thoughts on forcing a faith-choice
a lot of times, parents use the church to teach their children what it means to be christian - and that, my dear friends, is a horrible way to go. the "church" as we know it is far from spotless and holy. christians are people who attend their sunday morning, sunday night and wednesday services, if all that, and go out and live the rest of their lives. my sister is prime example of that - she leads youth on sunday and wednesday, and hits the bar the rest of the week - not drinking - but in the atmosphere.
it's not about taking your kids to church. it's about showing them the *function* of the church - taking care of those in need, loving people continually, making sure that the widows and orphans are clothed, fed and loved. *this* is the function of the church. what do we see as the church?
people who sit in pews, nod their heads (or nod off altogether), maybe they bring their bible, maybe they don't, and then they move forward with their life. church isn't about God. it's about "paying" their "fire insurance."
for a long time i was in church 20 hours a week. though there were many offenses i could have picked up, i refused, and stayed focused on why i was there - my God. but then, it just became too much - and there was finally an offense i allowed to fill up my flesh. i walked away from the church for a year. after that year, i met my husband. i can count on one hand the amont of services i've missed since being with him. i'm doing fine to be back in a church. but the fact is that within out church, we've had two husbands split and leave wives with babies to fend for themselves. they're still not getting "it."
church isn't about attending services. it's about walking what you're talking - allowing your children to see that you're human and you make mistakes - and teaching them the value of knowing the difference between guilt and conviction. (i could write more on that if anyone is interested). it's about teaching them forgiveness. not sheltering them 100%, and giving them their own rope to hang themselves with - or to survive with.
being strict does the opposite of what the intention is - it will, guarenteed, drive your children away from you 98% of the time.
it's not about taking your kids to church. it's about showing them the *function* of the church - taking care of those in need, loving people continually, making sure that the widows and orphans are clothed, fed and loved. *this* is the function of the church. what do we see as the church?
people who sit in pews, nod their heads (or nod off altogether), maybe they bring their bible, maybe they don't, and then they move forward with their life. church isn't about God. it's about "paying" their "fire insurance."
for a long time i was in church 20 hours a week. though there were many offenses i could have picked up, i refused, and stayed focused on why i was there - my God. but then, it just became too much - and there was finally an offense i allowed to fill up my flesh. i walked away from the church for a year. after that year, i met my husband. i can count on one hand the amont of services i've missed since being with him. i'm doing fine to be back in a church. but the fact is that within out church, we've had two husbands split and leave wives with babies to fend for themselves. they're still not getting "it."
church isn't about attending services. it's about walking what you're talking - allowing your children to see that you're human and you make mistakes - and teaching them the value of knowing the difference between guilt and conviction. (i could write more on that if anyone is interested). it's about teaching them forgiveness. not sheltering them 100%, and giving them their own rope to hang themselves with - or to survive with.
being strict does the opposite of what the intention is - it will, guarenteed, drive your children away from you 98% of the time.