Brainwashed?

So I found myself watching the vacuous drivel that is the Heaven and Earth show before church on Sunday morning. To be honest it is so nauseatingly inclusive that I'm surprised they still call it the 'Heaven and Earth' show for fear of offending people who don't believe in heaven! Anyway, they had found an vocal atheist stand-up comedian whose father is (wait for it) an Anglican vicar! You could hear the excitement in Gloria's voice, gloating in this marvellous incongruity. What did the Dad think? Was he going to condemn his son or be as tolerant and 'accepting' of his son's choice as the rest of us? While he did his best to say that he still loved his son, I was struck by the sadness in his eyes.

It got me thinking about being a father. Realistically, I have a mind of my own to examine what I believe. I was not brainwashed as a child nor have I the power to 'abuse' my own children into accepting or rejecting my faith. I believe that it is only through God's grace that anyone comes to have a relationship with him. All I am left with is to be (like my parents) a faithful witness to the gospel in front of my kids and the rest is up to God.