Human Capital: The Value of Children
Throughout human history, societies have recognized that children are to be celebrated.
Articles within this series
- Overview
- Human Capital: America’s Forgotten Priority
- Human Capital: The Value of Children
- Next Steps / Related Information
The spiritual dimension
The value of children is rooted in much deeper values than the pragmatic principles Longman outlined. Throughout human history, societies have recognized that children are to be celebrated. The Jewish and Christian faiths have expressed the value of children among their most deeply held ethics – seeing childbearing as one of the primary purposes of the husband-wife union. These cultures have viewed the birth event as a time to celebrate their relationship as humans with a relational and creative God. In this God-centered worldview, marriage, children, and the propagation of the human race are intentionally spiritual and done to God’s glory. Throughout the Old Testament, the inability to bear a child was considered among the worst of calamities that could befall a woman. Psalms and Proverbs extol the value of children.1 Jesus was fond of children and often used them to illustrate the best characteristics of the Kingdom of God. Through most of the intervening centuries this ethic has held strong. Even in our own time, the nation riveted attention and showered admiration on a family who sacrificed to sustain a brain-dead mother long enough to bear her child alive.2
In keeping with our Christian heritage, Focus on the Family has always held the value of bearing and raising children as a central priority. One of Focus’ five published core value statements reads as follows:
We believe that children are a heritage from the Lord and a blessing from His hand. We are, therefore, accountable to Him for raising, shaping, and preparing them for a life of service to His Kingdom and to humanity.3
Thus, the societal trends to have fewer children—and to seriously undercompensate those who parent, teach, and mentor them—lead our nation not only into economic peril but also represent an injustice to the family from God’s point of view. To be sure, Focus on the Family would not classify itself as “fundamentalists” by Longman’s definition, even without some of the loaded language. However, he has a point: It may take more than economic incentive to motivate people to invest themselves fully in bearing and nurturing the next generation. We need to take care of children because it is the right thing to do. This commitment need not isolate families from the economic mainstream, but instead just might help the economy.
So what do we do?
First, it certainly would not be wrong to voice political support for the changes in the Social Security system proposed by Longman, and maybe even for some of those proposed by Kotlikoff and Burns. This would not be the first time conservative Christians have joined forces with others to accomplish a common goal, even given differing reasons for involvement – think about the anti-tobacco and sexual abstinence movements as cases in point. In addition, Christians can look for opportunities to have children (within marriage), educate and mentor them, and give our full support to those who do. Focus on the Family would never condemn a single person for not getting married, or a couple for not having children or for choosing a small family. Focus does, however, recommend that every individual Christian and family examine our motives, and pray to make sure we are not letting materialistic values govern our decisions.
At the very least, we can refuse to allow discrimination against children and their parents and mentors take hold in the church. We can assure that resources for child and youth ministries do not get diverted to other activities that might be more visible or prestigious for the congregation. We can see that those who minister to children are as well-compensated as other staff. We can make high-quality child care available for every young and middle-age adult function, so that parents of young children, including single parents, can participate fully. Finally, we can emphasize the value of children and families at every turn, from pulpits and in print and on-line publications. We must emphasize, and in some cases recapture, a reverence for the way in which marriage and children reflect God's image.
The further we move into the 21st century, the more obvious the human capital shortage will become. The church can lead the way by showing that spiritual and moral realities lead to the same conclusions as the economic and scientific principles recommended by secular scholars for the economic well-being of the nation. All come ultimately from the same source, the Author of Life.