Let them Own their Faith

I can't count the number of times I have shouted "Yes!" while reading the the best book series I have ever encountered, The Chronicles of the Kings by Lynn Austin. It has confirmed so many thoughts stirring in my heart regarding current events and key issues of life, but this quote from the 16th chapter of the 5th book in which Joshua pleads for mercy on his wayward son (who Simeon wanted to banish because he was a "corrupting influence") is too good not to share with other like minded parents:

“Sin isn’t [only] out there somewhere, on the mainland, among the pagans, in my son. Sin is inside each one of us. You can banish Nathan or even execute him, but that won’t protect your sons from sin. The evil one will always seek a way to tempt them away from God..."

The answer isn’t to shelter our children from every bad influence that might lead them astray. The answer is to allow them to experience God’s goodness and faithfulness for themselves. Let them ask difficult questions. Then stand back and allow God to work in their lives. Let your children taste and see that the Lord is good [Psalm 34]…

Our generation experienced God’s deliverance firsthand, so we have a relationship with Him based on faith, but we can’t pass our relationship onto our sons. We can point them in the right direction, but they must experience God for themselves and decide whether or not to embrace Him."

We are grateful for our school & church communities which support our desire to teach our students how to think instead of what to think. By giving them the freedom to seek, they will eventually find those answers for themselves. When our children are not merely force fed the faith but allowed to experience it for themselves, their faith becomes genuine, and they own it with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength.