Kids and faith outside of fundyland

[paul]

(06-20-2011 01:36 PM)greg Wrote:  ...we make a huge mistake in thinking that the Lord doesn't touch children's hearts for salvation.

Allow the little children to come unto me. (Jesus)

Yes. If as parents we teach and model real, genuine Christianity (loving neighbors and loving God), I think God is perfectly able to call our children when He wishes (and He knows when they are "ready"). Sometimes He is gracious and even lets us participate.

[jabes10]

Paul & Greg,

Beautiful. And this is how I want to raise my children.

[paul]

(06-20-2011 07:05 PM)jabes10 Wrote:  And this is how I want to raise my children.

It can be done, and as a good friend frequently reminds me, "God's grace is for parents, too." The hardest part (as a recently ex-fundy) is not trying to be Holy Spirit to my kids.

[Ricardo]

(06-20-2011 04:31 PM)paul Wrote:  If as parents we teach and model real, genuine Christianity (loving neighbors and loving God), I think God is perfectly able to call our children when He wishes (and He knows when they are "ready"). Sometimes He is gracious and even lets us participate.

Thank you Paul. This subject is a huge one for me. I spoke about it here: http://www.stufffundieslike.com/forum/sh...p?tid=1023

I believe it would be foolish to expect a 12-year old to explain why they were Calvinist rather than Arminian, or Pre-milleniarist.

Love God, love neighbor sounds good to me.

[Kim G]

I'm not going to teach my children any of the decisional theology that is so prevalent in fundy land. Instead, I want to teach and model daily faith and trust in God. Salvation is about a person, not a ritual. Teach your children to love God. Period. God will work the rest out.

[The Singular Observer]

(06-22-2011 03:59 PM)Kim G Wrote:  I'm not going to teach my children any of the decisional theology that is so prevalent in fundy land. Instead, I want to teach and model daily faith and trust in God. Salvation is about a person, not a ritual. Teach your children to love God. Period. God will work the rest out.

Amen Kim. Whose work is salvation? God's.

Now I'm going to upset lots of you - but:

I remember "accepting Jesus as my Saviour" when I was about 4 years old, maybe. Of course, one could ask the question - so what if I died before that? It is here where the assumptions start multiplying.

So, if you asked me today when I was saved, I will tell you: 27 October 1974. When I was 3 months old. At the baptism font of the Dutch Reformed Church in Kestel, South Africa. Why: Because, according to I Peter, and in keep with many other references in the NT, and in keeping with the theology of the OT, baptism saves. Well, God's Word in baptism saves (see Small Cathechism).

My folks changed their theology later on. But later on, when I had children of my own, this fact came back to haunt me. What is the status of my children before God. There is no theology of "Age of accountability" in Scripture. Also, salvation is what God does, not we. Otherwise the mentally incapable cannot be saved, right?

Thus when were my children saved? If I needed to give a date, I'd say at their baptisms. What happens to those that die before? God knows, and is gracious. But His graciousness doesn't mean we can ignore the witness of Scripture, the Church etc. etc.

Otherwise, what is baptism? I declaration that I was clever/lucky/old/intelligent enough to make the right decision? Or the sign and seal and means of God's grace?