Jesus Camp

My mom called me a couple weeks ago and asked me if I had seen the segment on the news about the new documentary Jesus Camp, at the time I hadn't read or seen anything about it. I have since read many stories and reviews of the movie and I have to say, it's very sad and disturbing to me.

Innocence

I remember watching the movie Greese a few hundred times when I was a Tween. I just loved that movie and I saw NOTHING crude or nasty about it but when I was grown and my view was tainted by knowledge of evil, I heard song lyrics that were awful! I saw sexually charged scenes that were always there but I never even "got" as a child. I'm sure you all have many stories like this. Things you saw or heard when you were young and innocent that were just that-innocent. For me that is my problem with Jesus Camp,it steels their innocence. Children should be allowed to be children. This world already takes that from them earlier then it did twenty years ago. We already have to tell our 6th graders about oral sex and homosexuality. The burdened of truth is heavy.

Yes,Christians should be saddened and pray hard against Abortion, sexual immorality and anti Christian persecution. But I think the parents, the adults, should bear this burden for the children for that short time when life is about swings, soccer and Sponge Bob. Train soldiers yes but train them with love on a foundation of the wonderful Grace of God. Imagine if there was a camp that taught children the love of God. How to feed the hungry, walk in compassion and mercy. A camp called "Matthew 25"?

My opinion is that when you force children to repeat, "believe cuz' I said so" or motivate by fear, you lay a foundation of legalisim and/or rebellion for later years. As C.S. Lewis said, "those that are most willing to die for a cause are the first to be willing to kill for that cause". Instead of teaching children to cry out against Abortion we should teach them how to walk with God, know Him, His great love, His unending mercy and how only He can bring real change by changing hearts.

Comments

Anonymous said…
very well said. I hope all christians who see this speak out against this form of camp. It reminded me of a special I saw about how they raise terrorist by brain washing them from birth. If you are going to teach children about God. Teach them who God is. It tells us in the Bible that God is Love. Then teach them what love is. Corinthians 13. Love MOM
10/11/2006
Anonymous said…
This is very close to my heart. I am very troubled by church camps, and not just the most obvious "Jesus Camps". I don't like the fact that most camps are designed to get children away from parents, and then base the entire event on emotion, "expereinces", and conformity. I think it is destructive in the long run. Most CHRISTIAN youth camps are completely unaware that their methods are good, old fashioned cult tactics that have been around a long time. We can and should do better.
10/11/2006
Ron said…
Your best post yet, Carole!
10/11/2006
jason said…
I really like the way you worded that and you have a great perspective from christianity
10/12/2006
Robin said…
I like WYAM's logo - "To know God and to make Him known". That was a pretty intense movie from what I understand, but did you see the lady who leads it being interviewed by Diane Sawyer? She gave a very different and interesting perspective. The training in Godliness needs to be taking place and practiced AT HOME, then church, then Camp. That's my belief. Can I get a witness??? George.
10/13/2006
Anonymous said…
Amen, George! Just imagine me takin' out my hankie, throwing it at you, and running back to my seat. The ultimate, "I agree".
10/13/2006
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