I have question

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Malivengood2003

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My 4 year old heard during Mass the words Jesus Christ. He turned to me and asked me who Christ was. When I told him it was Jesus, whom he knows and at his tender age has come to love, he called me a liar. I then got into a debate with him (during mass). I feel horrible about that. :banghead: I can’t figure out how to tell him the truth. :hmmm: Any ideals? I can’t figure anything out and I am at my wits end.
:blessyou:
Myrna
 
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Malivengood2003:
My 4 year old heard during Mass the words Jesus Christ. He turned to me and asked me who Christ was. When I told him it was Jesus, whom he knows and at his tender age has come to love, he called me a liar. I then got into a debate with him (during mass). I feel horrible about that. :banghead: I can’t figure out how to tell him the truth. :hmmm: Any ideals? I can’t figure anything out and I am at my wits end.
:blessyou:
Myrna
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Your 4 yr old called you a liar? There’s another problem in itself.
 
Maybe he’s heard the name of Christ used as a curse word? He might be confused as to why his beloved Jesus is being called a bad word? Just a guess.
 
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Della:
Maybe he’s heard the name of Christ used as a curse word? He might be confused as to why his beloved Jesus is being called a bad word? Just a guess.
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I know I NEVER used it. I don’t swear. He may have heard it from an uncle I know. But, I am not going to speculate. I just want to convince him of the truth. 😦

Myrna
 
get an illustrated Catholic children’s bible story book with the Life of Christ, or a good video, or both for him, so he can be introduced to the good news about Jesus. then answer his questions. you can also begin to teach him that using the name of Jesus must always be done with reverence, never as a swear word.
 
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mikew262:
Your 4 yr old called you a liar? There’s another problem in itself.
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He got that in school. I confronted the teacher about it. one of the other kids goes around calling everyone a liar. He’s a spounge. He absorbes things and doesn’t really get that it hurts. I am working with him. The teachers are keeping the other kid under control.

Myrna
 
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Malivengood2003:
I know I NEVER used it. I don’t swear. He may have heard it from an uncle I know. But, I am not going to speculate. I just want to convince him of the truth. 😦

Myrna
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Well, what I mean is if he did hear his uncle use the name Christ as a swear word, he may equate that name with something bad. And since his beloved Jesus cannot be anything bad, he can’t understand why Jesus is also known as Christ. Do you think?
 
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Della:
Well, what I mean is if he did hear his uncle use the name Christ as a swear word, he may equate that name with something bad. And since his beloved Jesus cannot be anything bad, he can’t understand why Jesus is also known as Christ. Do you think?
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Could be. I really never thought of that. Hummmmm…So any ideals on how to counter that. I tried getting the bible out and showing him. He just kinda looked at me as if to say “so what’s your point.”

Myrna
 
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Malivengood2003:
He got that in school. I confronted the teacher about it. one of the other kids goes around calling everyone a liar. He’s a spounge. He absorbes things and doesn’t really get that it hurts. I am working with him. The teachers are keeping the other kid under control.

Myrna
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Okie Dokie!
 
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Malivengood2003:
Could be. I really never thought of that. Hummmmm…So any ideals on how to counter that. I tried getting the bible out and showing him. He just kinda looked at me as if to say “so what’s your point.”

Myrna
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If this is what is behind all this, you’ll have to explain that some people use Jesus’ title of Christ or both his name and title in the wrong way, a very bad thing for them to do, but that doesn’t mean that Jesus’ title of Christ is bad. You can tell him that Christ means someone who saves others, so it isn’t a bad word even if people use it in a bad way. Something to that effect.
 
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dhgray:
Just tell him that “Christ” is Jesus’ last name.
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Precisely what I was about to say.

What’s your name?
Johnny.
That’s right! Johnny Smith.
Uh-huh.
What’s His name? (pointing at statue, picture, icon, etc)
Jesus.
That’s right! Jesus Christ.
Nuh-uh. He’s not Christ.
Yup. It’s his last name, just like Smith is your last name. Johnny Smith. Jesus Christ.

After this little crisis passes, you can introduce ICXC (Greek. IC is Isous–Jesus. XC is Christos–Christ). Show how it is inscribed on crosses, etc to show Jesus Christ’s name. That Christ means Messiah. That sort of stuff.
 
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dhgray:
Just tell him that “Christ” is Jesus’ last name.
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Except that it’s not, and eventually he may draw erroneous conclusions from that, such as that Christ must have been Joseph’s and Mary’s last name as well. Eventually he will figure it out, but then he may wonder what other things about Jesus you may not have been completely honest about.
 
JB.:
Except that it’s not,
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How is it not? A child of 4 does not understand the patristical lineage and historical signifigance of a last name. There is no problem in explaining concepts in terms and ideas that a young child can comprehend. If his name is Johnny and that’s all he’s ever known, then some relative starts calling him Lee, the child will not comprehend “that’s your name” and will argue it, and will need to be explained that his name is “Johnny Lee Smith” and that he has two names. It’s not that he really has two names, but a first and a middle. The child isn’t asking for the history of last names, but how Jesus could have two different names. Answer what the child is really asking in a way the child can understand. They’re both his name, just like Johnny and Lee are both your names.
and eventually he may draw erroneous conclusions from that, such as that Christ must have been Joseph’s and Mary’s last name as well.
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Eventually allowing him to draw his own conclusions would be silly. A wise parent, knowing that her child was struggling with the concept, would clarify it to the child’s understanding. This would most likely be done in stages. It wouldn’t just stop with “that’s his last name.” But that idea would then be built upon and explained when the initial message was absorbed and comprehended, which is what I said previously as well.
Eventually he will figure it out, but then he may wonder what other things about Jesus you may not have been completely honest about.
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There is a difference between dishonesty and explaining something to a child’s worldview. The former shouldn’t be an option, while the latter is a necessity of good parenting. It also requires continuously building upon it as the child learns and grows, and not leaving the answer at the elementary level.
 
JB.:
Except that it’s not, and eventually he may draw erroneous conclusions from that, such as that Christ must have been Joseph’s and Mary’s last name as well. Eventually he will figure it out, but then he may wonder what other things about Jesus you may not have been completely honest about.
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I don’t have children, so keep that in mind, but this is the same thing I thought of. Jesus is Jesus’ name. And He is the Christ. Christ is not His last name. I was a very literal child, always told I couldn’t “take a joke”. If I was told this as a child I’d be pretty disallusioned when I found out the truth. I guess technically Jesus’ last name would be “Bar Joseph”, since His legal father is Joseph.

Maybe start by asking your son why he said you were lying, and get a dialogue going that way. If he seems standoffish, say that you are not angry with him, you want to answer his question. Then afterward reiterate about calling his elders a liar, even if he doesn’t understand what they are saying could be true.

Good explanations here: http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/incaa3.htm
 
Oh my. There is a very easy way to help a 4 yo understand that Jesus can also be called Christ.

Use the simple example of yourself and the many titles or names you have and then the same with Jesus.

You are “mommy” to him, to Daddy you are “Darling”, to your friends you are “Brenda” (okay, use your name here instead of mine), to his friends you are “Mrs. Smith”, to your parents you are “daughter”, to your siblings you are “sister” - I am sure you get the idea now.

Once you use this, then show him that Jesus has several names or titles too, “Jesus”, “the Christ”, “Christ”, “Messiah”, “Rabbi or Teacher”, “Son of God”, “God the Son (as in the second person of the Trinity)”.

This is a simple exercise I have used with five year olds to get across the different names for Jesus. I used to teach kindergarden CCD but am now teaching first grade 🙂

Brenda V.
 
Brenda V.:
Oh my. There is a very easy way to help a 4 yo understand that Jesus can also be called Christ.

Use the simple example of yourself and the many titles or names you have and then the same with Jesus.

You are “mommy” to him, to Daddy you are “Darling”, to your friends you are “Brenda” (okay, use your name here instead of mine), to his friends you are “Mrs. Smith”, to your parents you are “daughter”, to your siblings you are “sister” - I am sure you get the idea now.

Once you use this, then show him that Jesus has several names or titles too, “Jesus”, “the Christ”, “Christ”, “Messiah”, “Rabbi or Teacher”, “Son of God”, “God the Son (as in the second person of the Trinity)”.

This is a simple exercise I have used with five year olds to get across the different names for Jesus. I used to teach kindergarden CCD but am now teaching first grade 🙂

Brenda V.
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Brenda:
That’s awesome . . . I will have to remember this with my godson as he gets older (or my kids if I’m ever blessed with them!)

This may be a Holy Spirit moment because I just started thinking of doing the youngest CCD I can (my first “I wanna be” was “preschool/kindergarten teacher”).

But I’m hijacking the thread. Just wanted to give you kudos. This explanation deals with the difference between a given name and titles/forms of address, their meanings. Love it.
 
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Malivengood2003:
My 4 year old heard during Mass the words Jesus Christ. He turned to me and asked me who Christ was. When I told him it was Jesus, whom he knows and at his tender age has come to love, he called me a liar. I then got into a debate with him (during mass). I feel horrible about that. :banghead: I can’t figure out how to tell him the truth. :hmmm: Any ideals? I can’t figure anything out and I am at my wits end.
:blessyou:
Myrna
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At this age I would tell him that Christ is Jesus’ last name. He is Jesus Christ, just like you are John Smith. 🙂
 
I wanted to share my funny story about my four year old. Little Joe looked up at me sweetly and said, “I like Jesus. He is my friend.”

Of course, I was pleased. Then the ten year old wanted in on the action, “yes, Joe, and he is your father, too.”

Then, Joe’s little face screwed up, “Jesus is not my father!! I hate Jesus!”

later, I told the story to my mom who was horrified. So, she said, “Joe, God is my father. God is Mommy’s father. God is Daddy’s father.”

Joe seemed to accept that. And, the next day he turned to me and said, “Grandpa is God.”

My MIL liked that one.

We’re working on the doctrinal deficiencies.
 
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