Are we ramming it down their throats?

Nothing says you have failed to grow a person's faith more clearly than the comment 'it was rammed down my throat as a child'. 

This popular catch phrase is not only a sign of bad experiences as a child, it also indicates an ongoing hostility to all things Christian. A comeback from this position is quite difficult, and any further attempt to evangelise this former Sunday school or Scripture member is going to require a lot of work.

The phrase is visceral in nature. It speaks of being violated, coerced, forced, abused. There are laws against such things aren't there?

Double standards?

Curiously, I find when the same people speak of other aspects of their childhood education, no one ever says that Mathematics (or Science, or Geography etc.) was rammed down their throat. What they rather say is 'I hated having to learn my times table', or 'I found French wasn't for me so I switched to Chemistry'.

Why are Maths and French unpleasant, but the teaching of Christianity a violation? Surely there is no educational difference in the Maths classroom, compared to the Scripture classroom. Notwithstanding that school teachers are trained professionals, and Scripture and Sunday school teachers are usually volunteers, what takes place in both classrooms is still an imparting of information and learning. Surely the difference in content does not make one an 'education' (even if unpleasant) and the other 'abuse'.

Of course, the phrase in question is used to reject spiritual teaching about the gospel, and reflects a spiritual hostility toward God. We should expect nothing less from those outside of a relationship with God (Rom 1). But what can be done whilst they are young ones, so that any potential later rejection of Christ might not be so easily summed up with 'they shoved it down my throat as a child'?

Of course, what is required is for God to work in a child's heart and mind to bring about repentance and faith. To this end parents, Scripture teachers and Sunday school teachers should pray without ceasing. But there are a few other things that can help. 

Enjoyable Christian education

My goal as a parent and minister with ultimate oversight of little ones is that they might enjoy their spiritual education. I want them to want to go to church and Sunday school. Therefore, these moments need to be filled with laughter and joy. Interaction with kids and involvement by kids, should be fostered where possible. I am careful to speak to my own children in terms like 'you loved it last week/month/year' rather than 'you have to go because I say so'. Furthermore, at our church we have established a kids' club which is only open to kids who reach a certain age (unlike Sunday school which tends to be compulsory for children of Christians). We have managed to build up a sense of expectation among the kids, who say things like 'I can't wait to get into year 3 so I can go to Club Wow'.

Even if some of these kids reject the gospel as adults, my hope is they can look back on their early Christian education and say something like 'at least they taught me the Christian gospel'. Now, any attempt to evangelise them as an adult starts much further ahead than for those who thought it was 'rammed down their throats'. As for those who go on in the faith after the childhood years - may it be that they have had a solid foundation through the ministry they received in Sunday School and Scripture.

Do you agree, disagree, or have further thoughts of your own? Leave a comment below.

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