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LucyP
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| Posted: May 04 2009 at 2:31am | IP Logged
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My son has two friends who live nearby and who have a very different faith. The other day he was telling me he planned to tell them something about their main religious figure, that he had overheard, and I said he should not do so, as it could cause problems. "But I am always telling them about Jesus and that they should be Catholics" he said. So dh and I said it was not a wise course of action as it could cause problems with his friends and their parents - and partly because I don't want to be bombed! - and he said "but the Bible says we must tell other people about Jesus, all over the world" - and I know exactly what he means. Teaching him about the bravery of the martyrs etc has backfired!
What do you do about your children sharing the Faith? I sort of feel that if we squash this now we will reap the consequences in later years - and I want him to be zealous and bold and it is lovely that he feels so sure that Jesus and His Church are the way to happiness, but I would be mad if the children tried to get him to say the conversion prayer to their beliefs.
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Bookswithtea
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| Posted: May 04 2009 at 8:58am | IP Logged
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We have protestant family members. It can be awkward to teach your children both tact and to love and evangelize the faith. I tell my kids two things. One is that they need to mostly evangelize by living their faith well (St. Francis of Assissi's "everywhere preach the gospel...when necessary use words"). And then I remind them that scripture encourages us to "always be ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within us." Being ready to answer questions is not the same thing as bringing stuff up to people who did not ask and don't want to know. We don't want to be like the door knockers who mostly irritate people. I also tell my kids that in our culture right now, there is a lot of disillusionment with religious people. We aren't evangelizing in the same climate that old time saints did, and their methods don't necessarily work as well in our times. Mo. Theresa is a wonderful example of a modern saint who answered questions when asked and boldly lived a sacrificial life, but didn't proselytize at every turn.
If your son is old enough to understand this much, then maybe I'd add in some Friendly Defenders cards to his schoolwork and teach him how to dialogue about the Faith in a non threatening way, how to give testimony in simple ways (like offering to pray for a friend when they are sick, for instance), etc. Maybe you can pretend to be the other person and he can cut his teeth practicing with you first???
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Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and  due 9/10
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LucyP
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| Posted: May 05 2009 at 1:47pm | IP Logged
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Hmmm, thanks Books. See, DS is very black and white thinking - as he is only 5. He can't stop himself sharing the gospel in his funny, didactic way. We actually have a book about Mother THeresa, and it does talk about the hindu opposition etc, so it might be a good way to discuss sharing Jesus in another way than lecturing!
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: May 05 2009 at 2:42pm | IP Logged
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We teach the children that it is wrong to encourage other children to go against their parents. And their parents are the ones at this age that get to decide what faith they may practise.
I would be furious with another adult and displeased with a child who tried to convince my children that our faith was wrong and not only because of their faith but because it's interfering with the parents perogative to teach their own children.
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All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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LucyP
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| Posted: May 05 2009 at 4:47pm | IP Logged
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So Jodie, what practically do you say to your children - they may not tell about Jesus? I agree that I would HATE my son to be influenced against the truth of Jesus by these children, and they don't seem to want to do that, but I'm not sure how to communicate that we don't try to evangelise children without making him feel it is wrong to share the truth with others. A large part of me is so happy that he is so sure of the gospel and the teachings of the church that he has assimilated that he is eager to share them with his friends - and I don't want him to feel ashamed or wrong - and as he has already carries a huge burden of shame and anxiety I don't want to add to it, especially concerning his faith.
I think I need to speak to a priest, and maybe ask him to talk about the issue with our son, and trust in his wisdom. It is so hard to find a way to say it is wonderful to be bold to share Jesus, but not to these people or in this way, and still not trample on that little flickering flame of faith in his heart.
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MaryM
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| Posted: May 05 2009 at 5:06pm | IP Logged
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LucyP wrote:
| It is so hard to find a way to say it is wonderful to be bold to share Jesus, but not to these people or in this way, and still not trample on that little flickering flame of faith in his heart. |
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I think that is a fine line to walk - and how hard for 6 year old to be able to understand those things that are even tough to figure for adults.
I do think it is important to support that zeal in our children. Maybe he could be encouarged to really speak in "I" messages. Tell how he loves his faith and loves Jesus. And encourge that kind of example while saying we don't tell others their faith is wrong, etc. - does that make sense?
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Bookswithtea
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MaryM wrote:
Maybe he could be encouarged to really speak in "I" messages. Tell how he loves his faith and loves Jesus. And encourge that kind of example while saying we don't tell others their faith is wrong, etc. - does that make sense? |
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I agree about not actively proselytizing someone's children. Again, teaching a child to be loving and kind is an active form of evangelism. Children often want to do something bold, but its the quiet witness that I think Our Lord uses the most to lead others to conversion. One of the things I found so powerful as an evangelical was the quiet confidence and peace in the Catholics I knew. They weren't jumping at every chance to manipulate me. They trusted in what God was doing in my heart and answered my questions when I asked them.
I also think "I" statements are the best way to go (a reason for the hope that lies with you). Sharing what you love about God is not the same thing as convincing a small child to change from their parent's religion.
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Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Sharing the gospel at 5
