Narrative and Neurons

“And we will tell (God’s teachings) to the next generation. We won’t keep secret the glorious deeds and the mighty miracles of the Lord.” Psalm 78:4

In their book, “The Humanizing Brain,” James B. Ashbrook and Carol Rausch point out that when we are born, our brains consist of billions of nerve cells, or neurons, but they are mostly unconnected to each other. Some connection are made naturally as we grow, like those that help us to walk. But many other pathways develop uniquely, reflecting the culture, family habits and beliefs we learn. As our experiences change, we actually grow new neural pathways.

Powerful experiences, including powerful religious experiences, actually lead the brain to “rewire” itself in new ways. Other power experiences can have the same effect. This knowledge should motivate us to speak and act often concerning the truths of God’s greatness.

This pattern of speaking, teaching and acting has the greatest effect upon our children when they are young. That is why, as Christians, we need to let our actions match up with our beliefs. “Telling” God’s greatness to the next generation is more than a simple exercise in catechism-type questions and answers.

That is not to disparage Catechism, itself, or rote teaching methods. But if they are not put into the context of a lifestyle filled with actions appropriate to those beliefs, we soon lose those we are trying to educate. Children learn mostly by imitation, not indoctrination.

The Christian parent should speak often of the things God has done. It is important to see this verse in context. The ancient world was full of story-telling. Every Hebrew could tell the incredible deliverance-story of God delivering their ancestors from Egypt. Filled with the wonder and awe of miracles, the stubbornness of the people, and God’s glory accompanied by grace, the story held the attention of every Jew, young or old.

We should be people who also regularly tell the story of deliverance. We should speak of the bondage that kept us enslaved, prisoners of our own self-focus called “sin”. We could not shake the constant master who made us consider our own needs foremost. It was with the greatest effort we made even the slightest progress in breaking the habits of vanity.

At exactly the right time, God sent a Hero, one who was our own flesh and blood. But, though human, this Hero was equally divine. He understood our temptations, yet never succumbed to them. Though full of the Father’s love and compassion, some of us were jealous of the Hero’s goodness.

Those that hated Him plotted His death. They dragged him to a mock trial in the middle of the night full of false accusations and illegal courtroom shenanigans. After beating Him bloody they finally sentenced Him to the cruel death of crucifixion.

We were aghast. We had hoped for the salvation we needed so desperately. Though hated by some, others had loved Him and supposed He would rid the world of all evil, and leave us who loved Him to live in a world without the aches of wickedness. Now we were at a loss what to say or think.

That weekend, after His crucifixion, was the longest that the world had ever waited. We wept, cried out, sulked, isolated ourselves and urgently sought some meaning in the horrible turn of events.

It was early Sunday morning when some of the women broke in on our wake. They told us a story that left our hearts pounding and our minds questioning even more deeply than we had until now. They had been to His tomb, to pay their respects. And the tomb was empty! No body in it at all!

They said an angel was there and said, “Why are you seeking the living among the dead?” He told them that our Hero Jesus was not dead at all…He was alive! It wasn’t so much that we doubted the women’s story, but some of us men ran out of the room and hurried to the tomb ourselves.

Two of the men found the tomb exactly as the women had said! Jesus’ burial wrapping were left on the ledge where they had laid the body. It was like He simply evaporated right out of the cloths. We were ecstatic! This changed everything. We knew for sure that He now was going to rid us of all the evil and leave us in Utopia, free and happy.

We were dense, I admit it. Jesus had a much greater plan in mind. I think I finally came to understand that I was a much a prisoner as those wicked folks who had actually crucified Jesus. And didn’t He say, “Father, forgive them”, about those very people? Jesus did come to conquer, but it was so different than I had expected. He came to conquer the human heart.

That is the story we have to tell. It is simple, real, and true. We must not”keep secret the glorious deeds and the mighty miracles of the Lord.” And, if you ask me, that is the best reason to speak and act the truths of Jesus in front of our children. And, why it is important they are brought to whatever “fellowship” my faith-group practices.

In the middle of “church”, our youngest ones, with those neurons still connection, can experience the same story we tell. They may not only hear us, but will have the opportunity to know the “glorious deeds…of the Lord” for themselves.