Dealing with students is a great way to learn about children.
One intersting observation incited this week was when a couple students, one a white girl and the other a black boy, were discussing the election last week.
The boy expressed his joy over the outcome. The girl accused him openly of onl liking Obama because the president-elect is black. They argued about this a while, freely and openly, even to the point where the young man admitted taht he thought Obama would do a better job because he is black, which was then challenged again by the girl.
While they were both passionate about their opinions, they allowed the expression of their opinions without a whole lot of tension or offense … and they still acted civily towards one another.
Some might have heard some tof the exchange and considered it racist to even mention such thoughts, but I saw only two young people unhibited enough to ignore modern notions of being politically correct.
This led me to meditate upon how children generally don’t have a lot of inhibitions we have as adults. Micah points out my big belly, sticks his own out and says, “I have a belly like yours.” He thanks God for his penis. He comments on Saji’s dark skin. He notices differences and makes comments that some would consider insensitive … but he’s just pointing out the obvious that we all notice but don’t feel the liberty to express. Am I to hush and shame him out of some pseudo kindness we’ve created? Of course we don’t with children, but why do we lose the innocence of honesty that can help us be real and open?
I guess what I’m wondering is (and I don’t necessarily have a full answer here) how much of our call to be “like a child” to enter the Kingdom includes losing culturally imposed inhibitions so we can be real, genuine and guileless?
Of course certain inhibitions are good. But many about race and sex and gender and socio-economic status are counter-productive to being real, open, and genuine. And those barriers keep us from community and discipleship.
We’re too easily offended by some things and then fine with things God is offended about (a whole ‘nuther post some day …). And we’re afraid of being offensive, as well. Truth sets you free. These cultural mores cause us, Christians, to put up a facade with one another, something different on the outside than what’s really going on inside. We’re afraid of being transparent – for a whole host of reasons – but that fear is the opposite of love. It is a type of hypocrisy that we either accept or even encourage. But God generally hates it.
Again, I’m not saying I have all the answers here, only that I’m meditating openly on the benefits of a Church willing to talk about and express things that our society might consider rude.
There are plenty of examples where Jesus and the original twelve did very socially unacceptable things. Not that they sought them out, but He was willing, if the Lord so led or openedthe door, to break the sacred rules of man in the name of love and compassion.
Any thoughts?
Peace.
I’m with you on this. Do we (adults) self-censor too often because we lack discernment? We seem to forget about the heart of the matter. As long as you are calm and smiling the whole time and you don’t use certain words you can cut others down all you want.
I was thinking about inappropriate adult characters in TV and movies. The difference with their lines is that they have the purpose of causing damage. Childlike honesty doesn’t do that. It doesn’t have a self-promoting agenda. I guess that’s part of the love and compassion thing.
All that to say, great post.
Good word! It has become increasingly evident that people love themselves more than they love the Truth. I determined long ago that I will embrace the Truth no matter how it comes packaged or whatever it costs me.
As Christians, we must keep our hearts within rock-throwing-distance of the judgment seat of Christ–never losng sight of it. To this end, we must live our lives.