Jesus Camp Questioned: 'Why Should Kids Repent?'
A documentary on evangelising young people entitled "Jesus Camp" has launched, featuring kids praying and worshipping at Bible camps and youth events in the US.
by Anne Thomas
Posted: Saturday, September 30, 2006, 13:33 (BST)
A documentary on evangelising young people entitled "Jesus Camp" has launched, featuring kids praying and worshipping at Bible camps and youth events in the US.
But the documentary has caused a scare to some audiences for its raw depiction of white evangelical children being 'radically trained' to lay down their lives for the gospel.
Many are condemning Pastor Becky Fischer, director of the initiative, accusing her of 'manipulating' or 'brainwashing' children.
The film features kids shouting out for forgiveness and sobbing over social issues such as abortion and war. 'Air America" radio host Mike Papantonio is among many who disagree with the tactics used at the camp.
"I think when you look at what occurs in the camp, there is a use of guilt. There is a use of shame," Papantonio said. "That is not directed all at Becky. I mean, what is a 5-year-old capable in ways of sin? Maybe stealing an Oreo from a cookie jar."
Papantonio asked Fischer why children needed to be so emotional at such a young age.
"One repetitive theme is a child crying, a child laying out on the ground and crying. Well, what are they crying about?" he asked. "Why does a 5-year-old feel like it is necessary to cry about their spirituality?"
"I do not use guilt. I do not use shame or manipulation in those ways," Fischer said. "This is a very intense moment. These children are passionate about their faith in Jesus Christ. Most people don't really have much emotion going on in their religion at all."
Over the past decade and a half, enrolment at Christian colleges is up 70 per cent in the US. Sales of Christian music in the US are up 300 per cent. Tens of thousands of youth pastors have been trained.
Young people are the majority who are targeted through Christian music festivals, skateboard competitions and rodeos.
"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."
This camp is, by many accounts, a small - and perhaps extreme - slice of what some say is a growing, intensifying evangelical youth movement.
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Added: Friday, August 10, 2007, 3:53 (BST)
Kids should repent because they, like every human, are guilty of breaking at least one of the ten commandments on a regular basis. Being a Christian does not mean that we're perfect and never sin, it means that we are more aware of our sin and we feel it inside when we do something wrong. We naturally feel emotional and cry when we admit our sin to Jesus and repent for it. What parent would not want their child to feel accountable for their wrong actions and receive praise for their good actions? No one told those children to cry on command; that was genuine, pure, raw emotion towards hurting a Jesus they love with all their heart and soul. Could you imagine your child feeling that way towards hurting you! Why would you not want a child to feel that way? This world needs more adults who are like these children. Jesus spoke in the Bible, saying "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. Mark 10:14-16
Brenda, Cloverdale, CA
Added: Monday, April 30, 2007, 8:18 (BST)
The fact the kids have been 'brainwashed' shows they've been touched by the lord. what more to ask for?
Jana, Singapore
Added: Tuesday, October 3, 2006, 2:48 (BST)
I am sickened by the images I have seen concerning Jesus Camp. I am not Christian. I attend church groups. I am tolerant of all religions. I do not believe Christianity to be evil nor do I believe Islam to be evil. I do, however, believe some people get the message wrong - very wrong. To be faithful to Jesus, you MUST have love in your heart. You MUST let go of fear and embrace one another. Jesus taught love and peace, forgiveness and passion. This Fischer woman has his message mixed up, and it is very unfortunate that she is in any position of power. I'm praying for her, and for the children who are sadly influenced by her. This camp is not right. It is the Christian equivalent of the Islamic Extremists you are fighting in this war of Terror. You cannot take a postion of moral superiority when you are doing the exact same thing. This is not the way to win the war.
I sincerely hope you rethink your ways of doing things, and whether that really would please God.
I hope you can publish this for debate, I welcome comments and I will be happy to reply to them here. Please show how unbiast you are about public comments on this forum. Welcoming all is what Jesus would want, right?
alison, perth, Australia
Added: Monday, October 2, 2006, 17:27 (BST)
I have not seen Jesus Camp, and due to my location will have to wait unitl the DVD, but I have read/seen enough to know that the liberal media is going to run with this one, and already has. We Christians have been divided for centuries on topics like speaking in tongues and prophecy. Is it any wonder this film is controversial, even in Christian circles? If the children (who were sent by their parents/guardians, I might add) are being brainwashed or coerced into acting a certain way, then I (at 30) am brainwashed and coerced. We should remember children are the most honest people on the planet, when it comes down to it. Kudos to the directors, and to Ms. Fischer. I wish all Christians could be as bold and free!
Mary , Watseka IL USA
Added: Monday, October 2, 2006, 0:53 (BST)
I agree with "Jesus Camp". Our children, especially this generation, needs to be raised up with a keen sense of what sin is. It's an awesome thing to see a young person in worship and repentance knowing that "...all have sinned and come short of God's glory." It's a pure and holy demonstration of the Holy Spirit's work within the human heart. People that don't know the Lord God Almighty have no idea what that means. Having the sure knowledge that Jesus Christ took our guilt and shame on Himself is the only way to live free from it. Our society barely even recognizes shame any longer. That's the real brain washing...err...trashing. To raise up kids in the holiness and freedom of God's word is truly a washing. Couldn't we all use a daily brain and heart washing?
Ray baker, Kernersville
Added: Sunday, October 1, 2006, 14:59 (BST)
I have seen a clipping of this, and have yet to see why it's so controversial. Maybe it's because I haven't seen the whole thing, maybe because I see this as a good thing. Children need to be taught to be accountable for their own actions at a young age, what good does it do them for their parents to just "blow smoke", and then when their children are older cry because they don't walk with the Lord and blame society for the way they are. That's what happened to me, and I see it happening all the time in the world around me. I as a parent don't tell my kid that he has to approach someone and tell them about God, as I see it none of these kids are, but they are taught that in the Bible, this is what Jesus did. They are taught what the Bible teaches, and they want to go out and do this. It is free will, none of these children are having their arms twisted. They feel the Love of God and want to spread it. My son is often saddened when people don't love God the way we do, and make fun of songs celebrating Christ, and other things that put a negative on Christ. He's even talked about God with his classmates. He doesn't do this because I tell him to, he does it because he loves God and it's his choice to. The media likes to twist so much, and why not, it makes more money than the truth.
As for the "praying to the card board cutout of bush" from what I've been hearing the media twisted that too. They were praying for Bush, not to him. But I see this as something that's repeated throughout the Bible, that Christians will be scrutinized and oppressed and lied about, it's just the world's way. The truth will always ring out and be true.
S. Manchuk, Winnipeg, Canada
Added: Sunday, October 1, 2006, 0:41 (BST)
I don't want my child to live with guilt, but not at the expense of blurring the nature of sin, even in a small act of stealing oreo cookies from a jar. If it's a sin, it's a sin. This is my child's cross which I cannot bear for him. But at the same time, I have to point my child to God's grace and forgiveness so that he can rely on His word for getting out of guilt - not my words or my standards but to take His word for it. We cannot substitute God's way with our own ways when it comes to sin. I cannot refrain from telling him the significance of his actions in God's eyes in order to shield him from guilt. There are some corners that cannot afford to be cut even if it means more time, efforts and struggles required of both parents and children. Real joy comes from knowing the truth and receiving God's forgiveness.
If this is brainwashing, so is the other alternative of telling my child that stealing oreo cookies doesn't matter - the only difference being that whose standard I am adopting - my own standard or what God considers as sin.
As for their crying over the social issues, the only thing I am concerned is that whether the children truly felt so. This is because those who pray to God must sincerely pray from their hearts and not being coerced.
And how do we know? Time will tell. After the camp ended for a while, what the children had interpreted about their camp experience and their post-camp life will indicate whether they knew what they were doing. This is the part of the story that we tend to forgot to pursue.
Kosze Lee, Okemos Michigan
Added: Saturday, September 30, 2006, 19:28 (BST)
I don't deny that there are a lot of emotionless 'religiousity' in churches today. However, I'm concerned in the fact that a 5 or 6 year old is being told they have to be this way at this early age. Yes, we must teach our children to obey their parents and the Lord, and teach them the ways of a christ filled life. But, at the same time we must keep in mind there is a time of accountability. I doubt that the Lord holds a 5 year old accountable for stealing a cookie, or even repeating a curse word heard from an adult. If anything, we as parents and grown ups are held accountable for setting examples and teaching our children right from wrong. As I saw the same bit on the film I was shocked to see that the children at the camp was praising a cardboard likeness of Pres. Bush! I'm not going to get political here, but isn't that a direct breaking of one of the ten commandments. So what type of message are they giving the children there? It seems to me that the joy and happiness of a Christ filled, Spirit filled life is being set aside and that should never be left out of any teaching on our christian values.
Tony Reese, Carrollton Georgia
