Collaborative on Global Children's Issues

Valuing Children

Children possess great value and significance in biblical teachings, with a special status and dignity in God's creation. Children are also complete and whole individuals who share a discrete relationship with God and play an instrumental role in achieving God's plan for the world. According to Genesis 1:27, God created humanity "male and female" in His own image. Children are a means of continuing this divine image, as illustrated in Genesis 5:1-3 when Adam became the father of a son, Seth, in his likeness and image. Other children were also begotten through them, perpetuating the propagation of God's image.

The Bible stresses the inherent value and significance of every child, even before their birth. Psalm 139:13 highlights that children are intentionally formed by God in the womb and are known to Him even before their birth. Additionally, the gospel of Luke records the prophecy of the angel Gabriel about the yet-to-be-born child John, who will precede Jesus “to turn the hearts of parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, preparing a people for the Lord.” Hence, children are not simply products of chance or biology but are deliberately created and recognized by God.

When we acknowledge children as bearers of God's image and recognize their intrinsic value, we create a sturdy foundation for their care, protection, well-being, and empowerment.

Protecting Children from Harm

God’s embrace of a child is unconditional and non-discriminatory, and the Bible places great emphasis on protecting children from harm and exploitation. According to the Bible, children are gifts and signs of blessings from God. He is thus especially outraged by the deliberate torture and killing of children. In various passages, such as Job 24:9, Nehemiah 5:5, and Joel 3:3, the Bible condemns the selling and trading of children as slaves or commodities.

In Jeremiah 19:4-5, God declares that spilling the blood of innocent children is a grave sin. Other passages, such as Jeremiah 32:35 and Ezekiel 16:20, 20:31, and 23:37-39, also portray God's anger towards those who harm children. The Bible even describes a sense of horror at the deliberate killing of children, as seen in Amos 1:13 and Psalm 94:6.

The Bible specifically addresses the need to protect vulnerable children, particularly orphans. Isaiah 10:2, Ezekiel 22:7, Jeremiah 7:6 and 22:3, Zechariah 7:10, and Malachi 3:5 all warn against oppressing and mistreating the fatherless. In Old Testament Israel, there were legal and moral codes that focused on the treatment of widows and orphans. For instance, Exodus 22:22-24 states that one should not take advantage of a widow or an orphan and that God will hear their cry and punish those who harm them. Other passages, such as Deuteronomy 10:18, 14:29, 24:17-21, and 27:19, also emphasize the importance of protecting the vulnerable.

Hence, the Bible makes it clear that children, particularly the vulnerable, should be protected from harm and mistreatment. These teachings provide a timeless reminder that we should all work towards ensuring the safety and well-being of children and to stand up for their rights when they are threatened.

Education and Nurture

The Bible recognizes that children are in a state of transition and their development is mediated by many agents including parents, the household, and the community.

In this transient state, children are vulnerable, requiring nurture, education, and guidance. Parents are responsible for training their children in the right way, disciplining them appropriately, and teaching them about God's faithfulness, as seen in Proverbs 22:6, Proverbs 13:24, and Deuteronomy 11:18-19.

Adults are charged with the responsibility of ensuring that children receive proper education and preparation for life. Luke 2:52 highlights how Jesus grew up in wisdom and stature, finding favor with both God and Man. In addition to education, parents are also responsible for nurturing their children and providing an environment of positive nurture, as seen in Proverbs 17:6 and Ephesians 6:1-4.

Children are also active participants in their own development. In this capacity, children encounter and experience both good and evil, the latter to their own harm. Thus, it is crucial for parents, families, and caregivers to provide them with the necessary protection and nurture. This will enable children to grow up to be well-adjusted and responsible adults, equipped to face the challenges of life. God enables parents to play their role by motivating children with the promise of a good and long life on earth if they honor their father and mother (Ephesians 6:2-3).

Empowering Children to Participate and Contribute to Community Life

Children are central in God’s relationship with humanity and provide the model for adults on what God desires.

In Matthew 18:2-4, Jesus uses the example of a child to teach his disciples about the essence of the kingdom of heaven. By placing a child in the midst of a theological debate, Jesus challenges the norm of children being ignored or overlooked in public life. He emphasizes the importance of childlike qualities such as humility, trust, and openness as necessary traits to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Children are also active participants in the life of a community. Jesus' inclusion of children in his ministry is evident in Matthew 19:14, where he rebukes his disciples for sending children away, stating that "the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Moreover, children actively participated in Jesus' ministry, as evident in Matthew 21:15, where they jubilantly chant "Hosanna to the Son of David" in the temple courts. In addition, children are portrayed as problem-solvers in the ministry of Jesus, exemplified in John 6:1-14. The Bible reports that when faced with the daunting task of feeding a large crowd, Jesus utilized the five loaves and two fish offered by a young boy, which enabled him to provide sustenance for the multitude.

Jesus' teachings and actions emphasize the need to empower children to participate and contribute to community life. Indeed, the importance of children in public life is further highlighted in Jeremiah 9:21, where the absence of children in public squares is a sign of a society in poor health.

Conclusion

Children have great value in biblical teachings, deserving of dignity, protection, and nurturing. However, we should not only focus on protecting them from harm but also empower them to participate and contribute to community life. As modeled in scripture, it is important to not only listen to children but also recognize and affirm their ability to contribute to decision-making, especially those that affect them. This requires adults to embrace a more emancipated concept of children that acknowledges and values their unique perspectives and voice.

Rev. Fred Nyabera is a social scientist and a trained theologian whose interest is in development work. He holds a bachelor of arts in sociology and anthropology from the University of Nairobi; bachelor of divinity (master of divinity equivalent) from Union Biblical Seminary, India; and post-graduate studies in conflict transformation with Eastern Mennonite University, Virginia. He is also currently pursuing a master’s degree in organizational leadership at Africa International University, Kenya. Rev. Nyabera has previously served as a pastor at the Nairobi Baptist Church and Karen Community Church. He also served as the executive director of the Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa (FECCLAHA), the regional peacebuilding and conflict transformation faith-based non-governmental organization which has a membership base in nine Eastern Africa countries. In addition, he has worked with Inua Kenya Foundation, focusing on good governance and peacebuilding in East Africa, as its executive director.