The value of children

A vision of God’s kingdom

Streets of gold. Walls of precious stones. The divinely lit city with its parade of kings. A vast multiethnic and multilingual crowd standing before the throne. The crystal-clear river flowing from the throne with the tree of life on both sides. If you ask me to picture the new creation, my mental image is likely to be full of these huge vistas from Revelation. But as I was researching this article, my attention was hooked by the more intimate vision in Zechariah 8.

Like Revelation, the vision in Zechariah 8 focuses on the New Jerusalem and in particular on its streets. But the description of Revelation’s main street – its Piccadilly Circus, if you like – focuses on its transparent gold paving (Rev. 21:21) and its function as a conduit for the river of the water of life (Rev. 22:1). By contrast, Zechariah takes in all of the city’s public spaces – and his focus is on the people who inhabit them. He takes in the old men and the old women, sitting in these streets with their walking sticks in their hands (Zech. 8:4). And he sees the mass of boys and girls playing in those same streets (Zech. 8:5). 

The idyll of Zechariah 8 involves such complete security that its most vulnerable citizens are able to relax completely in its public spaces without any reference to human means of defence.¹ There are no soldiers and there are no swords. There are neither strong towers nor fortified gates. Nor is the focus on productivity – a stark contrast to most cultures throughout history, even for the very young and very old.² In this city, the old may sit and the young may play. It’s probably quite noisy! But you’re hearing neither the screams of war nor the churn of the daily grind. It’s the sound of security – of rest and joy. In the idyll of Zechariah 8, children are completely at home. They belong. And it’s a beautiful portrait of the Bible’s famous statement about children: “the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matt. 19:14; par. Mark 10:14; Luke 18:16) God’s kingdom is where children should be. How can that be the case if they are not infinitely valued by our God now?

Letting children speak

So there you have a brief introduction to the topic from a biblical studies angle, since that’s my particular field of study and I wanted to share the joy! But I’d like to spend the majority of this piece allowing children to express their own views and reflecting on what they have said.³ Because as I read about the theology of children, the observation that struck me the most was this: children are rarely given a platform to speak for themselves about themselves.⁴

With that in mind, Graham Nicholls and I contacted various parents we know and requested that they ask their children the following question: “What do you think it means that children (0-18s) have value?” I am extremely thankful for the willingness of those families to discuss my question and particularly to the 22 children for sharing their thoughts with me. I should add (particularly given the relatively small sample size) that this article is not intended to be a comprehensive report about what UK children in Christian households believe about the value of those aged 0-18. Instead, I hope that these children’s insights provide us with a helpful starting point for reflecting further on our own assumptions about the value of children – and an encouragement to find out what your own children think.

I have divided the children’s responses into general categories on the basis of what they have chosen to focus on (which means that some responses will appear twice). Let me encourage you to read the children’s responses prayerfully, slowly and reflectively. There may well be things with which you reasonably disagree. But they also have plenty to teach us – and, as Boaz, Theo, Isaac and Phoebe particularly emphasise, perhaps the most important lesson for us to learn is the importance of making time to listen. After all, the Lord often uses children to reveal divine truths that the adults around them miss (1 Sam. 2:27-3:18; 1 Sam. 19-37; Ps. 8:2; Matt. 21:15-16; Luke 2:41-50).

Children have value because… of their future impact

– “Because they can study and give knowledge to others.” (Sahith, aged 9)
– “I believe we carry potential and represent the future. I can have an impact in people’s lives.” (Emmanuel, aged 10)
– “Because they are growing and developing.” (Grace, aged 11)
– “​​Children have value because they are the next generation, and they carry our culture.” (Akshith, aged 13)
– “I think children have value because they are basically the future of society – because society does not function without babies.” (Natalia, aged 13)
– “Children have value because they are the opportunity of the next generation to thrive and succeed in the things the past ones couldn’t. Children should be educated and cared for to allow them to grow and achieve great things and do the same for their children.” (Lucas, aged 15)

Children have value because… they are like adults

– “I think children have value because they can copy from grown ups.” (Frank, aged 9)
– “I think it means that children can show the same values that an adult shows, such as responsibility, honesty and maturity.” (Miguel, aged 12)
– “When adults really listen to us and don’t just think we always want to break the rules. And sometimes letting kids be kids and not always expecting children to be perfect. But I always feel valued when adults want to talk to me and know about me, and include us in conversations or events.” (Phoebe, aged 15)

Children have value because… of their intrinsic worth

– “Because they do.” (Ada, aged 4)
– “Children have value because they matter, deserve love, and should be listened to and cared for.” (Tadisa, aged 11)

Children have value because… adults give it to them

– “Because they have human rights.” (Josie, aged 7)
– “Children have value because their mummy and daddy love them. But some mummies don’t love their children. We are special because God made us and loves us and will forgive us even when we make the wrong choices.” (Tabitha, aged 8)

Children have value because… God made them

– “Because they are all God’s children.” (Boaz, aged 6)
– “Children have value because their mummy and daddy love them. But some mummies don’t love their children. We are special because God made us and loves us and will forgive us even when we make the wrong choices.” (Tabitha, aged 8)
– “We’re special because God made us. He made us by saying one word.” (Barney, aged 10)
– “It means God made everyone and loves everyone. That the God of the universe took time even to make children in his image shows they have value and worth. When I compare myself with others and feel worthless then it is good to remind myself that we’re both made in the same image by the same God.” (Charlotte, aged 16)

Children have value because… of what they currently have and experience

– “Because they have bodies and houses and gardens.” (Lucia, aged 4)
– “Because I try my best.” (Simeon, aged 6)
– “I think children matter because they have different experiences and different things that have happened to them in their life.” (Lois, aged 8)

Children have value and so…

– “I feel valued when I am with my family and we’re all together and playing a game or spending time together. I do not feel valued when people don’t seem to care about me.” (Boaz, aged 10)
– “Not always saying ‘no’ to children’s ideas, they could have some importance.” (Theo, aged 11)
– “Not making assumptions about children, like whether they are going to break things or mess things up. Not being condescending. If adults are engaging in conversation with you and they want to talk to you, and understand you. That’s good.” (Isaac, aged 14)
– “When adults really listen to us and don’t just think we always want to break the rules. And sometimes letting kids be kids and not always expecting children to be perfect. But I always feel valued when adults want to talk to me and know about me, and include us in conversations or events.” (Phoebe, aged 15)

Reflecting on the children’s contributions

What struck you as you read those 22 responses? Which responses particularly resonated with you? What did you find encouraging? Were there any responses with which you disagreed? Which responses challenged you? And which responses made you smile?

There are so many things I could say in response to any one of those questions. A few rapid-fire reflections. Lucia’s answer made me smile. Natalia’s point is eminently practical.  Tabitha’s contribution is heartbreaking – both because we know she is right and because, at eight, she’s seen enough of this world’s brokenness to be right. I was struck by how profound the youngest children’s responses are. I was humbled by how seriously Sahith, Emmanuel, Akshith and Lucas take their cultural and social responsibilities. I thought six-year-old Boaz, Barney and Charlotte really helpfully articulate biblical explanations for where children get their value from. 

I think my biggest lesson came from the many responses that touch on the connection between children’s value and how they should therefore be treated by others. These children rightly expect that those who value them would demonstrate it by welcoming their presence, passing on wisdom, rejoicing in their godliness, showing grace when they make mistakes and encouraging their contributions. The children want to see that adults’ beliefs are matched by our attitudes and practices. James would have cheered them on with gusto (Jas. 2:14-26).

And so I’m not going to wrap up this article by reflecting on Genesis 1:27, Psalm 139:13-15, Matthew 19:14, 1 Timothy 4:12 and other relevant passages. I imagine we’re all familiar with them and their significance for this topic. I assume that we’re all on board with the truth that children are young image-bearers who are loved and valued by God to the extent that he sent his Son to die for them in order to call them into an eternal relationship with him – a relationship that is built on faith and displayed in Christ-like living.

Instead, I want to challenge all of us to reflect on how we put that doctrine into practice. 

Let’s prayerfully consider whether our belief in the value of children matches up with how we perceive them. When we look at a child (whether related to us or not), who exactly do we see? Do we consistently see a dearly loved image-bearer? Do we always see someone for whom Jesus willingly went to the cross? If the child is not a Christian themselves, do we remember that Jesus is lovingly and continually calling them to be in a relationship with him? If the child is a Christian, do we consider that Jesus has joyfully assigned them tasks of their own to do for him – even today? Either way, do we appreciate how much the Lord wants us to learn from children? Do we appreciate that children are growing people and are we expecting that they will have both high points and low points as they learn new skills? And are we ready to extend grace (as well, yes, as age-appropriate consequences) when they remind us that they’re sinners just like we are?

Let’s also consider how our attitude, words and actions can either validate or put the lie to our beliefs. To bring this home in one particular sphere, does what we say – both in words and body language – convey to children that we’re glad they’re present in our churches? Are we evidently thankful for them? Do we regularly pray for them and for their families, leaders and teachers? Do we make space for children to serve the church family in age-appropriate ways? Do we put in the effort to understand them, both as individuals and as a generation? Do we make the time to hear their hopes and regrets, their fears and ideas? 

This last section – this whole article, really – is really me challenging myself as I think about the children in my life: my nieces and nephews, my next-door neighbours and my church’s children. But I hope that it also spurs you to consider how you perceive and relate to the children in your life. My prayer, for you and for me, is that this is an area in which we would grow by leaps and bounds as we work at emulating our God – the One who made and values all children – by consistently holding out his love to them. After all, this is the God who has (as Zechariah and Jesus remind us) designed his kingdom specifically to include them. Let’s model that kingdom now.

1. Yair Zakovitch, ‘A Garden of Eden in the Squares of Jerusalem: Zachariah 8:4-6’, Gregorianum 87, no. 2 (2006): 303, https://www.jstor.org/stable/23581589. ↩︎
2. Julia M. O’Brien, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Abingdon Old Testament Commentaries (Abingdon Press, 2004), 176–78, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/gla/detail.action?docID=5014602. ↩︎
3. For the sake of brevity and to avoid confusion about the age group under discussion, this article will not refer to teenagers, youth or young people but will instead consistently use ‘child’ or ‘children’ when referring to anyone in the whole 0-18 age range. ↩︎
4. Jessica Bratt Carle, Children, Theology, and Bioethics: Beyond Autonomy (Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, 2024), 3. ↩︎