a child's spiritual formation.  It is the church's opportunity to teach parents and assist them in the skills that will affect the spiritual lives of their children.7

In Scripture, the words children and family are often metaphors describing our relationship to God.  The biblical use of family includes such concepts as kinship, tribe, and nation, as well as individuals associated with one another through a common faith.8  The New Testament identifies the Church as the Body of Christ who cares for one another as the family of God.  In this paper the word family will encompass the child/care-giver relationship (two generations and residential) and the faith community most commonly known as the church. 

The family and the church, institutions both established by God, are so solidly joined that the success of the church's mission lies in part with the well being of its families. The church needs to help strengthen marriages and families in order to promote Christian morality.  The family is an agency of the church as parents evangelize and disciple their children.9

John Westerhoff III, in his book, "Will Our Children Have Faith?" concludes that it is only religion, not faith that can be taught.  Faith must be inspired within the family and faith community.  It is the spiritual life of the adults that surround children that attract them to awareness and trust in Christ.    Faith is inspired by the partnership of family and church.10

Looking at the ideal community sketched in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy, we find little instruction on child rearing.  But we do find a clear expression of the social context that God designed for the nurture of a child's faith and the success of passing on from one generation to the next as holy loving people of God.11  As we search the scriptures for insight in how to help children grow in faith, we find that the Israelites leave us with little to pattern after. Their selfish choices and compromising morals allowed faith to fall by the wayside.  Rituals became routine acts of obedience and worship was lost in paganism.12  The consistent testimony of the Old Testament remind us that our active nature does not naturally turn us toward the good or an obedience to a holy and loving God.13 

In the Book of Deuteronomy, God gives his charge to Moses for the Israelites.   Insights on teaching faith to children are embedded in the bigger picture of God's plan for His people.  It is in these verses that we find God's intention for the nurturing of children through parents, family, worship and the church.

1. “Frankfurter and Firefly Party,” The Daily Journal, 17 July 2003, Section C, 2.
2. Catherine Stonehouse, Joining Children On The Spiritual Journey (Grand Rapids:  Baker Books, 1998), 21.
   
3. Ibid.
4. Robert E. Clark, Joanne Brubaker, and Roy B. Zuck, Childhood Education In The Church (Chicago:  Moody Press, 1986), 21.
5. Kenneth O. Gangel and James C. Wilhoit, The Christian Educator’s Handbook On Spiritual Formation (Grand Rapids:  Baker Books, 1994), 234.
6. Stonehouse, 195.
7. Charles M. Sell, Family Ministry (Grand Rapids:  Zondervan Publishing House, 1995), 288.
8. Shirley K. Morgenthaler, Exploring Children’s Spiritual Formation (River Forest:  Pillar Press, 1999), 232.
9. Sell, 14.
10. John H. Westerhoff III, Will Our Children Have Faith (New York:  Seabury Press 1976), 26-40.
11. Lawrence O. Richards, A Theology Of Children’s Ministry (Grand Rapids:  Zondervan Publishing House, 1983), 18.
12. Stonehouse, 32-33.
13. Richards, 17.