Out of the Mouth of Babes

Questions asked to elementary kids: I’m going to suggest you read through this list of questions twice. The first time just for the fun of their answers. The second time to question not the kid’s responses, but what they’ve been taught that influenced their response.

1 – Adult: Where does God live?

• Kid #1: Heaven; Adult: Where is Heaven? Kid #1: In the clouds.
• Kid #2: North
• Kid #3: Somewhere far, far away
• Kid #4: California

2 – Adult: How does God hear your prayers?

• Kid #1: He is magic and all that
• Kid #2: Ears
• Kid #3: Walkie Talkie
• Kid #4: He comes down and listens to us
• Kid #5: Just fine; Adult: How does that work? Kid #5: So my dad doesn’t get mad at me

3 – Adult: If you weren’t a Christian, what would you be?

• Kid #1: A Mexican
• Kid #2: A giant
• Kid #3: A dad
• Kid #4: A pet keeper
• Kid #5: A hippy

4 – Adult: What does God look like?

• Kid #1: He has a beard
• Kid #2: Lots of wrinkles
• Kid #3: My grandpa
• Kid #4: Gandolph
• Kid #5: A hippy

5 – Adult: What question would You ask God?

• Kid #1: Why would You forgive people for doing bad things?
• Kid #2: Why did You choose a poor family to send Jesus down into?
• Kid #3: Can You change the way people think and act?
• Kid #4: Will You stop other people from making fun of other people?
• Kid #5: What am I going to look like when I’m old?

I think the take-home question for all of us is… do I have the freedom to question what I’ve been taught throughout the years that influences my responses to questions about God and about who I think I am? If I don’t feel the freedom to ask such questions, why do I not since God is not anxious about our questions?