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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
The definition of indoctrination is "instruction in a body of doctrine or principles; the instillation of a partisan or ideological point of view." Indoctrination is seen as the act of imparting fa...
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Faith Cross
Supporter
The goal of Christian parents is not only to indoctrinate their children, but to develop another generation of believers who will live out their faith in Christ to this world. It is wonderful to teach our children our beliefs, but it is another thing to help our growing children to learn to walk out their own faith. It has been said that a 3-5 year old child requires discipline, a 5-12 year old requires training. From 12-18 they need coaching, and after 18, a parent can have a friendship with their child. This is a good model for raising children in life skills, but it is also a beneficial way to look at raising a child to walk out the Christian life. If we only indoctrinate our children, repeatedly stating what the Bible says about a given subject, we are telling them WHAT to think, but not HOW to think things through. We must allow them opportunities in life to experience living their faith out, and sometimes even failing to do it rightly. Otherwise, their faith will not become their own. As parents of adult children, we will wonder where we have gone wrong and why our faith did not translate to them. Our children must have their own experiences with God, where they learn that God was there for them, incrementally throughout life, at their own level. And as we, the parents, lead them through life, we must slowly release them into God's hands, to form and shape into His own image. Many parents hold their children so closely, that they shape their children into their own image, not God's. This is indoctrination, but is not teaching them how to live out their personal faith.
ainsley chalmers
Supporter
It is good to teach our children love and respect for the Lord Jesus. However many youth are falling away from their Christian roots because when they get to high school they are indoctrinated in evolutionary thinking that, basically, nature created itself through mutation and natural selection (or a big bang) and therefore we do not need a belief in God. In other words secular values are taught as fact and are in contradiction to the word of God. Churches therefore need to prepare our young by comparing, either at home or bible classes, evolution vs God's plan for creation as described in the bible. The fallacy of evolution will then become self evident to our youth. Unfortunately many churches do not touch on this subject in Bible classes. In fact many Christian churches believe in evolution as God's way or plan for creation. The natural follow on from this is: there was no Adam or Eve, therefore no original sin and any need for a Savior. In short one cannot compromise the truth in the Bible, God's word, otherwise our youth will become confused and wonder what is the truth and ask the question "Do we believe in what the bible says or our teachers/"? Without a good grounding in bible based creationism the secular teachers generally win out. We need to love God with our whole soul but also with all our mind. We need to give answers to the majority who believe that nature created itself and one therefore doesn't need to postulate a God-directed creation. A short DVD by creation ministries international (creation.com) entitled "Fallout" confirms my answer on this important subject.
Cassius D'Souza
Learn More'>Supporter
All humans know what is right and wrong because God has created us all equal. Through Jesus, God tells us what is good for us and for society so we can live an abundant life. This wisdom of God is what we pass on to the next generation.
Billy P Eldred
Supporter
First of all, let me give you the simple answer. Because we are commanded to. The Bible tells us: Proverbs 22:6 NIV [6] Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 NIV [6] These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. [7] Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. [8] Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. [9] Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Second, because statistics tell us that if we teach our children to serve God, take them to church and yes, indoctrinate them when they are young, when they are adults they are much less likely to depart from it. Now, why is this important? The same principle here applies that answers the question "Why do Christians seem to want to push their beliefs on others? Why can't they keep their beliefs to themselves?" This question was asked years ago by Katie Couric to Jimmy Carter. I thought he blew the answer to the question. Here is my answer: If I knew your house was going to be broken into and those in the house would be murdered, would you want me to tell you or keep it to myself? Of course you would want to know. As Christians, we KNOW that without Christ all mankind is doomed to destruction. We also know that the Bible tells us that "The thief comes to kill, steal and destroy!". Since we believe that the Bible is truth, we believe that all mankind has an enemy, the devil, who will lie to us, try to deceive us and harm us at every opportunity and lead us away from our only hope, Christ. Jesus said in John 14:6 NIV: [6] Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." We know that to only way to have eternal life is through Jesus by believing and trusting in Him. WE WANT THAT FOR OUR CHILDREN. We also want that for everyone else. We know we can't force them or you to believe and follow Christ but we want them and you to have the best opportunity to. Acts 8:27, 30-31 NIV: [27] So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, [30] Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. [31] “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. We are trying to play the part of Philip here. Philip explained the passages the Ethiopian was reading and the Ethiopian believed and was saved. Again, we want this for our kids and for all of you as well!
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