Train Up a Child

When I went to a local Buddhist merit making festival, I noticed a great number of children and school groups participating in the event.  Parents brought their little ones to participate and some schools brought all their students as a group, dressed in school uniforms.  The following Bible verse came to mind:

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it”
(Proverbs 22:6 ESV)

In the Bible, I think that the primary meaning is probably referring to believers in the one true and living God, Yahweh, training up their children to walk in obedience to Him.  The general principle can be applied more broadly and even though you will always have exceptions (children who depart from the upbringing they received), if someone is raised as a Buddhist, Muslim, or whatnot, then that is the mindset and belief system that they will carry throughout their life.  I pray that many of these children, while always loving their parents and nation, will eventually find the truth of Jesus Christ that will set them free from sin and death, no longer needing to make merit to try to escape from suffering.