Using ICE CREAM Trucks to entice children to Jesus?
I just witnessed this moments ago. I was driving home from grocery shopping and saw some gentlemen in a revamped ice cream truck preaching at kids in our neighborhood. As I drove by, I heard one of them (using a microphone) saying to about 30 kids, "Ok kids, say these words after me... dear Lord Jesus, I am a sinner..." The age range of the children there was 3-7. So, what say you ? Do you think this kind of proselytizing is appropriate to children of this age? I'm interested to see your responses.
2007-05-21T17:03:04Z
I should clarify.. there is NO ice cream available.. just "the gospel"
2007-05-21T17:10:00Z
for those who find this outrageous, disgusting, et al.. might want to star this question so people will see it. I'll leave it open as long as possible.
2007-05-21T17:10:54Z
ct, I realize I'm just an icon on a screen, but I'm not given to making things like this up- my imagination just isn't that good.
2007-05-25T06:36:46Z
Ok folks, I'm sending this one to voting. Too many good answers here for me to choose. Thanks to all who responded.
Meatwad2007-05-21T17:01:07Z
Favorite Answer
Wow, a new sort of indoctrination.
I'd call the police.
If I was a parent, I'd drive the guy out of my neighborhood.
First off, hit's difficult to know all the facts by just seeing this. I live in a city where old ice-cream trucks and U-Haul trucks and other trucks are painted over and used for other purposes. So, if this was why the man was using a revamped ice-cream tuck then that gives this question a different "vibe".
If he was purposefully using it because he was hoping to attract children then I have an issue with it. It's deceptive.
As someone already pointed out preaching to children about any spiritual path without permission from the parents is also, in my book, a "bad" thing to do. The parents (or family) are the individuals responsible for the moral upbringing of their children.
I wouldn't go as far as to say this is a reason for hating Christians or any other spiritual path. I would however question the motives.
That is sick, and should be illegal. I am a Christian (LDS) but that is just WRONG! Children that age are the responsibility of their parents, and no-one has a right to mess with their minds in that way.
Also, children that age are NOT sinners, since they are mostly incapable of knowing the different between right and wrong. They don't realise how their actions affect other people. All they know is that Mum is mad if you spill the milk, bash your sister or brother or scream the house down. And Mum smiles and hugs you when you clean something up, tell her you love her or bring her a beautiful picture that you've drawn.
That trick with the ice-cream truck is just SOOOOOOOO wrong! What a sacreligious way to use the name of the Lord.
Hi Kallan. For folks who don't know I'm a fundie Xian. I think this scenario as you have described it is completely inappropriate. The parents should be alerted immediately. Until a child is old enough (high school) to make and listen to a rational and logical argument then their parents have complete and total control over the child's religion. I would never actively try to convert other people's children in this way. If asked I will always share my faith, but I certainly wouldn't dress up a fake ice cream truck and try to lure children in. It's this kind of evangelizing that gives all Christians a bad name in the eyes of non-believers.
Oh my God, that's awful, the kids think they are approaching an ice cream truck, and then they get preached at instead? Oh, no, I'm with the other posters that said you should call the cops if you see this, not to mention tell the children's parents about it, at the very least these are "strangers" enticing children over by making them think they can get ice cream, and who knows what else these people have in mind besides preaching at these kids? Until the child is 18, his religious upbringing is up to his parents to decide, not strangers, those people are out of line....If the children's parents are there, that is another matter, but I doubt you would be so concerned if you saw parents with them....