Setting their path

September 2022

Dear Friends

“I don’t want to tell my children what to believe; I want them to make up their own minds when they are older!”

Many parents give this as the reason why they don’t teach their children to pray, talk to them about Jesus, take them to church or have them baptised (aka christened).  You are not sure if it is right to put words into their mouths or ideas into their heads.

But the truth is that parents cannot avoid influencing and teaching their children and setting the direction for their life.  That is how God has created families.  The only question is, which path will you set them on?  You will either teach them to follow Jesus or you will teach them (by your example if not by words) to follow someone or something else.  You will either teach them to pray to their heavenly Father for all they need, or they will learn from you that they should seek help elsewhere.  You will either mark them as belonging to Jesus, or some other god will claim them as his own.

Of course I understand that you may not believe that the Christian faith is true, although I would love to persuade you otherwise.  But if you do believe that Jesus is God’s Son and that he spoke the truth then I encourage you to think how you will nurture those same certainties in your children.  You could read a children’s Bible with them or pray with them.  If they are a little older you could read the Narnia Chronicles to them too.  Could you find another family who are thinking the same way and agree together to be bold pioneers in bringing children back into our churches?  We would love to welcome you.

And if you are Year 6 or above, you might want to check out the truth of Christian faith for yourself.  Our CY group will run on Thursdays at 4.15pm starting on 22^nd Sep.  It will be a chance to hear the historic Christian message clearly explained, to ask questions and to think for yourself.  And for those who are interested there will be the opportunity to go on to prepare for Confirmation – a public declaration of faith in Jesus.  Please let me know (text, email or phone) if you are interested.

Sincerely

Graham Burrows