Post by robertcolumbia on Apr 5, 2012 9:48:15 GMT -5
One of the fundamental beliefs of Anabaptism is that coercion in terms of religion is wrong and every person must make their own choice to voluntarily join a church. Many martyrs died a horrible death because they changed affiliation to a church that competed with the one that was favored locally. Some people here have undergone painful church transitions.
Keeping this in mind, to what extent should this apply to children, especially your own? If your child tells you that he feels that your church is heretical and that he wants to join some other church, when should he be allowed to? Does headship authority completely trump this until a specific time (e.g. age 18), or should a child who can show an understanding of doctrinal issues and can explain what specifically they disagree with about Mom and Dad's church be allowed to attend services with a neighbor and begin the process of joining? We are not talking about situations where e.g. a 14 year old boy wants to go to the church across the street because a girl that he likes attends there, but situations where the child dissents on doctrine or practice for more serious reasons.
Keeping this in mind, to what extent should this apply to children, especially your own? If your child tells you that he feels that your church is heretical and that he wants to join some other church, when should he be allowed to? Does headship authority completely trump this until a specific time (e.g. age 18), or should a child who can show an understanding of doctrinal issues and can explain what specifically they disagree with about Mom and Dad's church be allowed to attend services with a neighbor and begin the process of joining? We are not talking about situations where e.g. a 14 year old boy wants to go to the church across the street because a girl that he likes attends there, but situations where the child dissents on doctrine or practice for more serious reasons.
