Some have accused Christian parents of brainwashing their kids.
Before children are old enough to digest for themselves
all of the evidence for God's existence or various biblical teachings,
many Christians ingrain these beliefs into their children.
Devout Christian parents regularly and systematically teach their children
fundamental Christian teachings without apology.
Is this not a form of brainwashing? Is it not forcible indoctrination?
I freely and unashamedly admit that my wife and I instructed
our children in the ways of God from the time that they were born.
We talked to them about God; we sang to them about Jesus;
we read to them from the Holy Spirit's inspired Word.
Moses instructed the Israelites to, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,
and with all your strength and these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.
You shall teach them diligently to your children and shalt talk of them when you
sit in your house, when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up."
Just as Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men,
so the children of Jesus' followers should be brought up
in the training and admonition of the Lord.
But is this really the right thing to do?
Is it not arrogant to teach kids that atheists and agnostics are wrong
and that theists are right?
Should we not let kids decide on their own if they want to believe in God?
Is it not cultish to say that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life;
that no one will live eternally with God except through Him?
Shouldn't children be allowed to think for themselves?
The fact is, all parents-- even atheistic and agnostic parents--
teach their children that certain things are true and certain things are false,
that some things are right and other things are wrong,
whether they believe in an objective standard or not.
Think about it.
Can parents teach their children that 2+2=4
or must they allow their children to learn this for themselves over time?
Can a mother teach her children that they not to ever crawl into a freezer
and close the door or must she allow her children to risk suffocation and learn on their own?
Can a father forbid his son from touching his guns and knives
or should he just leave them on the floor for the child to discover on his own
what he should and should not do with such things?
Can parents teach their children that lying is wrong
or must parents simply allow the children to lie whenever they want
and to make up their own minds if lying is wrong for them when they become 18?
Most rational adults would never sanction such foolish parenting.
All parents "brainwash" their children about certain things.
But we also understand that children grow up and ultimately decide for themselves
what they want to believe and how they want to act regardless of past influences.
In truth, Christians teaching their children that God exists or that the Bible is God's Word
is as logical, truthful, and fundamental as teaching them that 2+2=4.
If parents can teach their children laws of science--
such as the Law of Causality or the Law of Biogenesis--
then they are implicitly teaching their children that God exists
because these laws point to a Creator.
If parents can teach children that no mere man knows the future and then read from the Bible
dozens of examples of fulfilled prophecies, they have simply taught the fundamental fact
that the Bible is a book of supernatural origin.
God wants us to teach our children about Him and His word because it is the right thing to do.
If it is acceptable to teach our kids about reading, writing, and arithmetic,
about the laws of science and about how bad lying and murder are,
it most certainly is rational to teach children about the evidence for God's existence
and the reliability of His word.
After all, we would not even have reading, writing, and arithmetic,
the laws of science, truth, and real inherent value of human life without God.
He's the foundation of every good and true thing.
He is true. His spirit is truth. His word is truth.
And the truth will set men free.
Nothing is more important to teach children.
If Apologetics Press may help you effectively instruct your children in the ways of God,
please don't hesitate to visit us at ApologeticsPress.org.