Torch, Winter 2012

Tell Me the Story of Jesus by Brandon Waltz, M.A. Fear is often used as a persuasive motivator in a Gospel presentation, but is it appropriate for children? Because of his experience in children’s ministry, Torch asked Brandon Waltz, director of HeartSong Ministries at Cedarville, some fundamental questions surrounding this debate. Why do some Christians use fear in child evangelism? Fear is an effective motivator. I don’t think the Church sat down at some point and said, “Let’s think up ways to scare children into the Kingdom,” but we have developed a way of presenting a message that speaks to people’s fear — of death and of hell — and it usually gets results. The question is whether they are the results we should be seeking. In your opinion, what is the fundamental problem with this method? The Gospel is about Jesus. The problem in explaining the Gospel, especially to children, comes when we make the message more about ourselves. When the Gospel becomes about what I am doing, it feeds into my fears when I’m doing poorly (“Is God out to get me because I’m not good enough?”) and it makes me prideful when I’m doing well (“I have earned my reward”). But when I view the Gospel as all about Jesus and what He has done for me, it transforms my thinking through its message of hope and joy. In child evangelism, we lean too much on how a child should respond. This approach to the Gospel is focused on what the child needs to do rather than on Jesus and what He did. This emphasis leads to a distorted view of the Gospel. Pastor and author Tim Keller has said, “The Bible is about Jesus — it’s not about us, but we make the Bible about us.” When we teach children the story of David and Goliath, we say, “Now you can defeat the ‘Goliaths’ in your life! You can be like David, bold and courageous for God.” We’ve made the story Viewpoints 18 TORCH | Winter 2012 SCOTT HUCK | CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY