tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841992273882225141.post6499451551127990223..comments2023-08-17T06:06:23.531-04:00Comments on Ibo et Non Redibo: Children and Choices: A Free "No" is Better than a Forced "Yes"John Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309411001384211788noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841992273882225141.post-23401835140834669462014-04-09T12:38:21.528-04:002014-04-09T12:38:21.528-04:00I greatly appreciate your insight: these discussio...I greatly appreciate your insight: these discussions are not easy or free of pain. We want our children to have eternal salvation: which is the fruit of intimacy with Christ. Intimacy that is born not from fear but from love lived out. <br /><br />I find it greatly helps to ask children, or people expressing doubts about the church, to listen. Usually, they are objecting not to Christ's love or to salvation but to some particular practice that seems hollow or forced. Specificity is good: what values is the child seeking out? When do they feel the most free and truly joyful? Salvation may be more easily understood through personal prayer, through art and music, through GK Chesterton and CS Lewis, through friends and family, through service work with the poor, or even in sports and fun. If the person can see and name her/his own experience of intimacy with God, I think they will more easily discover that intimacy in the beauty of the Liturgy and the help of the Sacraments. We should emphasize church as the source and summit of this spiritual life that does not call us to sacrifice our uniqueness but calls us to live out what we most value, our deepest joy and peace. <br /><br />I apologize for my late reply to the question about age-groups. Find my reply above. Thank you for reading.Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12689615733404266476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841992273882225141.post-28712832853913066512014-04-09T12:08:53.280-04:002014-04-09T12:08:53.280-04:00Thanks for your comment. You raise an interesting...Thanks for your comment. You raise an interesting point, Kids are ready for different things at different stages. And some are mature in different areas than others. But the concept of choice is pretty basic, as is talking about what church means, so I imagine even toddlers could have these sort of interactions. If the children are older or teens, the conversation may take into account the sorts of values and interests the person already has.Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12689615733404266476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841992273882225141.post-84453121568646206312014-04-08T13:30:12.312-04:002014-04-08T13:30:12.312-04:00I think that many parents may fear that by giving ...I think that many parents may fear that by giving their children choice in matters relating to God, they put their children's eternal salvation at risk. Also, it can really be quite painful for a parent to witness their child reject God. If there is an emphasis placed on the importance of church and the importance of God in our lives then I think the risk of a child not choosing God decreases substantially. <br /><br />I'd also be interested in hearing your thoughts on what age range the term "children" should be applied to.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15740666172167495715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841992273882225141.post-90649825687564347342014-03-31T13:35:22.095-04:002014-03-31T13:35:22.095-04:00Thanks for the thoughtful post. What age range are...Thanks for the thoughtful post. What age range are you considering "children"?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07389389767104904332noreply@blogger.com