5 Reasons Christian Parents Should Teach Different Religions

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  I am no good at a lot of things. Parenting things. Teaching my kids to tie their shoes, I'm terrible. Sleep Training? I hated it. I followed the book and to no avail.  If you can get a four month old to sleep through the night - in my view - you must possess some sort of sneaky superpowers. 

I know what you may be thinking: Why? Why blog about teaching other religions and worldviews. To kids no less. Isn't there so much else on the list to teach them that is more significant? Like cooking and matching socks and punctuality and kindness. The question is legitimate. 

Call me crazy but I wholeheartedly hold to the idea that deep thinking and searching for truth is vital. For us and our children. So allow me to demonstrate 5 reasons why every parent should learn and teach the major world religions to their children:

1) Teaching tolerance is imperative. Kids need to see the importance of respecting other people's beliefs. Culture and environments can differ widely.  Yes, tolerance is sorely misunderstood today. Tolerance simply means respecting a belief that is different from one that you hold yourself.  It does not mean everyone holds to the same viewpoint. Parents need to convey that every human being is made in the image of God and thus dignified, valuable and deserving of respect. God made us free to make our own choices and free to worship. Whomever or whatever. 

2) It takes the pressure off. Teaching other religions and worldviews is beneficial in illustrating that kids are free. Exploring different views is a powerful way of saying, here let's look at this together and I'll let you think for yourself. I'd go so far to say we all need to know that we can choose what to believe. There is no forcing belief or trust. And a kid that can reasonably decide their faith for themselves? These will likely be the kids that truly own their faith. Exposing them to different beliefs reinforces the idea that our faith should be well reasoned and it conveys a sort of confidence in the child and their ability to reason.

3)  Speaking of reason: They can learn for themselves that not all religions can be true. Read that sentence again. This is one of the devil's most believable lies. (you know him? The Father of lies see John 8:44) This nonsense is everywhere. And I honestly have previously bought into it. If we just briefly glance at the major worldviews/religions in terms of their path to God and salvation we see that at the heart they are very different.  Read about the other religions and see for yourself.  Either one religion is true or none (and the atheists get reality right). But not all. They can't all equal truth.

4) They can reject religious culture. 
  Hear me on this, I am not saying don't encourage your kids to go to church. (Good churches are good. see Hebrews 10:15 ) I am saying there has been an avalanche of claims of spiritual abuse. Critical thinking is crucial for theology and all of human flourishing. Let's help our kids think critically about what makes a good church biblical. If you can teach your kids that Christianity is about a relationship with a personal, loving God then they will see that He's there, He cares and this will alleviate some of the need to please man. We must obey God and not man. Because humans have done and said some crazy things all in the name of religion and faith. Church members have surely added on to the word of God! Teach them early that we must not elevate tradition over Jesus Christ. Cults are simply an allegiance to the group and the traditions( no matter how slight of the truth). The Bible is authoritative but it has always been primarily first and foremost about our relationship with a person. The living Messiah. Jesus Christ. God Himself. 

5) They can see that Christianity is not only true but beautiful.  Even if Spiritual abuse is increasing so is the evidence that Jesus is King.  The God of the Bible is the only Deity to die. Lots of so-called gods require sacrifices. The Jesus of the Bible is the sacrifice and died in our place. Oh and came back to life. Every bit of the Bible points to Jesus of Nazareth. This book of books evokes a beautiful tale of redemption of an unfaithful people and a good God who so desperately wants to be with his beloved humanity. The God of the Bible is set apart. Not only because the story is rooted in History but because it makes sense that we need God to get to God. 

Jesus claims divinity. (See John 10:30) His claims are blasphemy. Unless they aren't. Unless He really is who He says He is. If He did come back to life then well I think your kids and mine can reasonably infer that He is Lord. The story of the Bible is really our only hope. Forget the other hard miniscule things we often fret over. If we can illustrate that God is good and He truthfully loves them deeply well I'll say that we'll have parented well. What could be more important? 

So yes teach them the other religions and don't ever let your Bibles get dusty. We must do our best in this day in age to bring our children the Truth. They are loved now and forever by the One true living God.

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