Teach Your Children

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I taught my kids to never discuss religion with anyone. If asked, just say “my religion is private” and change the subject. We live in a multiethnic and diverse society. Kids should not be talking about religion!

That’s fine for your house.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
And the Bible instructs Christians to go and be fishers of men. This is a major tenet of the Christian faith.
Now how this is accomplished is absolutely up for debate. Some believe living by example is just fine—that they will know Christians by what we do in love and then will choose to follow Christ.
Some (more evangelical) denominations insist that no—the directive is more literal and the conversation must be had and evidence of Christ shared through direct conversation.

But either way, the “whatever works for you” approach is not Biblical at all.

So do what your religion instructs you to do. But just know that Christians are explicitly instructed to share their faith so that ALL may choose to walk in the light of Christ.

And there's the rub. Your "instructions" from your god include bothering others with your crap, and yes, sometimes it's considered abusive. Another reason I don't want to know christians anymore (I have hundreds of those reasons)

Please know that knowing or liking me or ANY Christian or anyone who professes to be Christian is not requisite to salvation. (Thankfully!—as we are ALL sinners fully capable of offending and doing the exact opposite of what Gid instructs us to do!)

But I do pray that you will come to know and love Christ and develop a relationship with Jesus. As He is the answer.

And I hope that you will stop clinging to your fairy tales and get a life. Step back and consider for a minute how silly all this stuff is.

or at the very least don't tell your kids it's OK to talk this way at public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for your compassion. It really upset me to see my child hurting.

I’m ok with people having their beliefs. All I want is for them to be ok with mine. Children are sponges and repeat what they hear. I’d love for them to hear a message of kindness, not of intolerance, no matter the belief system.

Agree with the prior poster that the world will tell us that it is an act of “kindness” to say nothing as a sign of respect.
But GOD tells us that the ultimate act of Godly kindness is to share the news of the Gospel so that whomever hears and receives it will have everlasting life and be saved.

For me and for many, it’s hard to go against the conventional secular wisdom that kindness = MYOB, but The Bible is pretty clear that Satan wants us to MYOB and not bring any more followers to Christ.

I hope you're not giving yourself permission to be cruel to children. That's what it sounds like.

Cruelty is obviously a relative term here in this thread.
The ultimate cruelty IMO is claiming to be someone’s friend while quietly and politely remaining silent when your words could set them on the path to salvation. How cruel to know your friend is not saved and yet stand by and say/do nothing to offer a path to salvation.

This post is EXACTLY why there can never be a middle ground, a compromise. Many christians (especially evangelicals) live in a completely different world than others. They see it as a GOOD thing, while others (myself included) not only don't believe it, but feel that it's abusive to say these things to a child. My child, at the age of 8, was told if he didn't get "saved" by saying the magic words about jesus, would burn in a lake of fire for all eternity. This was done at a (previously) trusted friend's home, and she was told not to mention it to her parents because it was just between her and god. She was shown pictures of this lake of fire. She believed it, and although she is 14 now, she can't get the images out of her head.
I consider it abuse. They (and PP apparently) consider it a loving act.

They WON'T mind their business, because they see it as their business, they see it as loving, they see it as a command from the ever loving creator of the universe. I've even been told it would be disrespectful to ask them to stop evangelizing because I would then be disrespecting THEIR beliefs.

We live in different worlds...although I wish that was literal. I have no desire to inhabit any space in which there are people with beliefs so counter to humanity and with people that don't even believe they are allowed to keep that crap to themselves.

I do not wish this for you at all. But sadly yes, I do believe this is not yet literal but it will be.

You're so kind lol. And brainwashed.

I’m remarkably okay with your opinion of me in this. And will continue to share and pray for others at the same time as I confess my sins, repent, and follow Christ daily.

And I'll continue to feel superior because Jesus tells me to. He and I walk together everyday, while I'm confessing my sins and repenting, constantly, just like Jesus wants me to. How do I know all of this? I read it in the Bible, a book written a gazillion years ago by multiple authors, and I believe it. Sorry -- but I do and God tells me that I must bother people IRL and on line every chance I get. It will help get me into heaven and it makes me feel superior.

You clearly don't even understand your own book:

James 4:6 – "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'"

Isaiah 2:11-12 – "The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day."

Luke 14:11 – "For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

Proverbs 8:13 – "To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech."

Romans 12:3 – "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for your compassion. It really upset me to see my child hurting.

I’m ok with people having their beliefs. All I want is for them to be ok with mine. Children are sponges and repeat what they hear. I’d love for them to hear a message of kindness, not of intolerance, no matter the belief system.

Agree with the prior poster that the world will tell us that it is an act of “kindness” to say nothing as a sign of respect.
But GOD tells us that the ultimate act of Godly kindness is to share the news of the Gospel so that whomever hears and receives it will have everlasting life and be saved.

For me and for many, it’s hard to go against the conventional secular wisdom that kindness = MYOB, but The Bible is pretty clear that Satan wants us to MYOB and not bring any more followers to Christ.

I hope you're not giving yourself permission to be cruel to children. That's what it sounds like.

Cruelty is obviously a relative term here in this thread.
The ultimate cruelty IMO is claiming to be someone’s friend while quietly and politely remaining silent when your words could set them on the path to salvation. How cruel to know your friend is not saved and yet stand by and say/do nothing to offer a path to salvation.

This post is EXACTLY why there can never be a middle ground, a compromise. Many christians (especially evangelicals) live in a completely different world than others. They see it as a GOOD thing, while others (myself included) not only don't believe it, but feel that it's abusive to say these things to a child. My child, at the age of 8, was told if he didn't get "saved" by saying the magic words about jesus, would burn in a lake of fire for all eternity. This was done at a (previously) trusted friend's home, and she was told not to mention it to her parents because it was just between her and god. She was shown pictures of this lake of fire. She believed it, and although she is 14 now, she can't get the images out of her head.
I consider it abuse. They (and PP apparently) consider it a loving act.

They WON'T mind their business, because they see it as their business, they see it as loving, they see it as a command from the ever loving creator of the universe. I've even been told it would be disrespectful to ask them to stop evangelizing because I would then be disrespecting THEIR beliefs.

We live in different worlds...although I wish that was literal. I have no desire to inhabit any space in which there are people with beliefs so counter to humanity and with people that don't even believe they are allowed to keep that crap to themselves.

This is the “your truth/my truth” position.

But since Christ says “I am the way, THE Truth, and the life—no one comes to the Father except by ME” then believers know that THE truth is that, while we do share “space” in this world, we can only live eternally with our Father in heaven if we choose to follow Christ. And that path is open to ANYONE who makes the choice to follow Him.

This is why sharing this news with others is a kind invitation and not a cruel boast.

This is not about sharing confirmation. It's about making a kid cry because they believe differently than another kid.

I would offer that a young child saying to another young child that it’s bad not to believe in Jesus is simply a child-like rudimentary expression of his own understanding that “Believe in Jesus = Heaven / Don’t believe in Jesus = Hell”

OP’s son could have shrugged and said “meh—I don’t believe any of that religious stuff” he cried, maybe because he doesn’t like that the friend expressed disapproval of his choice, or maybe because he doesn’t really know why he doesn’t believe in Jesus and was concerned that the friend said that was a bad thing.

If this statement from one child
to another caused the non-believing
child to cry, then that tells me that OP has not properly explained to her child what “they” believe or don’t believe in their family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
that it’s rude to talk about religion. No, little Johnny, it is not “bad” that my son doesn’t believe in Jesus. Isn’t it interesting, though, that in our atheist household I teach my children that all religions as well as lack of them are equally fine and that we all choose our own motivations to be good and kind, yet Johnny’s parents/pastors/whoever teach him to shame those that don’t walk their walk? Which one of us is being kind to our neighbor? Interesting how it works… Thanks for making my child cry and feel less than. Maybe it’s time for you to have a talk as a family about the freedom to believe or NOT believe anything in this country (constitutional by the way) and what it actually means to be kind. Or at least let them know it’s simply rude to talk about religion. Would be much appreciated. P.S. Religious bullying is bullying.

1000% This

Bible thumpers are hypocrites.
Bible thumpers voted for Don clearly they are not good godly humans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for your compassion. It really upset me to see my child hurting.

I’m ok with people having their beliefs. All I want is for them to be ok with mine. Children are sponges and repeat what they hear. I’d love for them to hear a message of kindness, not of intolerance, no matter the belief system.

Agree with the prior poster that the world will tell us that it is an act of “kindness” to say nothing as a sign of respect.
But GOD tells us that the ultimate act of Godly kindness is to share the news of the Gospel so that whomever hears and receives it will have everlasting life and be saved.

For me and for many, it’s hard to go against the conventional secular wisdom that kindness = MYOB, but The Bible is pretty clear that Satan wants us to MYOB and not bring any more followers to Christ.

I hope you're not giving yourself permission to be cruel to children. That's what it sounds like.

Cruelty is obviously a relative term here in this thread.
The ultimate cruelty IMO is claiming to be someone’s friend while quietly and politely remaining silent when your words could set them on the path to salvation. How cruel to know your friend is not saved and yet stand by and say/do nothing to offer a path to salvation.

This post is EXACTLY why there can never be a middle ground, a compromise. Many christians (especially evangelicals) live in a completely different world than others. They see it as a GOOD thing, while others (myself included) not only don't believe it, but feel that it's abusive to say these things to a child. My child, at the age of 8, was told if he didn't get "saved" by saying the magic words about jesus, would burn in a lake of fire for all eternity. This was done at a (previously) trusted friend's home, and she was told not to mention it to her parents because it was just between her and god. She was shown pictures of this lake of fire. She believed it, and although she is 14 now, she can't get the images out of her head.
I consider it abuse. They (and PP apparently) consider it a loving act.

They WON'T mind their business, because they see it as their business, they see it as loving, they see it as a command from the ever loving creator of the universe. I've even been told it would be disrespectful to ask them to stop evangelizing because I would then be disrespecting THEIR beliefs.

We live in different worlds...although I wish that was literal. I have no desire to inhabit any space in which there are people with beliefs so counter to humanity and with people that don't even believe they are allowed to keep that crap to themselves.

This is the “your truth/my truth” position.

But since Christ says “I am the way, THE Truth, and the life—no one comes to the Father except by ME” then believers know that THE truth is that, while we do share “space” in this world, we can only live eternally with our Father in heaven if we choose to follow Christ. And that path is open to ANYONE who makes the choice to follow Him.

This is why sharing this news with others is a kind invitation and not a cruel boast.

This is not about sharing confirmation. It's about making a kid cry because they believe differently than another kid.

I would offer that a young child saying to another young child that it’s bad not to believe in Jesus is simply a child-like rudimentary expression of his own understanding that “Believe in Jesus = Heaven / Don’t believe in Jesus = Hell”

OP’s son could have shrugged and said “meh—I don’t believe any of that religious stuff” he cried, maybe because he doesn’t like that the friend expressed disapproval of his choice, or maybe because he doesn’t really know why he doesn’t believe in Jesus and was concerned that the friend said that was a bad thing.

If this statement from one child
to another caused the non-believing
child to cry, then that tells me that OP has not properly explained to her child what “they” believe or don’t believe in their family.

No your take is absurd.

Your kid is rude and stupid period.

You are indoctrinated into a religion. Religion is a cult all religion.

You don't get to teach your kids that you are better because of your religion or that they get to be rude because of being kids. That alone is absurd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for your compassion. It really upset me to see my child hurting.

I’m ok with people having their beliefs. All I want is for them to be ok with mine. Children are sponges and repeat what they hear. I’d love for them to hear a message of kindness, not of intolerance, no matter the belief system.

Agree with the prior poster that the world will tell us that it is an act of “kindness” to say nothing as a sign of respect.
But GOD tells us that the ultimate act of Godly kindness is to share the news of the Gospel so that whomever hears and receives it will have everlasting life and be saved.

For me and for many, it’s hard to go against the conventional secular wisdom that kindness = MYOB, but The Bible is pretty clear that Satan wants us to MYOB and not bring any more followers to Christ.

I hope you're not giving yourself permission to be cruel to children. That's what it sounds like.

Cruelty is obviously a relative term here in this thread.
The ultimate cruelty IMO is claiming to be someone’s friend while quietly and politely remaining silent when your words could set them on the path to salvation. How cruel to know your friend is not saved and yet stand by and say/do nothing to offer a path to salvation.

This post is EXACTLY why there can never be a middle ground, a compromise. Many christians (especially evangelicals) live in a completely different world than others. They see it as a GOOD thing, while others (myself included) not only don't believe it, but feel that it's abusive to say these things to a child. My child, at the age of 8, was told if he didn't get "saved" by saying the magic words about jesus, would burn in a lake of fire for all eternity. This was done at a (previously) trusted friend's home, and she was told not to mention it to her parents because it was just between her and god. She was shown pictures of this lake of fire. She believed it, and although she is 14 now, she can't get the images out of her head.
I consider it abuse. They (and PP apparently) consider it a loving act.

They WON'T mind their business, because they see it as their business, they see it as loving, they see it as a command from the ever loving creator of the universe. I've even been told it would be disrespectful to ask them to stop evangelizing because I would then be disrespecting THEIR beliefs.

We live in different worlds...although I wish that was literal. I have no desire to inhabit any space in which there are people with beliefs so counter to humanity and with people that don't even believe they are allowed to keep that crap to themselves.

I do not wish this for you at all. But sadly yes, I do believe this is not yet literal but it will be.

You're so kind lol. And brainwashed.

I’m remarkably okay with your opinion of me in this. And will continue to share and pray for others at the same time as I confess my sins, repent, and follow Christ daily.

and I think pp is actually being sincere with this crap. And I'm sure they are "remarkably okay" with me calling it crap.

This is true.
Your viewpoint really does not impact my convictions. I don’t wish harm upon you or anything like that. I
Just don’t agree with you that Gods word is crap and I pray that your heart will be changed on that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I taught my kids to never discuss religion with anyone. If asked, just say “my religion is private” and change the subject. We live in a multiethnic and diverse society. Kids should not be talking about religion!

That’s fine for your house.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
And the Bible instructs Christians to go and be fishers of men. This is a major tenet of the Christian faith.
Now how this is accomplished is absolutely up for debate. Some believe living by example is just fine—that they will know Christians by what we do in love and then will choose to follow Christ.
Some (more evangelical) denominations insist that no—the directive is more literal and the conversation must be had and evidence of Christ shared through direct conversation.

But either way, the “whatever works for you” approach is not Biblical at all.

So do what your religion instructs you to do. But just know that Christians are explicitly instructed to share their faith so that ALL may choose to walk in the light of Christ.

And there's the rub. Your "instructions" from your god include bothering others with your crap, and yes, sometimes it's considered abusive. Another reason I don't want to know christians anymore (I have hundreds of those reasons)

Please know that knowing or liking me or ANY Christian or anyone who professes to be Christian is not requisite to salvation. (Thankfully!—as we are ALL sinners fully capable of offending and doing the exact opposite of what Gid instructs us to do!)

But I do pray that you will come to know and love Christ and develop a relationship with Jesus. As He is the answer.

And I hope that you will stop clinging to your fairy tales and get a life. Step back and consider for a minute how silly all this stuff is.

Not silly to me at all.
It’s wisdom and truth. But I do t get upset about it or get angry AT others who don’t believe as I do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I taught my kids to never discuss religion with anyone. If asked, just say “my religion is private” and change the subject. We live in a multiethnic and diverse society. Kids should not be talking about religion!

That’s fine for your house.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
And the Bible instructs Christians to go and be fishers of men. This is a major tenet of the Christian faith.
Now how this is accomplished is absolutely up for debate. Some believe living by example is just fine—that they will know Christians by what we do in love and then will choose to follow Christ.
Some (more evangelical) denominations insist that no—the directive is more literal and the conversation must be had and evidence of Christ shared through direct conversation.

But either way, the “whatever works for you” approach is not Biblical at all.

So do what your religion instructs you to do. But just know that Christians are explicitly instructed to share their faith so that ALL may choose to walk in the light of Christ.

And there's the rub. Your "instructions" from your god include bothering others with your crap, and yes, sometimes it's considered abusive. Another reason I don't want to know christians anymore (I have hundreds of those reasons)

Please know that knowing or liking me or ANY Christian or anyone who professes to be Christian is not requisite to salvation. (Thankfully!—as we are ALL sinners fully capable of offending and doing the exact opposite of what Gid instructs us to do!)

But I do pray that you will come to know and love Christ and develop a relationship with Jesus. As He is the answer.

And I hope that you will stop clinging to your fairy tales and get a life. Step back and consider for a minute how silly all this stuff is.

Not silly to me at all.
It’s wisdom and truth. But I do t get upset about it or get angry AT others who don’t believe as I do.

Whoops that’s I “don’t” get upset …

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for your compassion. It really upset me to see my child hurting.

I’m ok with people having their beliefs. All I want is for them to be ok with mine. Children are sponges and repeat what they hear. I’d love for them to hear a message of kindness, not of intolerance, no matter the belief system.

Agree with the prior poster that the world will tell us that it is an act of “kindness” to say nothing as a sign of respect.
But GOD tells us that the ultimate act of Godly kindness is to share the news of the Gospel so that whomever hears and receives it will have everlasting life and be saved.

For me and for many, it’s hard to go against the conventional secular wisdom that kindness = MYOB, but The Bible is pretty clear that Satan wants us to MYOB and not bring any more followers to Christ.

I hope you're not giving yourself permission to be cruel to children. That's what it sounds like.

Cruelty is obviously a relative term here in this thread.
The ultimate cruelty IMO is claiming to be someone’s friend while quietly and politely remaining silent when your words could set them on the path to salvation. How cruel to know your friend is not saved and yet stand by and say/do nothing to offer a path to salvation.

This post is EXACTLY why there can never be a middle ground, a compromise. Many christians (especially evangelicals) live in a completely different world than others. They see it as a GOOD thing, while others (myself included) not only don't believe it, but feel that it's abusive to say these things to a child. My child, at the age of 8, was told if he didn't get "saved" by saying the magic words about jesus, would burn in a lake of fire for all eternity. This was done at a (previously) trusted friend's home, and she was told not to mention it to her parents because it was just between her and god. She was shown pictures of this lake of fire. She believed it, and although she is 14 now, she can't get the images out of her head.
I consider it abuse. They (and PP apparently) consider it a loving act.

They WON'T mind their business, because they see it as their business, they see it as loving, they see it as a command from the ever loving creator of the universe. I've even been told it would be disrespectful to ask them to stop evangelizing because I would then be disrespecting THEIR beliefs.

We live in different worlds...although I wish that was literal. I have no desire to inhabit any space in which there are people with beliefs so counter to humanity and with people that don't even believe they are allowed to keep that crap to themselves.

This is the “your truth/my truth” position.

But since Christ says “I am the way, THE Truth, and the life—no one comes to the Father except by ME” then believers know that THE truth is that, while we do share “space” in this world, we can only live eternally with our Father in heaven if we choose to follow Christ. And that path is open to ANYONE who makes the choice to follow Him.

This is why sharing this news with others is a kind invitation and not a cruel boast.

This is not about sharing confirmation. It's about making a kid cry because they believe differently than another kid.

I would offer that a young child saying to another young child that it’s bad not to believe in Jesus is simply a child-like rudimentary expression of his own understanding that “Believe in Jesus = Heaven / Don’t believe in Jesus = Hell”

OP’s son could have shrugged and said “meh—I don’t believe any of that religious stuff” he cried, maybe because he doesn’t like that the friend expressed disapproval of his choice, or maybe because he doesn’t really know why he doesn’t believe in Jesus and was concerned that the friend said that was a bad thing.

If this statement from one child
to another caused the non-believing
child to cry, then that tells me that OP has not properly explained to her child what “they” believe or don’t believe in their family.

No your take is absurd.

Your kid is rude and stupid period.

You are indoctrinated into a religion. Religion is a cult all religion.

You don't get to teach your kids that you are better because of your religion or that they get to be rude because of being kids. That alone is absurd.

I don’t have any kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for your compassion. It really upset me to see my child hurting.

I’m ok with people having their beliefs. All I want is for them to be ok with mine. Children are sponges and repeat what they hear. I’d love for them to hear a message of kindness, not of intolerance, no matter the belief system.

Agree with the prior poster that the world will tell us that it is an act of “kindness” to say nothing as a sign of respect.
But GOD tells us that the ultimate act of Godly kindness is to share the news of the Gospel so that whomever hears and receives it will have everlasting life and be saved.

For me and for many, it’s hard to go against the conventional secular wisdom that kindness = MYOB, but The Bible is pretty clear that Satan wants us to MYOB and not bring any more followers to Christ.

I hope you're not giving yourself permission to be cruel to children. That's what it sounds like.

Cruelty is obviously a relative term here in this thread.
The ultimate cruelty IMO is claiming to be someone’s friend while quietly and politely remaining silent when your words could set them on the path to salvation. How cruel to know your friend is not saved and yet stand by and say/do nothing to offer a path to salvation.

This post is EXACTLY why there can never be a middle ground, a compromise. Many christians (especially evangelicals) live in a completely different world than others. They see it as a GOOD thing, while others (myself included) not only don't believe it, but feel that it's abusive to say these things to a child. My child, at the age of 8, was told if he didn't get "saved" by saying the magic words about jesus, would burn in a lake of fire for all eternity. This was done at a (previously) trusted friend's home, and she was told not to mention it to her parents because it was just between her and god. She was shown pictures of this lake of fire. She believed it, and although she is 14 now, she can't get the images out of her head.
I consider it abuse. They (and PP apparently) consider it a loving act.

They WON'T mind their business, because they see it as their business, they see it as loving, they see it as a command from the ever loving creator of the universe. I've even been told it would be disrespectful to ask them to stop evangelizing because I would then be disrespecting THEIR beliefs.

We live in different worlds...although I wish that was literal. I have no desire to inhabit any space in which there are people with beliefs so counter to humanity and with people that don't even believe they are allowed to keep that crap to themselves.

I do not wish this for you at all. But sadly yes, I do believe this is not yet literal but it will be.

You're so kind lol. And brainwashed.

I’m remarkably okay with your opinion of me in this. And will continue to share and pray for others at the same time as I confess my sins, repent, and follow Christ daily.

and I think pp is actually being sincere with this crap. And I'm sure they are "remarkably okay" with me calling it crap.

This is true.
Your viewpoint really does not impact my convictions. I don’t wish harm upon you or anything like that. I
Just don’t agree with you that Gods word is crap and I pray that your heart will be changed on that.

Are you really going to pray for my heart to be changed? I really doubt it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Religious posters. Just stop. You're peddling nothing more than a giant pile of horsesh*t.

The OP's child dealt with your intolerant lot and emotionally upset that child.

Which is causing more harm - making a kid cry by bullying them for not believing in bronze age myths, your lame BS about wanting to save their non-existent soul? What if the kid identified as Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, or Hindu?

Would the kid have had the same right to bully the other kid?

As has been repeated ad naseum in this forum, if you want to believe, be the moron that you are, but for those that don't, leave them the f*ck alone.

+1 million

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I taught my kids to never discuss religion with anyone. If asked, just say “my religion is private” and change the subject. We live in a multiethnic and diverse society. Kids should not be talking about religion!

That’s fine for your house.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
And the Bible instructs Christians to go and be fishers of men. This is a major tenet of the Christian faith.
Now how this is accomplished is absolutely up for debate. Some believe living by example is just fine—that they will know Christians by what we do in love and then will choose to follow Christ.
Some (more evangelical) denominations insist that no—the directive is more literal and the conversation must be had and evidence of Christ shared through direct conversation.

But either way, the “whatever works for you” approach is not Biblical at all.

So do what your religion instructs you to do. But just know that Christians are explicitly instructed to share their faith so that ALL may choose to walk in the light of Christ.

And there's the rub. Your "instructions" from your god include bothering others with your crap, and yes, sometimes it's considered abusive. Another reason I don't want to know christians anymore (I have hundreds of those reasons)

Please know that knowing or liking me or ANY Christian or anyone who professes to be Christian is not requisite to salvation. (Thankfully!—as we are ALL sinners fully capable of offending and doing the exact opposite of what Gid instructs us to do!)

But I do pray that you will come to know and love Christ and develop a relationship with Jesus. As He is the answer.

And I hope that you will stop clinging to your fairy tales and get a life. Step back and consider for a minute how silly all this stuff is.

Not silly to me at all.
It’s wisdom and truth. But I do t get upset about it or get angry AT others who don’t believe as I do.

The only truth is that you are an ignorant man.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree with OP. Your children shouldn't be so weak that any discussion of other views brings them to tears. I think it is fine for kids to be discussing religion. Let them discuss, debate, and come to their own views.

I suspect that a free exchange of thoughts and a rational discussion will lead to many more atheists, not fewer...

I agree that rational debate will lead to many more atheists, but I don't think kids should be debating religion in public school. I think OP and all parents should teach their kids to avoid discussions of religion in public school.

But they can't stop and they won't stop. Because their god tells them to, and because they love us so much they don't want to see us burn in hell...etc etc etc. That's why there is no middle ground. Their beliefs set them on a different plane and those beliefs REQUIRE them to inject them into others, and people are disrespectful of those beliefs if we don't allow it. It's a true Mind F...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for your compassion. It really upset me to see my child hurting.

I’m ok with people having their beliefs. All I want is for them to be ok with mine. Children are sponges and repeat what they hear. I’d love for them to hear a message of kindness, not of intolerance, no matter the belief system.

Agree with the prior poster that the world will tell us that it is an act of “kindness” to say nothing as a sign of respect.
But GOD tells us that the ultimate act of Godly kindness is to share the news of the Gospel so that whomever hears and receives it will have everlasting life and be saved.

For me and for many, it’s hard to go against the conventional secular wisdom that kindness = MYOB, but The Bible is pretty clear that Satan wants us to MYOB and not bring any more followers to Christ.

I hope you're not giving yourself permission to be cruel to children. That's what it sounds like.

Cruelty is obviously a relative term here in this thread.
The ultimate cruelty IMO is claiming to be someone’s friend while quietly and politely remaining silent when your words could set them on the path to salvation. How cruel to know your friend is not saved and yet stand by and say/do nothing to offer a path to salvation.

This post is EXACTLY why there can never be a middle ground, a compromise. Many christians (especially evangelicals) live in a completely different world than others. They see it as a GOOD thing, while others (myself included) not only don't believe it, but feel that it's abusive to say these things to a child. My child, at the age of 8, was told if he didn't get "saved" by saying the magic words about jesus, would burn in a lake of fire for all eternity. This was done at a (previously) trusted friend's home, and she was told not to mention it to her parents because it was just between her and god. She was shown pictures of this lake of fire. She believed it, and although she is 14 now, she can't get the images out of her head.
I consider it abuse. They (and PP apparently) consider it a loving act.

They WON'T mind their business, because they see it as their business, they see it as loving, they see it as a command from the ever loving creator of the universe. I've even been told it would be disrespectful to ask them to stop evangelizing because I would then be disrespecting THEIR beliefs.

We live in different worlds...although I wish that was literal. I have no desire to inhabit any space in which there are people with beliefs so counter to humanity and with people that don't even believe they are allowed to keep that crap to themselves.

This is the “your truth/my truth” position.

But since Christ says “I am the way, THE Truth, and the life—no one comes to the Father except by ME” then believers know that THE truth is that, while we do share “space” in this world, we can only live eternally with our Father in heaven if we choose to follow Christ. And that path is open to ANYONE who makes the choice to follow Him.

This is why sharing this news with others is a kind invitation and not a cruel boast.

This is not about sharing confirmation. It's about making a kid cry because they believe differently than another kid.

I would offer that a young child saying to another young child that it’s bad not to believe in Jesus is simply a child-like rudimentary expression of his own understanding that “Believe in Jesus = Heaven / Don’t believe in Jesus = Hell”

OP’s son could have shrugged and said “meh—I don’t believe any of that religious stuff” he cried, maybe because he doesn’t like that the friend expressed disapproval of his choice, or maybe because he doesn’t really know why he doesn’t believe in Jesus and was concerned that the friend said that was a bad thing.

If this statement from one child
to another caused the non-believing
child to cry, then that tells me that OP has not properly explained to her child what “they” believe or don’t believe in their family.

No your take is absurd.

Your kid is rude and stupid period.

You are indoctrinated into a religion. Religion is a cult all religion.

You don't get to teach your kids that you are better because of your religion or that they get to be rude because of being kids. That alone is absurd.

I hope I’m not teaching my kids that “they” or “we” are somehow BETTER people for knowing Christ.
Because I don’t believe that AT ALL.

I believe we are FORGIVEN people because we ask for forgiveness and we are SAVED by his mercy and grace—meaning we deserve the just punishment of damnation for our sinful acts and yet Christ showed us mercy by taking on that punishment in our place and offered us grace (a free gift we do NOT deserve) to be with the Father in heaven even though we have not and cannot earn it.

Nope—my kids and I are NOT superior. We are saved. Anyone can be through faith in Christ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for your compassion. It really upset me to see my child hurting.

I’m ok with people having their beliefs. All I want is for them to be ok with mine. Children are sponges and repeat what they hear. I’d love for them to hear a message of kindness, not of intolerance, no matter the belief system.

Agree with the prior poster that the world will tell us that it is an act of “kindness” to say nothing as a sign of respect.
But GOD tells us that the ultimate act of Godly kindness is to share the news of the Gospel so that whomever hears and receives it will have everlasting life and be saved.

For me and for many, it’s hard to go against the conventional secular wisdom that kindness = MYOB, but The Bible is pretty clear that Satan wants us to MYOB and not bring any more followers to Christ.

I hope you're not giving yourself permission to be cruel to children. That's what it sounds like.

Cruelty is obviously a relative term here in this thread.
The ultimate cruelty IMO is claiming to be someone’s friend while quietly and politely remaining silent when your words could set them on the path to salvation. How cruel to know your friend is not saved and yet stand by and say/do nothing to offer a path to salvation.

This post is EXACTLY why there can never be a middle ground, a compromise. Many christians (especially evangelicals) live in a completely different world than others. They see it as a GOOD thing, while others (myself included) not only don't believe it, but feel that it's abusive to say these things to a child. My child, at the age of 8, was told if he didn't get "saved" by saying the magic words about jesus, would burn in a lake of fire for all eternity. This was done at a (previously) trusted friend's home, and she was told not to mention it to her parents because it was just between her and god. She was shown pictures of this lake of fire. She believed it, and although she is 14 now, she can't get the images out of her head.
I consider it abuse. They (and PP apparently) consider it a loving act.

They WON'T mind their business, because they see it as their business, they see it as loving, they see it as a command from the ever loving creator of the universe. I've even been told it would be disrespectful to ask them to stop evangelizing because I would then be disrespecting THEIR beliefs.

We live in different worlds...although I wish that was literal. I have no desire to inhabit any space in which there are people with beliefs so counter to humanity and with people that don't even believe they are allowed to keep that crap to themselves.

This is the “your truth/my truth” position.

But since Christ says “I am the way, THE Truth, and the life—no one comes to the Father except by ME” then believers know that THE truth is that, while we do share “space” in this world, we can only live eternally with our Father in heaven if we choose to follow Christ. And that path is open to ANYONE who makes the choice to follow Him.

This is why sharing this news with others is a kind invitation and not a cruel boast.

This is not about sharing confirmation. It's about making a kid cry because they believe differently than another kid.

I would offer that a young child saying to another young child that it’s bad not to believe in Jesus is simply a child-like rudimentary expression of his own understanding that “Believe in Jesus = Heaven / Don’t believe in Jesus = Hell”

OP’s son could have shrugged and said “meh—I don’t believe any of that religious stuff” he cried, maybe because he doesn’t like that the friend expressed disapproval of his choice, or maybe because he doesn’t really know why he doesn’t believe in Jesus and was concerned that the friend said that was a bad thing.

If this statement from one child
to another caused the non-believing
child to cry, then that tells me that OP has not properly explained to her child what “they” believe or don’t believe in their family.

No your take is absurd.

Your kid is rude and stupid period.

You are indoctrinated into a religion. Religion is a cult all religion.

You don't get to teach your kids that you are better because of your religion or that they get to be rude because of being kids. That alone is absurd.

I don’t have any kids.

Thank god!