The Myth of Neutrality

Recently in an apologetic forum, I saw a question that actually comes up pretty frequently, and it involves "indoctrination." It involves the fallacy that we need to wait until someone is 21 or so to introduce them to the idea of God. The thought behind it, of course, is that in teaching children about God, we are indoctrinating them, robbing them of free thought. If we remain neutral on the subject of God until someone is an adult, then he or she has a mature, well-reasond mind with which to look at the God question.

But why shouldn't we teach the truth in age appropriate ways to children? Does the atheist not teach his children his worldview from the minute they are born? You see, everyone teaches a worldview, even if it's very subtly done. It can be as easy as a child seeing his neighbors going to church each week while he doesn't. The second grader will come home asking about God after one of his classmates mentions Him in school. What then?

But also, as Christians, we believe we are born into sin due to the Fall. So children should be taught - again, in an age appropriate manner - about our nature as human beings and the Answer to that. We believe that once the age of accountability has passed, each one of us then risks eternal damnation based on our response to God. There is no more serious question or consequence. Anyone, ANYONE, who believes something involves such serious, eternal risks, rewards and/or consequences will be sure to impress this upon his or her progeny as soon as possible, and hopefully in ways appropriate to their ages. Suppose someone doesn't survive until the age of twenty-one, but has certainly reached an age in which he or she will be accountable to God for his or her belief/disbelief.

Proponents always mention being able to think freely and make our own decisions. They try to define a "real Christian" by this. And they oddly think someone raised in church has "no choice." We have evidence to the contrary around us every day. There are plenty of people raised in church their entire lives who disbelieve. And there are plenty of people raised in atheistic homes who come to believe in God. Madelyn Murray O’Hair's son is a prime example. She HATED God and despised men. Yet he is a pastor. And on the flip side, sadly, 3 out of 4 churched kids who go to college jettison their faith in the first year.

A real Christian is simply someone who has accepted the free gift of salvation from Christ. They have recognized their sinful nature, their need to be saved from it, and repented. I believe there is overwhelming evidence to support the Christian worldview. And I believe people have free will. Therefore, they will choose to believe there is a God to whom we can be reconciled by submission, or they will insist on being their own god. But don't accuse the Christian of indoctrination unless you accuse everyone, regardless of religion, or lack thereof, of the same.

And I like to leave the atheist with one final question (you see, atheists often believe it is only they who are capable of "free" thought): What if you could manage to pull off this impossible task of remaining utterly neutral on the God question for the first two decades of your child's life? What if you do and he or she still concludes there is a God, especially the God of Christianity? Do you still believe that you will remain neutral on the subject? Or do you harbor a secret (but really not-so-secret) desire for him or her to conclude just as you have?