Christians
When two Christian people have a child, they will usually try raise that child to be a Christian. However, a parent can not force a child into believing God or following the Christian religion when they get older. There are things that can be done if parents want to try to help their children be real Christians. Education, whether it be religious or manners starts in the home. If parents want their children to have Christian beliefs, then one of the most important things they can do is practice what they preach. Parents who are Christians should behave as Christians are supposed to in their daily lives. A parent who tries to introduce the Christian religion in their child’s life should not do things in front of their children that may not be considered Christian like. Christian parents should set a good example for their children.
•It is only natural that Christian parents will raise Christian children while they are young, but a child may change their mind about being a Christian when they get older. Christian parents can find this very upsetting. However, Christians must be excepting of others beliefs. Parents should do all they can to help their child want to be a Christian. Education about the bible, God and Christianity should not just come from a church. Christian parents should teach their children as well. Christians should begin teaching their children about Jesus when they are young. One of the earliest thing that Christians can teach their children is how to pray. Being a Christian means that one has a close relationship with God. The best gift that a Christian parent can give their child is to help them connect with God.
•Christians are used to praying on a regular basis. Parents can begin by explaining to their children what it means to pray. Praying can help children begin to develop their own connections with God. Even very young children can participate in this. Once a child has learned how to talk and understand basic concepts, they should be ready to begin learning how to pray. Christians should remind their children that praying is not about asking God for things that they want. For Christians, prayer is about giving thanks to God as well as seeking help from Him. Parents should tell their children that praying is a special way for them to connect with God. Parents should also inform their children that God does not only hear Christians when they pray out loud. A parent should tell their child that God also listens if one prays silently.
•Praying is not the only activity that Christians do to keep them close with God. A Christian family may want to have an hour where they read the bible together as a family. Not only is this a great way to spend quality time as a family, but the children can start to learn about Jesus Christ and God. Parents should not read graphic parts of the bible to their children or scare them. A child will not want to be a Christian if the idea of it is scary. Buying a special children’s bible is a good idea. Christian ideas will still be in place, but it will be edited for children. Christian parents should let their child read parts of the bible out loud. This will help with the child’s reading skills while teaching them about Christians at the same time.
•Keeping a traditional Christian household will allow children to grow up in a Christian environment. One important Christian ritual is praying before each meal. Gathering as a family to eat dinner is a good way to bond, as well as a wonderful time to encourage children to pray. A Christian parent should explain why people pray before dinner. Christians pray before dinner because they want to give thanks to God for giving them the food that they eat. They are showing their children that God is to be thanked for every blessing their lives, even something as small as a meal.
•A fun way to raise Christian children is by playing bible trivia games. There are many board games and Internet games that allow a child to quiz themselves about their knowledge of the bible. Children love playing games and they can see that being a Christian is a happy way to live. This is another good way for a family to spend quality time together. Christians of all ages might enjoy testing themselves on their knowledge of the bible. Having this knowledge goes hand in hand with one of the biggest things that a Christian family centers their life around: church. Serious Christians do go to church on a regular basis.
•Some children hate having their Sunday mornings interrupted to be taken to church. Christian parents should try to make church a fun experience, instead of one that gets children out of bed on a Sunday morning. Elementary school children in particular may be resentful about this, since they probably have to wake up early for school five days a week. Christian families should try to make an occasion out of going to church. Maybe the whole family can go out for a big lunch at a restaurant when church is over. Christians should not consider this type of reward black mail. Instead, they should look at it as an incentive for their children to develop Christian beliefs. There is no law that says that Christians can not mix fun times with their religion. A family can even discuss the church service over lunch.
•Many Christian churches have separate programs for the children of the parents in their congregation. These programs allow for children to learn about being a Christian while being in a fun atmosphere with other children. Instead of dreading church, they may look forward to going to see their friends. In Christian children’s groups, they will learn about being a Christian. Children are likely to end up reading stories, watching Christian movies, singing Christian songs and playing games. Some churches have playgrounds and give the children a chance to run around with their friends. This allows the child some time to exercise, again while showing them that being a Christian is fun. A child can also find comfort in being with a group, allowing him to be comforted by the idea of being a Christian.
•Christian parents may want their children to go to Christian schools as well. Many public schools do not allow one religion to dominate. An education in a Christian school will guarantee that a child gets an education with an emphasis on Christ as well. Besides the regular studies of history, math and languages, a Christian child will take classes that allow them to learn about the bible. Christians who want to find their child a school should begin by looking locally. If the parent is willing to drive their child to school, they can look for Christian schools within the distance that they have decided on. They should then make a list of every possible Christian school as well as the name of the principal or contact information. The tuition costs should also be listed, as the cost of one Christian school versus another might help make the final decision.
•The parent should note any questions or concerns that they have about each particular Christian school before visiting it. The child should be allowed to come along for these visits with the various Christian schools. While the final decision may be up to the parent, a child should have some input regarding the decision. It is where they are going to be spending a large amount of their time and they should feel comfortable there. A parent may want to take suggestions from other Christians who have sent their children to Christian schools. No referral is better than one given by word of mouth. It might also help the child to attend a school where they know other Christians that attend there. If the families go to church together, it may strengthen the bond that they already have.
•After the parent tours each of the schools, they should find out everything they can. Just because a school has Christian values does not necessarily meant that all of the values are the same. The parent should find out what the main beliefs of the school are. The denomination of the school may also be important since there are so many types of Christianity. Writing down a list of pros and cons about each Christian school can help a parent stay organized. An individual should discuss the different Christian schools with their child as well a their minister. Since Christians believe in praying for guidance, then prayer may help an individual make a decision. After the enrollment process is over, a child should be encouraged to voice any issues or concerns they have about the school.
•Many times, children can become less serious about their faith as they grow. While there are many Christian teenagers, they may care less about Jesus and more about dating, friends and their appearance. If the teenager has been in a Christian school, it is a good bet that he or she is surrounded by many other teenagers going through the same things. While a Christian parent may set more rigid standards for their child then others, they should still allow them to have a life. A parent should not shy away when it comes to discussing dating and marriage with their Christian teenager. Even if an individual’s friends are Christians, the child should learn from his or her parents, not friends. This is true about every serious topic, including drug and alcohol consumption.
•There are many different viewpoints about dating. Christians should start by instilling Christian values into their teenager’s head. Christians do not believe that a person should have sexual intercourse before marriage. They also do not believe that marriage vows should be taken lightly. While a Christian teenager should not be pressured into looking for a future spouse in ever date, they should begin thinking of the qualities they want in one. One of the most important dating lessons that Christians can teach their children is that members of the opposite sex are to be respected at all times. Today, values are very different then they used to be. Christian teenagers should be taught that marriage is a serious commitment with many considerations that must be taken into account.
•A Christian teen should be taught to pray before making any major decisions. Christians often spend time praying and discussing things with their pastor or other important people n their lives before they make big decisions. While a teenager should be encouraged to have their own, private relationship with God, they should also be taught to pray with their family. Christian families who pray together may be able to take a greater comfort in each other. If a Christian teenager is conflicted about any life decisions, they should be encouraged to take those decisions to God and seek His help.
Raising Christian children in today’s world can be difficult. However, it can start with a strong family unit that loves God and prays together on a regular basis. The church can be the backbone of a family, if the family allows time for it to become such. Christians should speak openly with their children about the bible and God. Christian parents should encourage their children to seek help from their church and God when they feel that it is necessary. This can help to instill a faith in the Lord that is unshakable for children as they grow.