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Teach children about religion

Posted on July 23, 2008, 3:03pm

Solomon, the writer of the Proverbs in the Bible, left us some profound wisdom to consider as we live life.

Here’s one of his sayings on children: “Train up your children in the way they should go: and when they are old, they will not depart from it.” You’ll find these words in chapter 22.

Unfortunately, many children are not trained in “the way they should go,” as Solomon envisaged it.

Oh yes, they are trained in their schooling by dedicated teachers.

But Solomon’s words challenge the parents to take their role in the raising of their kids more seriously. Tragically, it can be said that many young people in our society are not “raised up, they just grow up by themselves.” And for many of them, the results speak for themselves.

A parent who doesn’t just leave it to the schools, but takes an active interest in their children’s upbringing will see them leave home with good life values in place in their lives. These will make them contributing and compassionate members of society.

One key area of this training up of a child is in the area of religious education.

However, when talking to people about the religious education of their young children, a common response is: “Not now, I’d rather let them make up their own mind for themselves when they are old enough.”

It’s surprising how often you hear that.

However, unless they are taught and trained about the things of God at an early age, how are they going to make up their minds about belief in Him when they are “old enough?”

So, if you don’t already do so, involve your children in church-based activities that teach about God, Jesus Christ, the Bible, and life values that arise from them.

All the churches in our city have great programs to help parents by teaching these things to their kids.

However, the primary place for training children in the things of God should be in the home. Mums and Dads (grandparents too) can be partners with the church’s programs in imparting understanding to children and young people about God.

One practical thing you can do is read to them from the Bible, or a Bible story book. There are some great children’s versions available that use language that is clear and easy to understand. Church people can help you find a suitable one.

Bible stories, whether they are about someone’s faith or failure put clear images in children’s minds that can help them also face life with courage and compassion.

So many people who come to faith in later life hold their early religious training with profound gratitude. Consider giving your children or grandchildren this solid foundation for life.

And don’t just send them to Sunday School. Take them, stay for church and pick them up afterwards. Then you really will be a role model for them.

PHIL BAKER (Pastor)

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Comments

6 Responses to “Teach children about religion”

  1. anonymous on July 24th, 2008 12:56 am 1

    So what you’re saying is that left to their own choice, most people would not believe in god so you should brainwash them early so they won’t think to question it.

  2. Ebony Jackson on July 24th, 2008 11:09 am 2

    Selling religion just doesn’t cut it for me. No amount of in your face advertising of God bothering or Jesus bashing will ever give religion a ‘cool’ image.
    I can well remeber being “trained up” on religion, to the point of being effectively “turned off” the whole Church scene.
    Children are special. Developing a theory of mind is so much more valuable for a child’s early development.
    Lets be honest here…religion is nothing more than emotional blackmail. No amount of advertising of a dodgy product will ever convince a wise consumer to buy it.

  3. Josh Lynagh on July 26th, 2008 7:47 am 3

    I went to church when I was younger.

    And i’ll tell you, most of the girls I went to church with ended up with the wrong people and went completely off the tracks.

    Let people decide for themselves.

  4. Jeremy Aston on July 26th, 2008 1:43 pm 4

    I read with interest the comments made on this article. Ps Baker makes a very good point with what he has said and this should be followed.
    But at the same time there is also more to child raising than just teaching a child about religion…and I know that Ps Baker knows this too but time and space doesn’t allow for full detail..when he said that Solomon spoke about training up a child in the way he should go there were a whole heap of ways that Solomon showed how to do it.
    One of the things he emphasised time and time again was punishment for wrongdoing. This punishment wasn’t just sitting in the naughty boys corner but The Rod! Now this is very taboo in todays society and that is the reason so many young people today are so highminded, proud and rebelious. They have never been properly punished for the “little sins” while they were young and therefore have thought to themselves “wow I got away with that lets try getting away with something else” I’ve been there done that and I know how it works!
    While it is good to teach a child about Jesus Christ, and that is needed, it is also necessary to teach them the real consequences of doing the wrong thing and the right thing, it works both ways.
    I’m just a young man and I have a wonderful Girlfriend and one day once we’re married and have kids I really look forward to raising them up in the way that they should go :-) But I“ve got God on my side to help and THAT is the key!

  5. Kristy Davis on July 26th, 2008 6:14 pm 5

    I agree that parents should be taking an active role in the raising of their children but not only in religion. How exactly are teachers able to fit in time to teach all the values of our society with all the other subject content that is suppossed to be covered. I feel that the value of respect is no longer seen in the young people of today and this causes lots of problems in a classroom. Not just respect for elders but respect for property, being their own or someone elses, respect for their peers and their teachers.

  6. Billie jean on June 28th, 2009 12:04 pm 6

    We as parents should teach our children how to be a christian not about religion. Religious traditions are what is sending more and more “church people” to hell. Going to church and even being a good person does not save you soul from judgment beforfe the Lord Our God. So Lets get the religious junk out of the picture and teach our children how to live by faith and to stand on the Word of God and to treat others and how to be a respectable Godly young men and Godly young ladies. They learn best when shown.…