Re: Training the Heart and Mind of a Child to Follow Christ
| Posted On: 08/23/06 01:43:13 AM |
Age 43, NJ |
Birds of a feather? LOL!
http://www.onlyjesussaves.com/docs/A_Parents_Role_in_Raising_Godly_Children.doc
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Re: Training the Heart and Mind of a Child to Follow Christ
| Posted On: 08/22/06 08:23:24 PM |
Age 48, OR |
Deut 6:5 Tells us that we must first love the LORD our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our might. We must do this before we can pass it on. Thank you for your words of encouragement.
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Re: Training the Heart and Mind of a Child to Follow Christ
| Posted On: 08/22/06 07:41:01 AM |
Age 51, KS |
It is so encouraging to know truth is still out there when it comes to child training.
I believe one of the greatest needs is for parents to recognize their own children for the sinners they are. Until parents are willing to uncover the sin in their children, deal with their own pride and recognize that they were born with Adams nature in them and that being born again is not a natural process children enter by mental assent and praying a prayer, children will continue to present to the parent what the parent wants to see,and then you have parents and those peering in that are totally disillusioned when their children begin to exibit what is really in them, after they are out from under their parents control or even before. It is because parents believe the illusion they themselves have created.
My children are all grown with children of their own. All made childhood professions of faith,(usually more than one), but none were truly regenerated until later in life. And all have blown me out of the water as I listen to my adult children talking and laughing and telling stories about their childhood,and each other, at family gatherings. I taught my children from the word of God, and shared my heart with them. They prayed very sincere prayers, wept many tears and as a mother listening I believed what I saw and heard. But...I cannot see what God sees. I could not see their disposition. God only saves lost sinners. My children knew what I expected and they presented to me exactly what I wanted to see, and they truly wanted to please me. Everyone thought I had VERY GOOD children....including me.
I use to teach a class on child training in a very large church when I was in my thirties. Others came to me for counsel in regaurds to their children. I realize now they wanted their children to be what my children "appeared" to be. The Lord knows I am but dust, and He is faithful to His word,inspite of my failings, pride and ignorance. I still teach women, but now in my fifties I have some idea of what I was talking about in my thirties.
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Re: Training the Heart and Mind of a Child to Follow Christ
| Posted On: 08/22/06 05:21:15 AM |
Age 41, OR |
I just have to point out that all of this effort will be undone if you (the parent) are not living it yourself. If you are a different person at church than you are at home, if what comes out of your mouth doesn't reflect your actions, if you are harsh and unforgiving, your children will have little reason to follow your lead, and they WILL NOT.
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Re: Training the Heart and Mind of a Child to Follow Christ
| Posted On: 08/22/06 01:48:48 AM |
Age 20, SA |
I completely agree with you that as parents you have a responsibility to help your child develop into a responsible, grounded and moral person, but I think in this ever changing connected world we would all be much better off if we taught children more of a World View than simply Chritianity. One of the critisisms Atheits give to any oragnised religion is that belivers brainwash their views on children who at their stage of development are very impressionable. At that age would it not be so much better for the world to expose them to so much more? We could foster tolerance and celebrate difference. Sure teach them the virtues of Jesus Christ, but also show them the views of Bhudda, Mohammad, the many gods of Hinduism etc, then let them decide for themselves. What distinguishes much of the Western world is our freedom, and I believe freedom of worship and decision is pivital to this. Imagine a world where Muslims, Christians, Atheists, Bhuddists, Hindus, Jews, all came together as friends, it would be a beautiful future; and who are our future? Our children.
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- Re: Re: Training the Heart and Mind of a Child to Follow Christ
| Posted On: 08/24/06 09:00:36 PM | | Age 29, IA |
When I was 20, I thought the same things. Question: where did freedom come from? Where did Universalism come from? Can you think of any reason you would not want to learn more about what the Bible (not a church or televangelist) explains and then compare it to other ideologies? Is it possible for Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Communism, Humanism, Judaism, Christianity, etc, to ALL coexist peacefully on a macro scale - without fighting or legalist coersion? If yes, can you back that up historically? It's fine with me if you deny Christ in this life, but what happens if you die and found out John 14:6 was fact all along?
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- Re: Re: Training the Heart and Mind of a Child to Follow Christ
| Posted On: 08/23/06 04:14:15 PM | | Age 30, MN |
Why would I waste my time teaching my child something I don't believe to be true? If I believe Jesus is the ONLY way, what else is there to discuss.
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- Re: Re: Training the Heart and Mind of a Child to Follow Christ
| Posted On: 08/22/06 11:44:06 AM | | Age 37, VA |
SA, you miss the point of the article. As Christian parents we are obligated to teach our kids a Biblical worldview. What you are espousing is Universalism, which teaches that there are multiple paths to God. Jesus himself said I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me(John 14:6) If there were multiple ways to be reconciled to God, Jesus would have said so. By calling ourselves Christians, we say that we believe what Jesus teaches and accept Him as our Lord and Savior, thus following what He decreed Jn 14:6. By exposing our kids to these other false beliefs, we are essentially calling Jesus a liar. If we profess to be Christians (and live it out before people as an example for our kids like OR said), we have no choice but to show our kids the One True Way. Youy assume that kids are smart enough to figure it out on their own, but, respectfully, you couldn't be more wrong. My kids (as are all kids) are very impressionable and they've got enough on their hands in dealing with the gunk that the schools and all of society teaches (Universalism). "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6) As adults, they can decide what to follow in using their freedom of worship, but I'm going to teach my kids the Truth. By the conviction of the Holy Spirit, I pray that they'll live out a full life in the Lord.
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- Re: Re: Re: Training the Heart and Mind of a Child to Follow Christ
| Posted On: 08/23/06 09:54:49 AM | | Age 20, SA |
Nice to meet you VA, thank you for replying to my post :). You confirmed my first point when you said that I claimed "that kids are smart enough to figure it out on their own" when I actually said myself kids "are very impressionable". Children will believe anything you tell them, so sure teach them Christianity but also take the rare opportunity when a child is young to let them know there are other religions out there. My Mother was Protestent, my Father is Agnostic and I am so happy now that they taught me both ways so as a young adult I was able to make my own decision that I believed in. I take grave offence to you claiming my beliefs are "false beliefs"; it is these comments that a rare few followers of religion make to others that is creating so much tension in the world today. I don't mind if you believe that I or any other non-Christian is following a false path, but there's a difference between believing and imposing. I guess the future I imagined where we can all get along peacefully though tollerance, acceptance, celebration and faith will never be after all. I'm sad :(. By the way SA stands for South Australia, my name is Ruben.
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- Re: Re: Re: Re: Training the Heart and Mind of a Child to Follow Christ
| Posted On: 08/27/06 04:15:34 PM | | Age 46, CA |
Hi Ruben, I'm sorry you feel imposed upon and sad that you feel that we cannot all get along peacefully. I'm hearing this alot from people who don't believe in Jesus-I don't understand the hurt, but I hear it. Believing in Jesus is an all or nothing proposition, and when you truly believe in Him as the one and only God you will be blessed with an abundance of Peace, and tolerance will have a whole new meaning to you. I know because I've experienced this in my life. I feel that you are still impressionable and I encourage you to pray to Jesus that He would reveal himself to you and speak to your heart-If your request is genuine Jesus will hear you. Please don't blame others for your hurt, give it in prayer to Jesus and be strengthened!
Blessings to you.
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