Children Must Be Taught While They Are Young

The English poet Samuel Coleridge talked with a man who did not believe that children should be given any religious instruction at all.

This man claimed that the child’s mind should not be prejudiced in any direction & when he became older he should be permitted to choose his religious opinions for himself.

Coleridge said nothing; but after a while he asked his visitor if he would like to see his garden. The man said he would & Coleridge took him out into the garden, where only weeds were growing.

The man looked at Coleridge in surprise & said, “Why this is not a garden! There is nothing but weeds here!”

“Well, you see,” answered Coleridge, “I did not wish to infringe upon the liberty of the garden in any way; I was just giving the garden a chance to express itself & to choose its own production.”

- Roy B. Zuck (ministry127.com)

Pro 19:18 (GNB): "Discipline your children while they are young enough to learn. If you don't, you are helping them destroy themselves."

"Any man who declares children to be born perfect never was a father. Your child without evil? You without eyes, you mean!" - Charles Spurgeon.

Pro 29:17 (GNB): "Discipline your children and you can always be proud of them. They will never give you reason to be ashamed."