What is it about?
Christian churches in Canada and the United States may sometimes press their young people for Christian commitments. If a church puts pressure on young people to make a Christian commitment, this can be referred to as identity foreclosure. A foreclosed identity tends not to last a long time because a person with such an identity has not chosen this identity for themselves. It would be better for churches to help young people hear and respond to God’s call. Choosing to respond to God’s call can lead to a stable, lasting Christian identity.
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Why is it important?
The influence of family and church will play a role in people's choice to live as a Christian. But the choice to live as a Christian is not only a matter of having Christian influences. God calls to young people. It is important to think about how we can help young people hear God's call.
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This page is a summary of: Calling But Not Foreclosing: reworking Our Approach to Faith Formation, Journal of Youth and Theology, November 2020, Brill,
DOI: 10.1163/24055093-bja10007.
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