Comments on: Peter Enns On Raising Young Heretics

By: William B

William B — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 18:16:00 +0000

What a depressing article. It has little of the spirit of Christ and much of the spirit of religious man, the sort I can’t help thinking Jesus railed against while he walked the earth.
Your six year old expresses some doubt about whether the story about a talking snake is real or not. The correct response? Tell the young heretic he’s sinning and he must confess and repent!
Then speak to him using phraseology from the 18th century … “Well my son … ask for the gift of faith that will enable us to believe in Him and in every one of his precious words”.
Sigh. How to raise a strange, insecure and poorly adjusted child.

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By: Philippa

Philippa — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 14:12:27 +0000

“There’s also a huge difference in context.”

Oh, of course – and Thomas rocks, he is probably my favourite disciple! – but again, we are talking about a six year old child. I am certainly not saying a six year old is not capable of a rebellious spirit. I know I was! – but I was also a very sensitive child who was easily crushed. But a six year old who questions something in the Bible is not on the same emotional/intellectual level as, say, a questing teenager. Both need a response appropriate to their mental and emotional capacity – obviously one that will encourage them to trust the Bible more, not less!

By: Wanda

Wanda — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 13:16:17 +0000

I learned from an early age to not put my faith in the words of man. When I questioned our denomination as a child I was told we had to have faith that it was right and the others were wrong. That didn’t sit well with me.

I have often felt like the father of the boy in Mark 9:24. “I believe! Help me in my unbelief.” And when I cry that out to God he comes through and shows himself to me every single time. I’ve stopped doing it now, simply because I know from past experience how real he is.

It is with those two past-experiences in mind that I approach my own ministry to my children. I want them to have their own faith, to feel free to question, but to be led to experience God for themselves in a real way. There is enough literature and evidence out there to support the validity of the Bible. It is my job to help my children understand it.

By: David Murray

David Murray — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 11:58:52 +0000

Karen, I like your approach of asking questions in return. I hope no one wants their child to believe for their sakes. That would be extremely damaging to a child in this world, and for the world to come.

By: David Murray

David Murray — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 11:56:52 +0000

Of course, it’s not a sin to ask questions. It all depends on how the questions are asked. I see a big difference between the spirit of Thomas and the spirit in which the son asked the question. There’s also a huge difference in context.

By: Karen Cone

Karen Cone — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 10:49:02 +0000

Thank you Brent Swanson. You expressed what I was feeling. My question to my little one would also be, “why?” What has brought you to this conclusion? Out ideas are usually formed from ideas we hear. There is nothing new under the sun. I would want my child to question himself on why he has moved to a new position. Romans 14: 22 “everything that does not come from faith is sin” is not teaching that you cannot have doubts and questions, but that you should not be double minded: acting on something you do not really believe. If my child really doesn’t believe the word of God, I want to teach, to pray, to answer his questions, and live out my faith in such a way that he is challenged. I don’t want him to say he believes for my sake: that is sin.

By: Philippa

Philippa — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 10:12:10 +0000

But this is a SIX YEAR OLD child we’re talking about.

Rebuking a six year old for his initial scepticism about a particular Bible story might well to lead to shutting down intelligent and fruitful debate with that child about interpreting Scripture with the help and illumination of the Holy Spirit. There are better, gentler ways in which to teach a child about Bible truths, and to bring up that child in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Or as the ESV puts it: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4

To teach a child that he is never, EVER, to question ANYTHING is not the way to encourage a mature Christian faith.

I agree with Brent Swanson.

By: Moses Malone

Moses Malone — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 02:08:38 +0000

To doubt at all is a sin, Romans 15: Whatever does not proceed from faith is a sin; therefore any doubt or questions proceeding from doubt are in their essence sinful. The Lord doubtless uses these doubtful questions to bring His own to Himself, but it does not diminish the severity of it. To doubt and question is to declare our rebellion openly that we do not believe that God is who He says He is, and therefore when we or our children express doubt, it needs a swift rebuke.

I do not think that expressing the severity of an issue is necessarily going to shame someone, it just might open their eyes to the reality of the issue giving opportunity to share the Gospel.