Teaching children respect and conviction…

To explain all the ins and outs of what happened around here yesterday would simply take too long.  But let’s just say that some events really brought a lot of important issues together – family, ministry, eternity, culture.

Now let me say this up front – we don’t have children who walk around with halos, who look to heaven frequently and say profound spiritual missionaryish things in Old English.  Of course we try to teach our kids intentionally and carefully (of course we often do less than we should), but sometimes we wonder how much is sinking in.

So how do you teach your children to have convictions about the truth, and yet to respect others who don’t share those convictions?  Especially when the children are so young, and really can’t understand so many of the implications of what goes on around them?

I remember being around Hannah’s age (she’s 7), when I was really starting to sort out and interpret the world around me.  At that age I really wanted to understand things on my own, and had to be gently corrected when I got the wrong idea from what I saw.  Of course, that’s a process that goes on the rest of your life!

We’re proud of Nathanael and Hannah.  We’ve seen them at various times show that they care about people, that they’re developing their own convictions, and that they really do want to share what they learn with their friends.  They’re also beginning to understand how important they are in God’s eyes, and more key – how important God is.

So now, how do we teach them how to interact with the ideas of others?  To learn from others, and yet be bold to share their own ideas?  To share with "meekness" and not out of pride (1 Peter 3:15)?  To observe the behaviour of others without imitating it when it’s inappropriate?

And how do we teach them when these are all things we’re still struggling with ourselves?

Yes, we’re fellow travellers with our children.  And sometimes the children lead (Matthew 21:12-16)…