S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The definition of indoctrination is "instruction in a body of doctrine or principles; the instillation of a partisan or ideological point of view." Indoctrination is seen as the act of imparting fa...

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July 01 2013 • 8 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Faith Cross Supporter Pastor/Line Supervisor at a car parts factory

The goal of Christian parents is not only to indoctrinate their children, but to develop another generation of believers who will live out their faith in Christ to this world. It is wonderful to teach our children our beliefs, but it is another thing to help our growing children to learn to walk out their own faith. 

It has been said that a 3-5 year old child requires discipline, a 5-12 year old requires training. From 12-18 they need coaching, and after 18, a parent can have a friendship with their child. This is a good model for raising children in life skills, but it is also a beneficial way to look at raising a child to walk out the Christian life.

If we only indoctrinate our children, repeatedly stating what the Bible says about a given subject, we are telling them WHAT to think, but not HOW to think things through. We must allow them opportunities in life to experience living their faith out, and sometimes even failing to do it rightly. Otherwise, their faith will not become their own. As parents of adult children, we will wonder where we have gone wrong and why our faith did not translate to them. 

Our children must have their own experiences with God, where they learn that God was there for them, incrementally throughout life, at their own level. And as we, the parents, lead them through life, we must slowly release them into God's hands, to form and shape into His own image. Many parents hold their children so closely, that they shape their children into their own image, not God's. This is indoctrination, but is not teaching them how to live out their personal faith.

September 12 2014 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

ainsley chalmers Supporter Medical Research Scientist, devoted family man.

It is good to teach our children love and respect for the Lord Jesus. However many youth are falling away from their Christian roots because when they get to high school they are indoctrinated in evolutionary thinking that, basically, nature created itself through mutation and natural selection (or a big bang) and therefore we do not need a belief in God. In other words secular values are taught as fact and are in contradiction to the word of God.

Churches therefore need to prepare our young by comparing, either at home or bible classes, evolution vs God's plan for creation as described in the bible. The fallacy of evolution will then become self evident to our youth. Unfortunately many churches do not touch on this subject in Bible classes. In fact many Christian churches believe in evolution as God's way or plan for creation. The natural follow on from this is: there was no Adam or Eve, therefore no original sin and any need for a Savior. 

In short one cannot compromise the truth in the Bible, God's word, otherwise our youth will become confused and wonder what is the truth and ask the question "Do we believe in what the bible says or our teachers/"? Without a good grounding in bible based creationism the secular teachers generally win out. We need to love God with our whole soul but also with all our mind. We need to give answers to the majority who believe that nature created itself and one therefore doesn't need to postulate a God-directed creation.

A short DVD by creation ministries international (creation.com) entitled "Fallout" confirms my answer on this important subject.

December 12 2016 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Cassius D'Souza Learn More'>Supporter

All humans know what is right and wrong because God has created us all equal. Through Jesus, God tells us what is good for us and for society so we can live an abundant life. This wisdom of God is what we pass on to the next generation.

July 24 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report