What would you do if your child left the form of Christianity you raised them in?

[EmmaXO]

I mean if you raise them in one denomination and then they switch denominations or change religions completely.

What would you do if your child converted to Judaism, Baha'i Faith, Islam, Jainism, Sikhism, or some other religion? If they became a Pagan would you consider it worse than being a Baha'i or a Muslim? If they believed in a polytheistic religion would you consider it worse than being monotheistic but not Christian?


What would you do if they changed to a more non-mainstream form of Christianity, like Mormonism or Jehovah's Witness? Would you still consider them Christian? What if you were a conservative Christian and they became a liberal Christian?

 

[secondtimearound]

The same thing I do for everyone else. Pray for them.

People are free to do as they will, that includes our own children.

 

[GrayAngel]

I mean if you raise them in one denomination and then they switch denominations or change religions completely.

We're not saved by our denomination. I wouldn't care whether they're Baptist or Catholic. We're saved by Christ, not man-made divisions.

Now, if they abandoned Christianity altogether, that would be entirely different. I'd be very worried about them. I'd pray that God would bring them back. But I would make sure they knew that I'd love them no matter what.

What would you do if your child converted to Judaism, Baha'i Faith, Islam, Jainism, Sikhism, or some other religion? If they became a Pagan would you consider it worse than being a Baha'i or a Muslim? If they believed in a polytheistic religion would you consider it worse than being monotheistic but not Christian?

It doesn't make any difference what religion it is if it isn't Christianity.

What would you do if they changed to a more non-mainstream form of Christianity, like Mormonism or Jehovah's Witness? Would you still consider them Christian? What if you were a conservative Christian and they became a liberal Christian?

Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses are not Christian. They reject the fundamental beliefs and values of Christianity. They're no more Christian than Muslims.

As for Conservative vs Liberal, again we're saved by Christ. We're not saved by political orientation.

 

[drich0150]

I mean if you raise them in one denomination and then they switch denominations or change religions completely.

What would you do if your child converted to Judaism, Baha'i Faith, Islam, Jainism, Sikhism, or some other religion? If they became a Pagan would you consider it worse than being a Baha'i or a Muslim? If they believed in a polytheistic religion would you consider it worse than being monotheistic but not Christian?


What would you do if they changed to a more non-mainstream form of Christianity, like Mormonism or Jehovah's Witness? Would you still consider them Christian? What if you were a conservative Christian and they became a liberal Christian?

What did the Father of the prodigal son do when his son wanted to leave?

He let him go and waited for his return.

 

[1watchman]

If a child did what you suppose, and joined some man-made god, I would be greatly wounded in my heart to learn of that, and would do all I can to help them return to the Word of God and Christianity. I wonder why you would raise such a question?

Since such a departure would mean that they never were "born again" by the Holy Spirit, but only professed Christianity and followed after the teachings of Jesus, I would also just continue to pray for them and trust my Lord to draw them back to the faith, and show mercy on them. What else could a Christian do?

 

[Publius]

I mean if you raise them in one denomination and then they switch denominations or change religions completely.

What would you do if your child converted to Judaism, Baha'i Faith, Islam, Jainism, Sikhism, or some other religion? If they became a Pagan would you consider it worse than being a Baha'i or a Muslim? If they believed in a polytheistic religion would you consider it worse than being monotheistic but not Christian?

I'd love them, pray for them, and continue to present the Gospel to them.

What would you do if they changed to a non-Christian religion like Mormonism or Jehovah's Witness?

There you go. Fixed it for ya.

Would you still consider them Christian?

If they left Christianity and rejected Christ, then on what basis should I consider them Christians?

What if you were a conservative Christian and they became a liberal Christian?

Scratch the surface of a "liberal Christian" and you'll almost find serious doctrinal issues that disqualify them as a Christian.

Finally, I think the biggest problem with your premise is that you assume that our children are already Christians by default and that there's some imaginary tightrope with God on one side and the Devil on the other, each battling for control.

The fact is, we understand that our children are sinners, that they are sinners by nature, and that they are sinners from the womb. It is only after God calls, regenerates and saves them that they become Christians. If He has not done that, then the best they're doing is just pretending to be Christians, in which case, it really doesn't matter what they chose to do. If He has, then the Bible is clear that they will not fall away.

We're not saved by our denomination. I wouldn't care whether they're Baptist or Catholic. We're saved by Christ, not man-made divisions.

Actually, not all divisions are bad. The division between Protestants and Catholics for example is one that's supported by scripture and occured because of Catholicism's Unbiblical doctrines concerning justification, among other issues.

That you're a Baptist and do not recognize the difference between Catholicism and Biblical Christianity is troubling.

 

[razeontherock]

What would you do if your child converted to ...

My sons are Asatru. The world has not ended.

What would you do if they changed to a more non-mainstream form of Christianity, like Mormonism or Jehovah's Witness? Would you still consider them Christian? What if you were a conservative Christian and they became a liberal Christian?

Those 2 groups I would not consider Christian at all, (although some within them likely are) and the various ways of seen the conservative / liberal label tossed about here make me realize it's a false divide.

 

[ViaCrucis]

I mean if you raise them in one denomination and then they switch denominations or change religions completely.

What would you do if your child converted to Judaism, Baha'i Faith, Islam, Jainism, Sikhism, or some other religion? If they became a Pagan would you consider it worse than being a Baha'i or a Muslim? If they believed in a polytheistic religion would you consider it worse than being monotheistic but not Christian?


What would you do if they changed to a more non-mainstream form of Christianity, like Mormonism or Jehovah's Witness? Would you still consider them Christian? What if you were a conservative Christian and they became a liberal Christian?

As someone who is a different kind of Christian now than I was raised as, I think I'd like to be like how my parents were: Supportive, loving, encouraging me to think for myself and to find out what I believe by asking questions and searching.

If they joined a non-mainstream group, it would probably depend on the group. Does the group encourage cutting off from friends, family and the outside world? Is the group cult-like and authoritarian? I think at that point I would be concerned, worried for the health and safety of my child--but what parent wouldn't?

If it was simply a less theologically orthodox group or converted to a different religion or lost faith entirely, I would still love them, accept them, and cherish them as my child, I think that's what a good parent should do.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[ebia]

Assuming it wasn't a cult like group: support, love, and ask challenging questions (and expect challenging questions in return).

 

[GrayAngel]

Actually, not all divisions are bad. The division between Protestants and Catholics for example is one that's supported by scripture and occured because of Catholicism's Unbiblical doctrines concerning justification, among other issues.

That you're a Baptist and do not recognize the difference between Catholicism and Biblical Christianity is troubling.

I didn't say all man-made divisions are bad, but my salvation is not dependent on being Baptist. It's faith in Christ that saves us.

 

[Laureate]

It's one thing, for a Mormon or a Jehovah Witness to profess they are not Christian, but for a so called Christian to say, that Mormons, and Jehovah Witnesses are not Christian simply because they interpret the scriptures differently is absurd.

I am so ashamed of my fellow Anointed ones, for we have been called to reconcile, and all I hear is, Your not one of us!

James 1:26
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before Eloheem and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

The fatherless are those who do not recognize our heavenly father being in their life.

And the widows are those who do not recognize the word sown in their heart as being the result of the new covenant, for the Christ/husband that lives in our heart is dead to them.

Unspotted, means unmarked, means not stigmatized, means nothing hyped up, or disrespected, as in, ooooh! And, ughhhh!

We have scriptures, dictionaries, lexicons, and Context to tell us the meaning of a word and the Holy spirit to guide us. Lea e the rest alone, or be marked by it, it doesn't matter if the mark is possitive or negative, pure means no mark or blemish from the world.

If you used to be a faithful member of one of those faiths, then you qualify to give a testimony, if not, then you really do not qualify to open your mouth, yet have you no shame, do you really think you are doing justice to the body of Christ?

 

[GrayAngel]

It's one thing, for a Mormon or a Jehovah Witness to profess they are not Christian, but for a so called Christian to say, that Mormons, and Jehovah Witnesses are not Christian simply because they interpret the scriptures differently is absurd.

I am so ashamed of my fellow Anointed ones, for we have been called to reconcile, and all I hear is, Your not one of us!

James 1:26
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before Eloheem and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

The fatherless are those who do not recognize our heavenly father being in their life.

And the widows are those who do not recognize the word sown in their heart as being the result of the new covenant, for the Christ/husband that lives in our heart is dead to them.

Unspotted, means unmarked, means not stigmatized, means nothing hyped up, or disrespected, as in, ooooh! And, ughhhh!

We have scriptures, dictionaries, lexicons, and Context to tell us the meaning of a word and the Holy spirit to guide us. Lea e the rest alone, or be marked by it, it doesn't matter if the mark is possitive or negative, pure means no mark or blemish from the world.

If you used to be a faithful member of one of those faiths, then you qualify to give a testimony, if not, then you really do not qualify to open your mouth, yet have you no shame, do you really think you are doing justice to the body of Christ?

Before you start criticizing us, maybe you should learn a few things about why we hold our opinions, hypocrite.

I don't consider Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses Christians not because I don't like them, but because they are so far different from us that they should be considered their own religions.

For example: Christians believe that Christ was God. Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses believe Jesus was a God. This is heretical from a Christian standpoint.

The gospel they preach is a false gospel, and it bears little similarity to the Christian gospel.

And think about this: If Mormons and JW's consider themselves Christian, why do they try so hard to convert people who aren't of their sect? If we're all Christians, we'd be working on the same team. I don't try to convert Lutherans. But Christians, Mormons, and Jehovah's Witnesses do not play on the same team. We struggle against one another. This is a huge obvious sign that the two are not under the Christian banner.

I don't dislike Mormons. My feelings toward them have nothing to do why I don't consider them Christian. I consider Westboro Baptists Christian, and I hate them very strongly. They are bad Christians, but still Christians. Mormons I like better, but they're not Christian.

 

[stacymay]

I would try to bring them back to the faith through my love and patience. Parents are supposed to love their children unconditionally.

If it was just conversion to another denomination, such as another Protestant denomination or Catholicism or something, I really wouldn't mind at all. If it was another religion entirely or if they gave up on religion, I'd simply pray for them and love them, hoping that God would open their minds and hearts to Him again.

That said, I'd always keep my eyes on them to make sure they never got involved with something dangerous, such as Satanism or a cult of some kind. I plan to teach my kids about that kind of stuff once they're old enough and hopefully avoid that kind of thing.

 

[razeontherock]

It's one thing, for a Mormon or a Jehovah Witness to profess they are not Christian, but for a so called Christian to say, that Mormons, and Jehovah Witnesses are not Christian simply because they interpret the scriptures differently is absurd.

Scriptural interpretation is not the point. Who do they say Jesus is? What Jesus do they know?

 

[elman]

I mean if you raise them in one denomination and then they switch denominations or change religions completely.

What would you do if your child converted to Judaism, Baha'i Faith, Islam, Jainism, Sikhism, or some other religion? If they became a Pagan would you consider it worse than being a Baha'i or a Muslim? If they believed in a polytheistic religion would you consider it worse than being monotheistic but not Christian?


What would you do if they changed to a more non-mainstream form of Christianity, like Mormonism or Jehovah's Witness? Would you still consider them Christian? What if you were a conservative Christian and they became a liberal Christian?

I would follow them and if I thought they were correct, agree with them, and if I thought incorrect, continue to love them.---and by the way this is what I have done.

 

[lucaspa]

I mean if you raise them in one denomination and then they switch denominations or change religions completely.

They already have. One is agnostic and the other is leaning toward Buddhism.

Parental love is unconditional. I love my children no matter what religion they are. I'm not doing anything.

They are good people. They hold to Matthew 25 even if they don't think in terms of Jesus. They love their neighbor as themselves. I trust that God will know His own, even if they don't profess the "correct" religion.

 

[lucaspa]

It's one thing, for a Mormon or a Jehovah Witness to profess they are not Christian, but for a so called Christian to say, that Mormons, and Jehovah Witnesses are not Christian simply because they interpret the scriptures differently is absurd.

This is an objective thing. Christianity is a set of ideas, not an interpretation of scripture. Christianity may have gotten those ideas from an interpretation of scripture (but in the case of Trinity at least, not entirely), but the ideas are separate and define Christianity.

Neither Mormons nor JWs are Christian. Why not? Because an essential idea of Christianity is the Trinity. It is central in both the Nicene and Apostle's Creeds. Neither Mormonism or JWs are Trinitarian, therefore they are not Christian.

Mormonism has the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost being 3 separate gods with a single goal. JWs has Christ being a separate god from the Father.

I think the problem comes in that people associate "not Christian" with "wrong" or "bad". That association should not be made. Being non-Christian simply means that Mormons and JWs have different beliefs about Christ than Christians. Period. Different beliefs. No judgement call.

 

[lucaspa]

It's one thing, for a Mormon or a Jehovah Witness to profess they are not Christian, but for a so called Christian to say, that Mormons, and Jehovah Witnesses are not Christian simply because they interpret the scriptures differently is absurd.

No, it's not absurd. We can decide objectively whether JWs and Mormonism is Christianity. This is because Christianity, Mormonism, and JW are sets of ideas. OK, most of those ideas may come from interpretation of scripture, but they are still a set of ideas. Some of the ideas -- such as Trinity -- are only partly derived from scripture. What we can do is compare the ideas and see if they match.

One of the essential ideas of Christianity is that of the Trinity. Trinity is a central idea in both the Nicene and Apostle's Creeds. To be Christian is to accept Trinity.

Neither Mormonism nor JWs accept Trinity. Both have different ideas about the relationship of the Father, Christ, and the Holy Ghost. In Mormonism, the Father, Christ, and the Holy Ghost are 3 separate gods with a shared goal. In JW, the Father and Christ are separate gods. The Father created and Christ is the Savior.

So, objectively comparing ideas, we can see that Christianity, Mormonism, and JW are separate ideas. Christianity is not Mormonism or JW, and neither Mormonism or JW is Christianity. In fact, Mormonism and JW are not the same thing.

What they have in common is the idea that Christ is Savior. But that is not enough to make them the same thing.

I think what you are objecting to is the unspoken idea that not being Christian is either "bad" or "wrong". And I agree that you should object to that. We should not be passing judgement like that. Mormonism and JW are different from Christianity, but that does not make them "bad".

In regard to your "interpretation of scripture" remark that there are differences in what all 3 consider scripture, not just in interpretation of agreed upon scripture. Mormonism has additional scripture (Book of Mormon) that Christians and JWs don't accept as valid. JW has revelation from Charles Taze Russell that Christians and Mormons don't accept as valid. JWs also have a distinctly different scripture in a few key passages. So in addition to different ideas, they all differ on what is scripture.

 

[Laureate]

Thank you lucaspa for a reasonable and mature response. No one here is allowed to debate either creed which you mentioned, nor are we to question the trinity concept, neither of which mind you, do I have a problem with; what I do have a problem with is that the creeds in this case are being treated like scripture instead of as creeds.

What you and the legislature of CF forums is telling me is, that I should not think of a Christian as an annointed being, which it literally means, but I should only consider those who accept the approved creeds of those who mind you self proclaim to be sinners, Yeshua himself considered his apostles to be 'ye of little faith'.

Again I have no problem with either creed, perhaps if there were a verse that said something to the effect that, you are not to be considered a christian if you do not accept one of the approved creeds..., Because I know of no such verse, I can not see how one would permit the creed to be a gauge to determine whether or not one is a Christian.

I appologize, I did not mean to derail the main topic of this thread, I think it was a very good question, and most of the answers were also very beautiful, forgive me for not saying so sooner.