In Defense of Childish Things

As Christians, we are sometimes tempted to police how other people behave. It's one thing when somebody is clearly sinning ( like the couple in 1st Corinthians 5 ), but sometimes we go too far and start arguing about what sort of hobbies are appropriate for adults. During these discussions, people sometimes appeal to 1st Corinthians 13:11 as they argue that adults shouldn't enjoy any "childish" activities like fairytales, cartoons, toy collecting, or playing video games.

But, I'm pretty sure this isn't what St. Paul was talking about when he wrote that verse.

Verses don't exist in a vacuum - by referencing only one verse, there's a good chance that it's being taken out of context, and frankly, that's what I feel is happening here.

Here's the relevant portion of 1st Corinthians 13, as it appears in the World English Bible:

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known.

Throughout this passage, St. Paul uses different metaphors to illustrate that we don't know everything right now. This fits in nicely with other excerpts from St. Paul's writings, such as 1st Corinthians 3:2 and Hebrews 5:12. In those verses, he's pointing out that since his audience struggles to understand the simpler truths he's already taught them, they aren't ready to be taught the more difficult or deeper truths. At the same time, he's promising that we will eventually understand things fully; perhaps when Christ returns.

None of this seems to be talking about cutting ties with things we enjoyed as children. If anything, this seems to be saying that we need to be sure we understand our faith before we turn a random verse into a holiness litmus test.