I am not the biggest fan of post-apocalyptic films; none of them end well. Spoiler alert: Everyone dies nearly all the time. These movies always freak me out. They are too chaotic for me. There are no rules, no sense of social norms. There is very little trust, understanding or empathy. It’s godless, faithless and Darwin on steroids.
As I’m describing what a post-apocalyptic movie is like, many of you are agreeing, but many of you think I am overstating and simplifying the genre too much. What we all can agree on is that if we close our eyes and think about what I just described, the picture we are all drawn to is the high school we attended. The food: post-apocalyptic. The lack of trust and empathy: all very real. Darwinism on steroids.
While describing high school as post-apocalyptic might be overstating things a bit, one thing that has never been true of our world and youth culture is a collective lack of an objective moral standard. The seeds of post-modernity were sown years ago, and we are just now beginning to reap the firstfruits of this harvest.
I remember reading a news article on how, in the renovation of the Lincoln monument, they had planned to sandblast the Scripture verses off it. There was sufficient outcry, so the verses of Scripture remain. As I was reading, I was reminded afresh that our country was founded on the idea of a truth outside our small world that is far bigger than us. An external set of principles that guided men of faith and were respected by men who were didn’t share that same faith. It was the idea of a moral framework that held our country, a common grace that helped our country in good times and bad. There was prayer in schools, and the Ten Commandments was in our courtrooms.
Our kids don’t have that luxury. They are constantly bombarded by the incessant search for happiness in a culture whose motto is best articulated by Sheryl Crow’s famous lyrics, “If it makes you happy, it can’t be that bad.”
Our kids need to understand that the Bible is more than a tool, prop or answer book. It’s not primarily about us. It’s not even primarily about what we should do and shouldn’t do. It’s a letter, a story, a true fairy tale. It’s the unfolding story of a God who, at great cost to himself, lived a life we couldn’t live and died a death we should have died. After three days, he came back to life to defeat our two greatest enemies: fear and death. He now lives for us, interceding for us, and is one day coming back to—as J.R.R. Tolkien said—”make all the sad things about the world untrue.”
The Bible is God’s word. The Bible is our external source of truth. When you find a light view of Scripture in the life of a Christian, you often have a Christian who doesn’t understand what has been done for them.
The Bible, like all tools, only works if you use it. Part of the problem that parents have is they don’t read their own Bibles. You don’t need to use a reading plan; if it works for you, do it. Reading plans stress me out more than move me to worship. I remember times in my life when I was more excited to check a box than to read and appreciate the Bible for what it is. The Bible is not a box to be checked; it’s the unfolding love story of a King for his Kingdom and those who inhabit it.
How do we help our kids love the Bible?
One of the keys to helping kids love their Bible: Stay one Bible ahead of them.
I have this theory (I have lots of little theories): Kids don’t love their Bibles because we keep them in a Bible that is too young for them for too long. Why do we do this?
- We attach sentiment to the Bible they have
- We want to keep them babies forever
- We don’t know what Bibles are out there
One of the best kids’ Bibles ever written is the Jesus Storybook Bible. I gave it to my oldest son around a year and half ago. We have read each story at least three or four times each. But then I started noticing something this fall: He was becoming more interested in Harry Potter and Legos than he was in the Bible. I knew it was time for a change. I started looking for a new Bible.
My son was asking about Harry Potter, and I told him I don’t really like witches. He asked why. I told him I don’t like them because they try to do things without God’s help. We all do that sometimes; witches do it more often. I then told him there are witches in the Bible, but he didn’t believe me. I told him there are dragons and even stories of people getting killed with swords while on the toilet. He didn’t believe me because none of those stories were in his kids’ Bible. I knew then that getting a new Bible needed to happen soon.
I searched and found the perfect Bible for my boy. It’s called The Action Bible. It’s basically a revamp of The Picture Bible. It is done in cartoon style so kids can see the story unfold. It is the perfect transition Bible to one full of words.
I wrapped up my son’s new Bible. I was a bit nervous. He unwrapped it and didn’t react too much. I explained that this Bible had more stories than his last one. There were witches, battles and dragons. His eyes got huge. I started reading him the story of the witch of Endor, the dragon in Revelation, the story of Jesus casting demons into the pigs, and the valley of the dry bones (did I mention my oldest is a boy?). In the middle of the second story, he looked up at me and said, “Dad, I love my Bible.”
It was right then and there my newest theory was formed. This Bible is a bit old for my son, but it’s perfect. I think the reason many kids don’t love their Bible is their parents don’t stay one bible ahead. I have seen sixth-graders come to Uptown with Precious Moments Bibles and likewise have seen some second-graders with Ryre study Bibles.
Am I sad my oldest has outgrown the Jesus Storybook Bible? Yes. Am I glad he loves his Bible? You betcha.
Here is my stay-one-Bible-ahead plan for my kids.
Lift the Flap Bible – Sally Lloyd-Jones
Beginners Bible – Kelly Pully
Jesus Storybook Bible – Sally Lloyd-Jones
The Action Bible – Sergio Cariello
The Day by Day Bible – Karyn Henley
The Grow Bible – Crossway
Student’s Life Application Study Bible NLT –Tyndale
