For Strong Faith, Children need Critical Thinking Skills

I’ve seen the atheists’ billboard that reads, “Think before you believe.” I’d say it this way, “Think because you believe.”

God gave humans a beautiful, brilliant mind as his image bearers. He also likens us to sheep, knowing our propensity to follow the crowd.

Parents who love Jesus and want to impart a strong faith to their children must teach their children to be thinkers. Like all discipleship, this begins with parents developing their own critical thinking skills.

After all, we can’t give our children what we don’t have.

Critical thinking has nothing to do with criticizing. It simply means we pay attention to the beliefs and behaviors we see around us, and then we evaluate those thoughts and actions to see if they are based in the truth.

This applies to things other believers say, too. Again, we are sheep. We must remind ourselves and each other of the truth, rather than parroting the world

Here are just two examples of common sayings which fail to measure up to the truth:

“God never gives us more than we can handle.” 

Really? Who can “handle” the death of a family member, betrayal by a friend, cancer, or financial disaster?

The Bible says God will never tempt us beyond what we can bear (I Corinthians 10:13).  Nowhere does God say he won’t give us more than we can handle.

Rather, the hardships of life cause us to lean into his strength, because we can’t handle them.

“Everything happens for a reason.”

Not so much. We live in a broken world full of the chaotic effects of sin. The fact that God uses difficulty to shape our character does not mean he wants hard things to happen or that he plans them.

Sometimes the reason for our hardships is our own rebellion or foolishness; many times, senseless and random difficulties hit us simply because we live on a sin-sick planet which has yet to be renewed.

Paul writes,

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” –Romans 8:28

That’s God’s redemptive gospel plan at work – a far cry from karma and the fatalism of Eastern religion!

You and your children repeatedly encounter beliefs like this which do not line up to the truth of God’s Word.

So how do we live out the gospel truth and help our children sort this all out?

1. Be in the Bible, every day. Read it, study it, memorize it, meditate on it (that means think deeply about it and fill yourself with it
2. Pray for wisdom. James 1:5 says God will give wisdom to those who ask.
3. Listen to God’s voice. John 16:13 says “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” Many times God will draw my attention to a common saying I’ve heard forever, and suddenly I will see that it’s incorrect.
4. Pursue good teaching. Go to church and Bible study. Listen to sermon podcasts. Read books written by sharp thinkers in the faith. Hang out with people who do the same thing.
5. Teach your children to be in the Bible, to pray for wisdom, to listen to God’s voice, and to pay attention at children’s church or Sunday school.
6. Talk about the messages your children receive in our society which do not line up to God’s word. Compare them to what God says. This makes for great dinner conversations!

You have a brilliant mind and the privilege of helping your children develop theirs.

May God give you wisdom and supernatural insight as you teach your child how to think.