christian children.

do children have a relationship with jesus? if so at what point does the relationship begin?

Originally posted by stellspalfie
do children have a relationship with jesus? if so at what point does the relationship begin?

as soon as they're old enough to be indoctrinated. children believe anything their parents tell them, it's a survival mechanism.

Originally posted by stellspalfie
do children have a relationship with jesus? if so at what point does the relationship begin?

Being a Christian and telling my child about God, Jesus and reading Bible story books to her is a good start for us. We obviously do all the other things as well (praying, go to church, taking part in church activies etc).
I don't think there is a personal relationship my 5 year old has with Jesus yet, I guess it differs from one child to another but if I have to guess I would say early in their teenage years. Only a guess.

Originally posted by Nicksten
Being a Christian and telling my child about God, Jesus and reading Bible story books to her is a good start for us. We obviously do all the other things as well (praying, go to church, taking part in church activies etc).
I don't think there is a personal relationship my 5 year old has with Jesus yet, I guess it differs from one child to another but if I have to guess I would say early in their teenage years. Only a guess.

thanks for a straight answer nicksten, it can be tricky to get one on here sometimes.

can i ask if you ever worry that your child will only believe in jesus because they are being brought up in an environment where its the done thing. ive discussed with friends on many occasions about taking on the politics of our parents, but i think its rarely discussed when it comes to religion.

Originally posted by stellspalfie
do children have a relationship with jesus? if so at what point does the relationship begin?

Well in reality we all have a relationship with God and his son Jesus. It just all depends on how we view that as in if we think they exist or not. For ones who don't think they exist does not negate the fact that they do and in reality they eventually will.
But yes it is the parents responsabilty to let them know about Jesus and Jehovah and who they are and the way we should view them and listen to them.

Originally posted by galveston75
Well in reality we all have a relationship with God and his son Jesus. It just all depends on how we view that as in if we think they exist or not. For ones who don't think they exist does not negate the fact that they do and in reality they eventually will.
But yes it is the parents responsabilty to let them know about Jesus and Jehovah and who they are and the way we should view them and listen to them.

which reality is that? clearly, it's not this one.

Originally posted by galveston75
Well in reality we all have a relationship with God and his son Jesus. It just all depends on how we view that as in if we think they exist or not. For ones who don't think they exist does not negate the fact that they do and in reality they eventually will.
But yes it is the parents responsabilty to let them know about Jesus and Jehovah and who they are and the way we should view them and listen to them.

do you worry that children will become christians just because they are influenced by their parents?

is there a difference in the eyes of christ between a person who comes to christ of their own volition and a person who believes because they have been told to believe?

Originally posted by stellspalfie
thanks for a straight answer nicksten, it can be tricky to get one on here sometimes.

can i ask if you ever worry that your child will only believe in jesus because they are being brought up in an environment where its the done thing. ive discussed with friends on many occasions about taking on the politics of our parents, but i think its rarely discussed when it comes to religion.

Sure no problem.

My opinion...
Children only learn what their parents learn them, and it is real difficult to draw a line what to learn and what not. If I do not take the effort and time to learn my child moral laws, she will see nothing wrong with stealing candy or toys. It goes far beyond this example given and I would like my child to see things the way I see them without forcing her my way.

At the age of 5 my child is asking so many questions, and what I try and do is to let her educate herself and then I give my opinion. We agree on most things but she still has a way she does and say certain things.

I have planted the seed of faith in her, and it is going to be very hard for her to "be in" with children her same age who doesn't have the same faith, and trust me, at her school there is a lot of kids who doesn't and that is what worries me most. There are so many parents that just do not give a damn about educating their kids certain logical things, and kids like mine will come home and act differently and even sometimes say "swear words". Kids swearing at the age 5? I am shocked and we should all worry.

We should be open to discuss all kinds of politics to our kids and be able to educate them well when it comes to difference in all aspects of our beings. Beyond that, I honestly don't know yet.

Originally posted by stellspalfie
do you worry that children will become christians just because they are influenced by their parents?

is there a difference in the eyes of christ between a person who comes to christ of their own volition and a person who believes because they have been told to believe?

I don't want to play some kind of strawman but there are two ways of learning things:

1. By yourself
2. By something/someone

I believe it is best (in most cases) by learning from something/someone else and advance on that.

is there a difference in the eyes of christ between a person who comes to christ of their own volition and a person who believes because they have been told to believe?
I believe there is a difference, but not to Christ.
If you were told of Christ and told to believe, you could easily find ways to change the believe as most people do.
If you discover Christ yourself, it is harder to change your believe because you've had an experience which you know can not be false.

Originally posted by Nicksten
Sure no problem.

My opinion...
Children only learn what their parents learn them, and it is real difficult to draw a line what to learn and what not. If I do not take the effort and time to learn my child moral laws, she will see nothing wrong with stealing candy or toys. It goes far beyond this example given and I would like my child to see things the ...[text shortened]... comes to difference in all aspects of our beings. Beyond that, I honestly don't know yet.

i have a similar approach (albeit from an atheist angle). my wife and i talk to our children about politics and religion, but we are careful to offer a balance view (well as balanced as we can). when she was 5 she went to a school funded by the church of england, where christianity was push heavily on the kids. she decided she believed in god. to me she became a christian because all her friends and teacher were and she wanted to fit in and of coarse so of the stories are magical and entertaining for kids. i think most christians become christians to fit in with the environment they are growing up in. shouldnt this be a problem for god, doesnt he want people to come to him because of him and not because 'everybody else is doing it'. does this also mean that the majority of christians do not really have a relationship with christ and are some what faking it.

another child/christianity question - can children have a relationship with jesus, without reading or being read the bible?

Originally posted by stellspalfie
another child/christianity question - can children have a relationship with jesus, without reading or being read the bible?

Do children need to have a relationship with jesus? Surely it's a parent's task to instil moral values in their children, and it isn't necessary to consult an organised religion to do that. Any organised religion - Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Shinto, Islam, whatever - can only teach moral values according to the traditions of that particular religion. A truly caring parent will teach moral values as absolutes existing in their own right, not as part of a fable or fairy tale.

Originally posted by Kewpie
Do children need to have a relationship with jesus? Surely it's a parent's task to instil moral values in their children, and it isn't necessary to consult an organised religion to do that. Any organised religion - Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Shinto, Islam, whatever - can only teach moral values according to the traditions of that particular religion. ...[text shortened]... moral values as absolutes existing in their own right, not as part of a fable or fairy tale.

a relationship with Jesus will produce nothing but an emotional attachment, this is
simply not enough, children need to be provided with principles based upon reason, so
that when they are faced with circumstances their own powers of discernment will kick
in and they will exercise their own consciences. If you have ever tried to reason with a
born again Christian who thinks themselves filled with Holy spirit, you will understand
why a faith based on reason is paramount, not merely on emotionalism.

Originally posted by Kewpie
Do children need to have a relationship with jesus? Surely it's a parent's task to instil moral values in their children, and it isn't necessary to consult an organised religion to do that. Any organised religion - Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Shinto, Islam, whatever - can only teach moral values according to the traditions of that particular religion. ...[text shortened]... moral values as absolutes existing in their own right, not as part of a fable or fairy tale.

i dont think children need a relationship with jesus. im wondering if christians really care or spend much time thinking about how people get to the point where they think or are having a relationship with jesus.

i dont think its possible that children who are taught christ as fact can ever really claim to be true christians, they are just following the world view of their elders. surly the only true christians are ones who decide themselves without any outside influence. so it begs the question -

can children be christians?

Originally posted by VoidSpirit
which reality is that? clearly, it's not this one.

better said, it is not the reality you perceive and accept.