Kids being trained to fight for Jesus
Quote:
An in-your-face documentary out this weekend is raising eyebrows, raising hackles and raising questions about evangelizing to young people.
Speaking in tongues, weeping for salvation, praying for an end to abortion and worshipping a picture of President Bush — these are some of the activities at Pastor Becky Fischer's Bible camp in North Dakota, "Kids on Fire," subject of the provocative new documentary, "Jesus Camp."
"I want to see them as radically laying down their lives for the gospel as they are in Palestine, Pakistan and all those different places," Fisher said. "Because, excuse me, we have the truth."
"A lot of people die for God," one camper said, "and they're not afraid."
"We're kinda being trained to be warriors," said another, "only in a funner way."
The film has caused a split among evangelicals. Some say it's designed to demonize. Others have embraced it, including Fischer, who's helping promote the film.
"I never felt at any point that I was exploited," Fischer said.
"I think there is a push right now in a lot of evangelical churches to definitely keep the teenagers and keep the children in the faith," said Heidi Ewing, co-director of "Jesus Camp." "And this is one version of that attempt."...
It continues for two pages if you're interested in the entire article. While I am not religious myself, I still have respect for those who make their own choices. And I can see normal Bible camp being a place where young kids of Christian faith go to enjoy the company of others while learning about their God. But this is so extreme! Here we are as a country, having been rocked from our feeling of safety only 5 years ago by people who were so into their faith and what they believed that they felt the need to destroy anything that opposed them. And we have been "fighting" against religious terrorists since then. But in our own country, it sounds as if some are creating their own little army. And it's "ok" because it's the "right faith".
When you have 5 and 6 yr olds worshipping the president and calling themselves warriors for Jesus, I would think that should be ringing major alarm bells.
Try and watch the film if you can. While the article makes an impact, it doesnt come as close to capturing the full scope as the video does.
Edited, Sep 18th 2006 at 9:07am EDT by DSD