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How does belief in “naïve foolishness” (stage 1) contradict the idea of childhood innocence?
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It contradicts childhood innocence by reminding us that we are all born into sin. None are innocent, no not one, and we were born into a nature against God.
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Childhood innocence say we are corrupted by our environment and that is caused by trauma. Naive foolishness says event even that little itty bitty baby is corrupted. The doctrine of depravity, every inclination is evil from conception on. And this inclination is shaped by trauma.
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- I appreciated this topic because I have often felt like the idea of an innocent child and that we are all born with a sin nature to be contradictory. Scripture says that ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And that we are born with that nature. The explanation of a child having within their soul the compulsion to pull away from God and have things their own way explains why babies are not born innocent.
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Belief in naïve foolishness is based on the doctrines of original sin and the depravity of man’s soul. Hence, the most innocently looking child is not spared from sin. Even if it isn’t manifested overtly in rebellious behaviour, it is expressed covertly in selfish motives. The belief is that the child is already born in sin, and can only overcome sin by the power of the Holy Spirit.
On the other hand, the notion of childhood innocence assumes the child was born as an innocent self. It was bad experience that corrupts the child subsequently. If the child can be healed from these experiences, he will be good again.
#SoulCare
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Naive foolishness shows us that not even a newborn child, or a child at conception, is innocent. The Bible says, “In sin did my mother conceive me”. If we are born a sinner, if we are born foolish, we cannot be considered innocent.