On raising children today, since the topic was raised - reminded me of this excerpt.
I really look forward to raising Silas in a Christian home. Kelly and I were talking about this recently. Faith and parenting are each things you practice/do everyday and one day at a time. Every new situations is a learning experience and a teaching opportunity, just like every day is a chance to live out your faith and wrestle (as Nick puts it) with life. Inviting Silas into this "great adventure" that stretches from Moses to Jesus to the backpack give-away is very exciting to me. I can't wait to share it with him.
I'm excited and yet terrified. It's so hard thinking that I have to raise my son in the ways of the Lord and yet I don't know them all myself. I just worry that he'll see my indecision and my uncertainty and decide that what I say isn't to be trusted.
ReplyDeleteI think that is more what I fear. How do I present the OT stories to my child, when I don't believe they actually happened. If I teach him/her such radical things, he/she'll get kicked out of Sunday school. It's also hard to tell a child - I'm not sure about all of this, but I know its true.
ReplyDeleteI think when they are adults, they can look back at that humility and honest and appreciate it.
I agree, Christina. I've seen too many cases where Christianity (mostly ultra-conservative) was forced on the children instead of demonstrated in a simple, loving way and then the children grew up to reject it totally.
ReplyDeleteHey guys...I'm just catching up with all of these and plugging into my normal life after a crazy and consumed week at MVNU. It's been good to read what you're all writing about, as well as a little overwhelming. I'm going to respond to one at a time so I don't feel like I have to do it all tonight. :)
ReplyDeleteI, too, feel a little uncertain about how to go about reading Nora the OT stories in the Veggie Tales book and being unclear of what I'm reading about. I want to explain to her the complexity of it being a story and not necessarily literal, but I guess that comes later. I agree with Nick- I'm glad she will experience conversations with us about these spiritual/religious topics, instead of just having such black and white answers. I do wonder if it will appear too liberal or "wishy washy" when she goes to sunday school and shares what she's learning at home. I guess that shouldn't matter though...right? Like you said Kelly, she will see us make mistakes and will see our indecision...I hope that serves her better than the opposite.
I think it's good to remember that we don't have to have all of the answers and also to look at the bigger meaning behind the OT stories. For example to focus not just on the Great Flood and the story of Noah, but to focus more on some of the other aspects of the story--example of Noah listening to God, God's faithfulness & provision. It can also be a very empowering time to our kids as well. When they ask "Did this really happen?" We can then pose the question back to them and see what they think and let the discussion and learning experience grow from there.
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