The Choice that isn't a Choice

"I want my children to choose for themselves if they will be a Christian."

I've heard the phrase often.  It usually follows a conversation about my faith with someone that isn't a Christian.  Sadly, I used to believe the same way...before I truly met Jesus.  Oh how wrong I was!

The choice to follow Christ is given less attention by most parents than the choice of which college the child will attend.  For non-Christian parents, most don't consider following Christ as important.  Some hold the cavalier attitude of, "If they want to and it works for them, it's okay with me."  

Some non-Christians don't want their children to have anything to do with Christianity. 

What astounds me is when I hear "Christians" say this about their children.  I realize that many claim to be Christians but don't actually live for Christ. When I hear, "I want them to have the choice" from those that claim to have a relationship with Jesus, I am stunned!

Your children will make a choice.  They will choose for themselves.

As a Christian, the thought of one of my children not having a personal relationship with Christ literally brings me to my knees!  If I could, I would make that decision for them.  What parent wants their child to live without Christ's fulfilling Spirit and presence? Once you truly know Jesus, you want that for all of your loved ones!

The Christians I know that love and serve Christ with all that is in them are grieved more than anything by children that don't follow Christ.  It's their constant, most persistent prayer for The life of that child to be turned to Christ.  It's the deepest desire of their hearts!

And that is all before considering eternity separated from Christ!  Yes, Hell is a real place.  If a choice my child would make would lead to eternal damnation, why would I casually feel he or she should have the choice, as if the decision were no more important than which shoes to wear the next day?

This is the MOST important decision of their lives!  

The ones that state to me about wanting their children to have a choice the are usually the ones that aren't saved.  After all, the importance of following Christ isn't going to be understood by those that don't know Him.  Sadly, the "open-minded" ones that state they want their child to have a choice are limiting their child's choice.  These are the same parents that don't attend church.  How is it a choice for your child to make an informed decision about Christ if they never learn about Him, never experience Him?  

I pray continually for my children to grow in their relationship with The Lord.  I pray when they fall away, even a little.  I pray about their friends, their future spouses, our Bible time, their struggles.  To me, while the choice is theirs, I have no choice!  I WILL do all I can to lead my children to Christ.  Then I WILL do all I can to encourage that relationship. We WILL go to church regularly.  We WILL study the Bible together.  We WILL pray.  I WILL NEVER stop praying for my children! 

Is it narrow minded to feel this way?  After all, what if my child wants to follow another faith...or no faith?  

We learn about other faiths, but as a Christian, I'm okay with being "narrow-minded" in this.  The Way, the Truth, and the Life is simply that... And that's it.  The consequences are very real in this world and in the eternity to come.