The Violation of Object Permanence

The Brain's Pathway to Childlike Faith

Dedicated to Jessica Snyder Vaught, Age 13

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There’s a place called Babylab – a division of the Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development at the University of London – where researchers are studying toddlers to help us understand how young peoples’ minds function.  One study gauges a child’s degree of what the scientists call “Object Permanence.”  When a very young person’s looking at something, and that something moves out of view, the child behaves as though the object simply no longer exists – with no surprise or reaction whatsoever.  There’s no experience that qualifies a child to have the ability to perceive object permanence. 

Luke 18:15.  Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.  16.  But Yahshua called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of Elohim.  17.  Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of Elohim like a child shall not enter it.”  18.  And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”  19.  And Yahshua said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but Elohim alone.  20.  You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’“  21.  And he said, “All these I have observed from my youth.”  22.  And when Yahshua heard it, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”  23.  But when he heard this he became sad, for he was very rich. 

(Kata Mattyah) Matthew 18:1  In that hour, the talmidim came to Yahshua, saying, Who then is greatest in the malkuth shamayim? 2 And calling a little yelad to him, he placed him in the midst of them. 3 He said, Amein I tell you, unless you turn and become as little yeladim, you will in no way enter into the malkuth shamayim. 4 So whoever will humble himself as this little yelad, that one is rab in the malkuth shamayim. 5 And whoever will receive one such little yelad in my name, that one receives me. 6 But whoever will trap (skandalish) one of these little ones who believes in me, it would be better for him if a grinding-stone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Psalms 8: {For the Chief Musician; on an instrument of Gath. A Psalm by David.} Yahweh, our Master, how majestic is your name in all the earth, who has set your glory above the heavens! From the lips of babes and infants you have established strength, because of your adversaries, that you might silence the enemy and the avenger.  When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained; what is man, that you think of him? What is the son of man, that you care for him?  For you have made him a little lower than Elohim, and crowned him with glory and honor.  You make him ruler over the works of your hands. You have put all things under his feet: All sheep and cattle, yes, and the animals of the field, The birds of the sky, the fish of the sea, and whatever passes through the paths of the seas.  Yahweh, our Master, how majestic is your name in all the earth! (WEB)

Jessica

   The class was studying sea mammals.  Jessica asked her teacher if he thought a whale swallowed Jonah as she’d learned in Sabbath School.  Mr. Cox said, “No, Jessica – a whale couldn’t swallow a man because, though a whale’s a huge sea mammal, it’s throat’s too small for a man to pass through.”  “Oh,” said Jessica, “When I get to heaven I’ll ask Jonah about it.”  Mr. Cox, the man of science, challenged her: “What if Jonah didn’t make it to Heaven but went to the bad place?  Then what?”  Jessica was full of faith, so she didn’t have to think too long about that.  She shot back, “In that case, Mr. Cox, maybe you could ask him.”

   Later, the art teacher, Mrs. Cloud, was watching the students as they drew portraits.  She walked around the room, but stopped behind Jessica’s desk.  Mrs. Cloud observed that, though Jessica’s work was interesting, she didn’t appear to be drawing a portrait.  “Who are you drawing, young lady?” Mrs. Cloud asked Jessica.  She replied, “It’s a portrait of our Father in Heaven.”  Mrs. Cloud wanted to get Jessica back on course, to draw a portrait of mother or Santa, the Easter Bunny or Brittany Spears.  So Mrs. Cloud challenged Jessica, “Nobody knows what Elohim looks like, Jessica.”  Instantly, the girl replied, “Oh, but they will in a minute!”

   The next Sabbath morning, Mr. Brown, Jessica’s Sunday School teacher, was talking about the fifth commandment, “honor thy father and thy mother.”  Mr. Brown asked the class a tough question: “Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?”  Jessica found that to be an easy question since she had a two-year old brother.  “Mr. Brown, how about ‘Thou shalt not kill,’” she replied.

   After Sabbath dinner at home, Jessica was helping her mother stack the dishwasher.  “How come a few of your hairs are so white,” she asked her mom.  Mom answered, “Well, every time you make me cry, a hair turns white.”  Jessica thought about this revelation for just a moment then reasoned, “Oh, no wonder Grampa has that big white beard.”

   That evening Jessica went to youth group at church.  For the snack, there was a pile of apples and a big plate of cookies.  The group leader, Miss Anderson, put a sign up on the apples.  “Take only one apple. Elohim is watching.”  Jessica thought this was a good idea.  She made her own sign and put it with the plate of cookies.  Her sign said, “Take all the cookies you want. Elohim’s watching the apples.”

   On that Sabbath night, Jessica laid herself down to sleep, intending to pray the L-rd her soul to keep.  But she prayed, “Father in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.  Please remember Mr. Cox, Mrs. Cloud, Mr. Brown, Miss Anderson, Mom and Dad and Grampa and Gramma, and all my friends today.  And help me be a good witness for you this coming week.  And thank you for your son, who lives in my heart.  And if I die before I wake, I pray the L-rd my soul to take.  Amen.”

Goo Goo, Gaa Gaa

   Some people say Yahshua loved children so much that he said to his disciples when they would prevent them, “Suffer the children to come unto me – do not hinder them.”  And we see a picture in our mind of Yahshua playing checkers and laughing with the children –having a genuinely good time.  Children can be a lot of fun to those adults who’re young at heart. 

   Then again, for some others, children are a hindrance: noisy, disruptive, but necessary.  This week, someone told me, “My grandchildren visited last week.  I love my grandchildren – for about ten minutes.  Then I’m ready for ‘em to go home.” 

   On the other hand, young children generally aren’t yet jaded by the ways of the world – they still have the potential for believing things adults have already dismissed as impossible or even ridiculous. 

   The young believe in miracles, my friend.  Why? 

The Nazarene Acts of the Apostles, aka The Recognitions of Clement, a new, true names translation of one of the most important sources of first-century religious practice.  Generous Glossary. (Hear an excerpt.)   The Odes of Shalome, A New, True Names Setting of the earliest excusively Nazorean songbook.  (Hear an excerpt.) These and many more rare new translations are available at Apostolia.us.

Object Permanence

   There’s a place called Babylab – a division of the Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development at the University of London – where researchers are studying toddlers to help us understand how young peoples’ minds function.  One study gauges a child’s degree of what the scientists call “Object Permanence.”  Adults know that, when a train disappears into a tunnel, it has to be inside the tunnel for a while before exiting out the other.  If the tunnel’s raised after the train goes in – and there’s no train in there – adults sense the trick, because adults readily perceive that the train’s disappearance is a violation of object permanence.  There may be a little surprise or some other reaction in an adult when something disappears.  It’s an automatic response: like the bewilderment we feel when a coin disappears from a magician’s hand.

  But when a very young person’s looking at something, and that something moves out of view, the child behaves as though the object simply no longer exists – with no surprise or reaction whatsoever.  There’s no experience that qualifies a child to have the ability to perceive object permanence. 

   Researchers at the Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development measured the brain waves of young children as they watched a cartoon of a train disappearing into a tunnel.  The tunnel is then lifted, but the train isn’t inside.  The results: though the child isn’t surprised by this in any way (as an adult might be), there’s still an electrical spike in the child’s brain when the tunnel’s lifted and the train’s disappeared.  Though there’s no noticeable behavioral change, this spike causes researchers to believe that “babies are (inherently) trying to maintain a mental representation of the train in the face of visual evidence to the contrary.”[1]

   What this shows a theologian is that, though the potential for realistic thinking is there, evidenced in the electrical spike caused by the disappearance of the train, young children simply don’t yet react to the violation of object permanence, or what we might call “the violation of a physical law of the universe.”  This experiment gives us evidence that human beings are hard-wired to be level-headed realists, but there is a space of time in which a child is open to ideas and perceptions that adults don’t consider real.  The implication is that children, especially young children, can be extremely open to faith issues, belief in the supernatural, and expectancy that, when they pray with seriousness, their prayers will be answered.

When Children Pray

   This being the case, there’re a couple issues I’d like to bring up about children and faith.  The first is that the spiritual discernment and faith-based activities of children can be very successful; for when children pray with seriousness and concern, supernatural answers come quickly.  If you’re sick, the very best thing you can do is find a faith-filled child to take your need to the heavenly Father in prayer.  I personally learned that, when my children were young, making them aware of a personal need and having them pray often led to very speedy answers.

   LaVerne Hall tells us about one child’s natural gift of faith in desperate circumstances:

The fields were parched and brown from lack of rain. Days turned into arid weeks. No rain came. The ministers called for an hour of prayer on the town square. They requested everyone bring an object of faith for inspiration. The townspeople turned out en masse. The ministers were touched to see the variety of objects clutched in prayerful hands - holy books, crosses, rosaries. When the hour ended, a soft rain began to fall. Cheers swept through the crowd as they held high their their [sacred] objects in gratitude. From the middle of the crowd one faith symbol overshadowed all the others. A nine-year-old [girl] had brought an umbrella.[2]

The holy things others brought might’ve increased their faith, but only the youngster thought to carry what was going to be practical when the miracle she expected fully manifested.

Discipleship of Children Essential

   On the other hand, as most children become teens, they advance without the benefit of discipleship, and, as a result of innocent curiosity and openness to the unseen world, become terrorized by demons – often for the rest of their lives.  Psychologist Ken Olson recounts a conversation he had with a fourteen-year old experimenter.  The boy testified:

One day I wanted to see if I could conjure up a demon from the earth, so I made a circle in my back yard. I started chanting, commanding a demon to appear. It worked! A huge demon appeared in the circle and I was terrified. I didn’t know what to do with [it]. I believe now I have demons in me and I’m really scared.  (See my sermon, Psychic Friends or Spiritual Gifts?)

   A lot of teens feel this way.  Maybe this is why the leading causes of death among teens are car accidents while intoxicated and suicide.  Notice how innocent the play seems and how serious the consequences become. This boy felt he was invaded by demons, and he was, as the psychologist diagnosed. Just a few words led to his oppression because he was still a child in his mind, unable to fully experience object permanence, completely open to disaster.

   Now consider what motion pictures like The Harry Potter series, which has been described as a video handbook of black witchcraft, might do to a curious child, experimenting with evil powers.  Many kids do such experimenting, with chants, drugs, spells, games – there’re plenty of books and videos to help kids conjure destructive, devilish entities.

   But this need not be so.  Children aren’t born to be cast into the flames of Moloch – but, they may be bred that way, either intentionally, through abuse (which includes allowing them to view diabolical films) or neglect (neglecting to train a child up in the way he should go).  Children are created to be worshipers of Yahweh, providing Him with perfect praise and us with perfect protection. 

   Didn’t the inspired prophet speak of our children in his wonderful prayer of Psalms 8:

“O Yahweh, our Sovereign, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.  Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest quiet the enemy and the avenger.” (Psalms 8:1,2) 

Yahshua himself quoted and amplified this passage when he spoke of the faith of children:

For when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that Yahshua did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, And said unto Yahshua, Hearest thou what these [children] say? And Yahshua saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?  (Matthew 21:15,16, quoting LXX?)

   So we can see by the truth of Scripture that Yahweh has an important intention for Elohimly children, even babes, far beyond learning the rules of sports, the latest video apocalypse or dance craze, or even the alphabet.  Children will be spiritual powerhouses; for which side of the great controversy is up to Yahweh and you – parent, grandparent, guardian.

About Faith, Not Children

   I never meant this message to be about children, but about faith – a resource we need so desperately but are so lacking in.  As we’ve been taught in regards to faith from the annals of the wise Hebrew,

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of [the Almighty], so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to [the Almighty] must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  (Hebrews 11:3,6).

   If these words are true, then faith has some mighty powerful attributes.  We can certainly understand, now that we know about a child’s lack of Object Permanence, how he or she might have the upper hand over even the most mature believer when it comes to matters of faith, even unto perfect praise and miracles, no matter how little he or she may be.  Who else these days has the ability to perfectly believe that Yahweh constructed all that appears to us with things we can’t see.  Only a child has the wisdom to even understand such a concept.  Who else may be so perfected in belief as to pray with all expectation something so simple and childish as

LORD, teach a little child to pray, and oh, accept my prayer,
Thou canst hear all the words I say for Thou art everywhere.
A little sparrow cannot fall, unnoticed, LORD, by Thee,
And Though I am so young and small, thou canst take care of me. Amen.

   How in the world can adults ever arrive at the kind of childish naiveté that allows us to believe for, say, the healing of a terminally ill relative or the salvation of, say, a son or daughter completely possessed by the devil?  How can we return to the womb of faith, and emerge with faith?

The Yahad  

(See about the Yahad in the Dead Sea Scrolls.)

   Maybe that’s what the disciples felt when they tried to hinder the children from approaching their  Master.  “Don’t bother him; he’s busy right now. We’re his disciples – his Yahad.  We won’t let you dang kids into our Yahad; it’s not for children.” 

   In our evening services, we’ve been studying the Dead Sea Scrolls in preparation for going to see the Scrolls exhibit in Mobile.  One of the terms we learned from these ancient writings is Yahad.  It refers to the people of Yahweh who’ve banded together in covenant with brothers and sisters.[3]   In the case of Yahshua, his Yahad was composed of his disciples.  At least that’s what the disciples thought.  But maybe Yahshua didn’t consider them as his Yahad.  He said a couple things that make us wonder.

   A man came to him with a complaint.  “My only child has a seizing demon and your disciples weren’t able to cast it out.”  Yahshua asks rhetorically, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you” (Luke 9:41)?  Was Yahshua speaking of the demons or of his disciples?  If his disciples, how could they be Yahad?

   When he spoke of the speedy vindication of the elect ones left after him, he added: “Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes [back], will he find faith on earth?”  The implication is that his disciples may not have had faith for the task. 

   Finally, the original ending of Mark, the 16^th chapter and the 8^th verse, speaks of the degree of faith the disciples possessed when Yahshua left them.  It informs us that

[The disciples] … fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.  (Mark 16:8)

The Fetal Yahad

  For sure, those who followed him considered themselves his Yahad, but Yahshua himself had another Yahad in mind, which he mentions in this passage:

(Luke 18:15,16) Now they were bringing even infants (brefoV[4]) to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.  But Yahshua called them to him, saying, “Let the children (paidion[5]) come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of Yahweh.”   (You may study these words in the 1991 Byzantine Greek here.)77

   Who are these men and women of faith that were given immediate access?  Of whom was his Yahad composed?  Why boys and girls, infants, children and teens?  In fact, in Luke 18:15, “infants” include unborn babies, in the language of the Bible (brefoV).  Talk about faith!  In our day the womb is the most dangerous place in the world – more dangerous than Miami. 

   Though Yahshua’s disciples were his students, unlearned children constituted his Yahad – even those yet unborn.  They had faith acceptable to him.  And truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of G-d like a child shall not enter it (Luke 18:17).

There Is a Pathway to Child-like Faith

   Does perfected faith seem a hopeless goal for us jaded adults?  How can we enter back into the womb of babyhood to miracle-making faith?  Well, we can’t enter back into the womb any more than Nicodemus return into his mother.  And surely we can’t work ourselves to child-like faith, read ourselves there or even pray ourselves there: But there is a way in, and probably only one way.

   Listen closely to the following passage of Instruction.  There’s a diamond within.  Pick out the diamond if you can.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11. (excerpts)  {Paul writes:} There’re many different gifts, but the same Spirit; there’re many different services, but the same Master.  There’re many different activities, but it’s the same Elohim who’s at work in all. The manifestation of the Spirit granted to each is to be used for the good of all.

   From the [Holy] spirit, some one’s given the gift of word of wisdom; to another, the word of knowledge; to another, faith; to another, healing; to another, miracles; to another, prophecy; to another, distinguishing spirits; to one, different tongues; and to another, the interpretation of tongues. But at work in all these is one and the same spirit, distributing them at will to each individual.

   Did you pick the jewel?  Here it is: “The gift of faith is distributed by the will of Yahweh to any individual.”  That individual should be you, my friend; and it can be if you’ll ask Yahweh for FAITH and just keep asking.  You could be born again as a child, gifted in faith, no longer bound to the illusion of Object Permanence, but moving mountains as naturally as a babe perfects praise without even knowing it.  And, man or woman, we NEED YOU TO HAVE FAITH NOW. 

   Child-like faith is FAR more valuable than gold, a good reputation, or anything else cherished: for you may receive it FREE, as a GIFT, from which you may consequently annul the laws of physics and science, then create, and recreate, and bring something from nothing, and help change a world that’s crying out in such doleful ways.

   Isn’t this GIFT OF FAITH worth looking into?  Worth studying?  Worth praying for everyday?  Worth expecting?  Worth turning the television off for?  Worth receiving by the faith you already have? Worth even maybe being embarrassed over?  Worth receiving in exchange for junk you don’t need? 

   Man, if you could move mountains like that smart-Alec Jessica, you’d be in demand.  You’d be fulfilled.  You’d leave a prophetic legacy.  And you’d be blessed to overcome that jaded, ruined, old mind of yours.  Lets BEGIN the process of prayer for the GIFT OF FAITH that makes all things possible.  Perhaps it will be yours today.

Prayer of Faithful Children

Gentle Yahshua, meek and mild, look upon your little child.
Make me gentle as Thou art.  Come and live within my heart.
Take my childish hand in Thine; guide these little feet of mine.
So shall all my happy days sing their pleasant song of praise.
{In the faith that you bestow, let me ever greater grow.} –jhs
{Though my birthdays all come due, I’ll remain a child in you.} –jhs
So the world shall always see that sweet, holy Child, in me.

                                                                             -- Charles Wesley

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Yahweh bless you as you do everything in your ability to honor him.

Jackson Snyder (801) 850-6901  Vero Beach, FL