"THE POWER OF VOLUNTARY COMMITMENT"
One of the dangers of evangelism and discipleship of children is
that leaders, parents or children may see it as imposed or enforced
belief. This is true to an even greater degree with young children
because they can be so easily influenced by a significant adult.
A child may profess a decision before he or she is ready just to
please the adult. The hope of the writers of this course is that
neither occurs.
When God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit
are studied in an atmosphere where belief is optional and voluntary,
many individual lives are changed and the individuals become constructive
influences in their vocations, communities and societies. If belief
is forced upon children, their individual lives may not change and
they may rebel against the truths being explored.
There are several steps you can implement
as a leader to help safeguard the free choice of your children,
allowing these lessons to have the maximum possible benefit.
These steps are:
- Encourage children to ask questions
and even challenge (privately or during appropriate times in class)
the perspective presented in these lessons. Often the best thoughts
are forged in the midst of controversy and debate.
- Feel free to express your own opinion when you
feel it fits into the lesson, or when a child asks what you believe.
- Remember, the way children think and learn has
a great impact on their freedom of choice. Using abstract ideas
and terminology can coerce children into adopting adult ideas
that are not their own. Be sure to read the following articles:
"Leader-Child Interaction" and "The Children We Teach."
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