Do you think a 7-year-old has the capacity to make this decision?

ToledoDeux · June 2010

https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/38455088.aspx

NBR- my DD got saved today!

-->

DD (age 7) has been in vacation bible school all week and yesterday she made the decision to ask Christ into her heart!!! I couldn't be more proud. She called me to tell me right away. After I heal up from baby she is going to be baptized! Yaaaa!!!

************************************

Because I sure as hell don't. She's seven. She's doing it because she's been at vacation bible school around people encouraging her to do it, she thinks it's cool, and she can see how happy it's making mom. It means nothing, IMO.

This stuff just skeeves me out. And flame away all you want...but I've been there, and I maintain that a seven year old "accepting" Christ is utterly meaningless.

penguingrrl · June 2010

I agree with you. I think 7 is just too young to understand the significance of that decision. In middle and early high school I was highly involved in the church to, but starting at the end of high school and continuing until today I have grown increasingly distant from organized religion and at this point I will not be raising my children within a specific religion. If you had asked me at 7 or 10 or 14 I would have answered very differently and I think you do need to be a fully mature adult before you truly know how your religious beliefs are going to last through life.

meghans30 · June 2010

I agree with you. I know 2 children who made this decision @ 5.

Jen2124 · June 2010

I think kid's that age tend to "do what they know". Even if she "means it" now, she could def change her mind in the future. Kids like to please people and they absorb what is around them, right? She was at bible camp when she made the decision.....I am sure her mom IS very proud, but it is hardly surprising kids make decisions like these "on their own" when that is their environment. It doesn't mean the same as an adult making that decision, imo.

At any rate, plenty of people grow up in very religious families and stick with it, so if it works for them, great.

BubblyToes · June 2010

penguingrrl:
I agree with you. I think 7 is just too young to understand the significance of that decision. In middle and early high school I was highly involved in the church to, but starting at the end of high school and continuing until today I have grown increasingly distant from organized religion and at this point I will not be raising my children within a specific religion. If you had asked me at 7 or 10 or 14 I would have answered very differently and I think you do need to be a fully mature adult before you truly know how your religious beliefs are going to last through life.

This. Almost word for word. I was very "churchy" when I was a kid. Now? I have no use for organized religion. Spirituality? Maybe. But at 7? She's doing what the other kids are doing. She doesn't understand the concept.

JOEBunny · June 2010

Resisting urge to say I was "saved" at Bible camp at 11 or 12 and an atheist. I don't begrudge her her joy though, to each their own.

Lisa102304 · June 2010

penguingrrl:
I think you do need to be a fully mature adult before you truly know how your religious beliefs are going to last through life.

I agree with this. She is doing what she thinks is expected of her.

emiliemadison · June 2010

I agree with you (shocking, right?). And I have to admit, when I read this : "Yes. We leave everything for them to go through on their own time table. Some children can make that decision at 7... some can't till a teenager. Its a big decision and we believe our kids understand fully what it means when they do it." my first thought was "So, what if they NEVER make that decision?"

jessicaclare · June 2010

Well, according to my system of beliefs, no, I don't think a 7 year old can make that decision.

My guess, though, is that was the OP (in the c&p) believes is probably fundamentally different than what a lot of us here believe, which may be why people think a 7 year old can't make this decision. I believe in infant baptism. I don't think we choose it, I think its chosen for us. Because of that, a 7 year choosing to be baptised is not a familiar concept for me. (I do know that other Christians do it this way, its just not how we do it in my family)

I think this situation is much the same as someone who chooses to send their kids to parochial school, though. We are religious and its part of our daily lives. My 3 year old will say she loves Jesus. Will I teach her about other religions when she's older? Sure. Will she be allowed to choose when she's an adult? Absolutely. I suppose you could say that I'm "forcing" it on my kids, but then pretty much anyone in a religious family is having it forced on them, right?

I guess what I'm saying is I don't think its wrong. This girl is choosing what she's been taught, sure, but as long as her mom isn't chaining her to the baptismal font and making her do it, I don't think its a big deal.

JMO.

Shellbelle22 · June 2010

To some extent. But a 7 year old professing to love Jesus and believe in Him is different than an adult, or even teenager, who takes ownership of their faith. Teaching a child about the One who created and saved her is part of what Christian parents are called to do.

Zenya · June 2010

PMQ:
No, I don't. And as unpopular as this opinion may be, I think it is kinda sad (and also a bit scary to me) that little girl is even in that position.

yup. Sad and scary.

eclaires · June 2010

I agree w/ jessicaclare, probably because we're raising Jackson Catholic, we'll probably send him to parochial schools, and he's already baptized. He'll make his First Communion at 7-8, and go through the confirmation process in high school, if he wants to.

But until then, he'll be brainwashed into being Catholic. We'll certainly educate him and encourage him to learn about other religions, but he's Catholic and he will be until he decides not to be.

As for being saved - well, I don't believe in it - but I'm pretty much not bothered by this little girl choosing to do it. It's definitely not something I would be into, but my kid will be making his First Communion at the same time, so I'm not going to judge.

Carol*Brady · June 2010

Yes for this time in her life, just as when she's 25 she can choose to no longer believe. But I'm Catholic & so are my children so it's all sort of a foreign idea to me...my kids will be taught what I believe & as adults they'll do as they please.

monkeyqueen · June 2010

I do not believe in the whole being "saved" thing at all. So, the concept of a 7 year old choosing to be saved is completely foreign to me. She's doing what she knows and I guess it's not a whole lot different than the Catholic rituals where children accept certain sacraments (First Communion, Confirmation, etc). So, to me it's really not a big deal. I'm raising my children Catholic and they will participate in the sacraments (unless, of course, the decide not to). They will learn about other religions and traditions. When the are adults they can choose whatever path they want. Hopefully, the Mom in the c&p realizes that her child accepting Jesus into her heart or being saved may not be a lifelong commitment to her religion.

Angela814 · June 2010

I'm with jessicaclare and eclaires. DD was baptised as an infant and will receive first communion in 2nd grade, so 7-8 yo. I'm sure she won't completely understand the concepts behind communion, but I think she'll understand enough. I bet this 7 yo doesn't understand the concept of being saved in the same way we do as adults, but on some level I think she understands what it means to follow Christ (ie choosing to do good things).

Brideofranken · June 2010

I don't think it's much of an issue as far as whether the kid grasps it or not...

I think if you had asked me in grade one to commit to my belief in Santa Claus...I probably would have, if I thought it would make my parents happy.

I think the funny thing is the way she's acting like this is a big deal- uh...you sent the kid to bible camp...where they pretty much indoctrinate that kind of idea...I mean, if a 7 year old is told all their life that accepting JC into their heart is where it's at...don't act all surprised when they say they do!

it makes her sound like a loon.

it MIGHT be remarkable for a kid who was never instructed in the ways of being "saved" to announce at age 7 that they have invited christ into their heart- I might be surprised then...but not after a lifetime of being lectured about it. (like the kid feels she has any other options...other than maybe inviting christ into her heart when she's 8, rather than 7.)

oh well. they can "tell me so" as they're flying up over my head on their way to heaven....

eclaires · June 2010

BOF, I do agree w/ your post. It is kind of bizarre to be like, "OMG ITS SO AMAZING."

Trust me, when I announce Jackson is making his First Communion, there will be no amazing, look at the choice he has made aspect.

I'll announce that it's amazing when he's 21 and going to church every Sunday while away at college. That's amazing, lol.

KrispiKreme · June 2010

I was lurking but I really wanted to post to say that I completely agree with you. When I was little, both my mom and my grandma were very active with the church and I was with one of them every moment of every day unless I was at school or asleep. We went to church all the time and when I was 12, they put me into the confirmation class at the church. They pushed me to go on the mission trips with the youth group. I remember writing in my journal about accepting Jesus and staying "pure" until marriage. That lasted until I was about 14 or 15. When my grandma died and I entered high school and stopped caring quite as much about my mom thought, I realized that I didn't like doing any of those things. I am not religious at all now and neither is SO. We're going to raise LO without a religion. He'll be perfectly welcome to research and learn about any and all religions he wishes to but we will not push him in any direction. I think that until you're an adult, the decision is just influenced by the people who you are closest to and shouldn't be treated as anything permanent.

ljlkm · June 2010

True story: I accepted Jesus as my personal savior about 3 or 4 times because I used to attend vacation bible school every summer and I couldn't remember whether I had or not. Clearly it didn't mean anything to me and I was going with the flow.

ljlkm · June 2010

eclaires:
I agree w/ jessicaclare, probably because we're raising Jackson Catholic, we'll probably send him to parochial schools, and he's already baptized. He'll make his First Communion at 7-8, and go through the confirmation process in high school, if he wants to.
But until then, he'll be brainwashed into being Catholic. We'll certainly educate him and encourage him to learn about other religions, but he's Catholic and he will be until he decides not to be.
As for being saved - well, I don't believe in it - but I'm pretty much not bothered by this little girl choosing to do it. It's definitely not something I would be into, but my kid will be making his First Communion at the same time, so I'm not going to judge.

That's awesome. Honestly, that's what it is--which is fine. We're all brainwashing our children, whether it's into religion or politics or toward a specific football team. Let's just call a spade a spade.

eclaires · June 2010

ljlkm:
eclaires:
I agree w/ jessicaclare, probably because we're raising Jackson Catholic, we'll probably send him to parochial schools, and he's already baptized. He'll make his First Communion at 7-8, and go through the confirmation process in high school, if he wants to.
But until then, he'll be brainwashed into being Catholic. We'll certainly educate him and encourage him to learn about other religions, but he's Catholic and he will be until he decides not to be.
As for being saved - well, I don't believe in it - but I'm pretty much not bothered by this little girl choosing to do it. It's definitely not something I would be into, but my kid will be making his First Communion at the same time, so I'm not going to judge.
That's awesome. Honestly, that's what it is--which is fine. We're all brainwashing our children, whether it's into religion or politics or toward a specific football team. Let's just call a spade a spade.

I know, right? My mom rolls her eyes at me when I say that, but that is what it is and I'm okay with it.

ToledoDeux · June 2010

Brideofranken:
I don't think it's much of an issue as far as whether the kid grasps it or not...

I think if you had asked me in grade one to commit to my belief in Santa Claus...I probably would have, if I thought it would make my parents happy.

I think the funny thing is the way she's acting like this is a big deal- uh...you sent the kid to bible camp...where they pretty much indoctrinate that kind of idea...I mean, if a 7 year old is told all their life that accepting JC into their heart is where it's at...don't act all surprised when they say they do!

it makes her sound like a loon.

it MIGHT be remarkable for a kid who was never instructed in the ways of being "saved" to announce at age 7 that they have invited christ into their heart- I might be surprised then...but not after a lifetime of being lectured about it. (like the kid feels she has any other options...other than maybe inviting christ into her heart when she's 8, rather than 7.)

oh well. they can "tell me so" as they're flying up over my head on their way to heaven....

This is pretty much where I'm coming from - her OP and all the overjoyed responses sounded freaky naive.

Angela814 · June 2010

ToledoDeux:
Brideofranken:
I don't think it's much of an issue as far as whether the kid grasps it or not...

I think if you had asked me in grade one to commit to my belief in Santa Claus...I probably would have, if I thought it would make my parents happy.

I think the funny thing is the way she's acting like this is a big deal- uh...you sent the kid to bible camp...where they pretty much indoctrinate that kind of idea...I mean, if a 7 year old is told all their life that accepting JC into their heart is where it's at...don't act all surprised when they say they do!

it makes her sound like a loon.

it MIGHT be remarkable for a kid who was never instructed in the ways of being "saved" to announce at age 7 that they have invited christ into their heart- I might be surprised then...but not after a lifetime of being lectured about it. (like the kid feels she has any other options...other than maybe inviting christ into her heart when she's 8, rather than 7.)

oh well. they can "tell me so" as they're flying up over my head on their way to heaven....
This is pretty much where I'm coming from - her OP and all the overjoyed responses sounded freaky naive.

I finally read the OP, and I see what you mean here with this reply.

That's really great. I'm not religious myself, so I think it's really awesome when parents don't force religion on their kids. I'm sure it will be much more meaningful to your DD since she made the decision herself.

If she made the decision at Bible camp, I'm pretty sure she wasn't making the decision completely by herself.

hopefulmom · June 2010

Yes, I do. My DH was 5 and remembers it like it was yesterday. All they need to know is right from wrong and at 7 they certainly know that (at least my kids did). It is still up to them to make the decision to accept Jesus as their personal savior. Baptism has nothing to do with it...that is not even part of it. A person can be "saved" and never be baptized. My adult kids went to church and Christian school for years...my DS graduated from Christian school and I'd say 80% of the kids were "saved". Neither of my adult kids have made that commitment. That is why I don't think kids become "saved" just because they see others doing it or they are told to. it is a personal choice.

Catholics believe in baptizing babies because they believe that they are born with original sin and if they should die before they are able to go to confession and repent of their sins they would go to hell (so they have them baptized). Most Protestant religions don't believe babies are born with sin and if they should die before "the age of reasoning" = knowing right from wrong they would still go to heaven. I was raised Catholic and when I was in my 20's I became saved. I was baptised a year or so later but that was just a symbolism of burying the sin, etc. etc.

Want a personalized experience?

Do you think a 7-year-old has the capacity to make this decision?

NBR- my DD got saved today!

Re: Do you think a 7-year-old has the capacity to make this decision?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards