Sadly, many people think Evangelical churches and preachers are pillars of virtue — places and people who can be trusted to care for children. These people are typically unaware of the fact that the goal of Evangelicals is to evangelize children, using aggressive techniques, manipulation, indoctrination, and conditioning. Parents might think that these kind, thoughtful, loving Christians just want to be nice, but little do they know that their unsaved children are viewed as enemies of God and children of Satan. Little do they know that their “lost” children will be threatened with judgment and Hell if they don’t get saved.
Church children are encouraged to invite their schoolmates, promising them fun, food, and fellowship. Most kids want to hang with their friends, so they say yes to attending church with their Evangelical classmates. As promised, churches dish out sumptuous helpings of food, fun, and fellowship. What churches are less inclined to make known is that children will also be exposed to adults trying to convert them. Fear and guilt are often used to coerce children into asking Jesus to save them. Once “saved,” the child typically becomes a member of the church. Often, children are baptized after getting saved. Sometimes, these baptisms take place without parental permission.
Recently, a Catholic grandchild of mine went to an Evangelical church for fun, food, and fellowship. This church (Compassion Church in Toledo, Ohio) is charismatic, so high emotional states are common. Can you imagine what happened next? My grandchild — who is in middle school — came home all excited about getting “saved.” Needless to say, Grandpa Bruce was pissed. If she had been older and had carefully examined the claims made by this church before getting saved, I would understand (while still being disappointed). However, this is not what happened. She was surrounded by friends and subjected to a high-emotion service/preaching/music and manipulation. It is not surprising she got “saved.” I hope that her salvation is temporary, and, in time, she will mature in her understanding of religion. I am not anti-religion. I am, however, adamantly opposed to religious coercion and manipulation.
Have you had a child or grandchild go to church and come home “saved?” Please share your experiences in the comment section.
Bruce Gerencser, 67, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 46 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.
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