Childhood Spirituality

In spite of all the evidence to the contrary, we tend to think of children and their religious and spiritual beliefs as add-ons to their parents' beliefs. Consequently, even in religious homes, we often neglect their spiritual development. The consequences are the basis of this interesting article.

The upshot? Higher education is not turning young adults away from religion. Religious ideas and identities, whether to believe or not believe, form while we are children and teens. Moving to a campus gives a young person the opportunity to live out their lives without parental monitoring. Those who don't want to go, don't go. The answer isn't to continue monitoring them to greater and greater ages. Rather, we need to remember that conversion starts in the home. Don't take your children's salvation for granted. Don't assume that they will just become whatever you have become. Treat their questions and concerns seriously, and encourage them just as you would anyone else you're attempting to win for Christ.