christians if you agreed to host a 15yr old exchange student for a year?

Question

and found after he arrived out that he was a born and raised witch, what would you do? how would you feel? how would you treat him? would you let him practice? would you respect his choice of faith and not force him into yours? all input is appreciated, thanks

Answer 1

if he got here - he would have a great chance of converting me to his religion :D


(((Riegan)))

PS I'm no Christian though

Answer 2

I've heard of younger kids being exchange students. Infact, I think 15 is a median age for foreign exchange students. The risks are obvious, but not likely. Overall, being a foreign exchange student is a great experiance that enriches and matures your child.

Answer 3

Force? No. I would give an invitation to learn about my beliefs, but if it was rejected, I would let it go. I've learned that just by living out my faith, being kind and loving, goes a lot further in making people open to what I have to say than forcing.

I'm not sure what practices are involved in witchcraft, but as long as it wasn't done in an "in your face" fashion, I wouldn't interfere.

Answer 4

This sounds like wife swap.

I would venture that this would be a problem for most Christians, at least if he practiced whatever it is that you practice, while there.

What makes you think he'll be in a Christian home? Most Christians don't go to church or do much practicing of their own, so its probably a no big deal thing anyway.

Answer 5

I'd respect his choice, and I don't think I would treat him any different. Of course I'd let him practice, but I'd ask that he didn't do any of his rituals in my house. I'd be glad to drive him to local parks to do them, though. Most of the rituals could be performed outside. The ones that can't...well...we'd figure out something. And while I'd ask him to come to church with me, I wouldn't force him to. If he wanted to stay at the house, that's fine. He wouldn't be my child, so I wouldn't force him into anything, except for following the basic rules of the house (chores, mutual respect, curfew, doing homework, et cetera).

As a sidenote, I had a somewhat similar situation a couple years ago, when I met one of my husband's best friends here (where we live). One day we were hanging out with him and his wife, and his pentacle necklace slipped out from under his shirt. I wasn't a Christian at the time, but I did hold Christian beliefs so...

I don't treat him any differently than I did before I saw it, though we do debate about religion constantly. He told me once that when he found out I had become a Christian, he was afraid I'd treat him like other Christians had treated him. When I didn't, he was pleasantly surprised.

Interesting question.

Answer 6

I would not force him into anything but would ask the he participates with my family by going to Sunday Worship. He does not have to pray, read, or sing but it is a part of my American family and I would want him to experience every aspect of my American family.

If wanted to practice I would ask that he practice outside my home. I would always treat him with love and respect and as if was one of my own.

We did the same thing when we had an exchange student who was Jewish.

Answer 7

Have you spoken with your pastor about this? If you really want to let him stay there, maybe with the thought of letting him see your Christian example and judging for himself, speak to your pastor about spiritual protection for your family. Ask your pastor what they feel God would think about you allowing a practicing witch to stay in your home and what stipulations you should lay down in that case. Personally, I would speak to the program you are hosting throught and see about having him stay with another family. I'd also ask them why they didn't say anything about this before they matched you up, pretty stupid to me.

Now Exodus 22:18 says not to suffer a witch to live, a little harsh, especially for someone who was brought up to believe this and may not have had a choice to know anything else; but I would think that translated pretty well to not letting him live in your house.

Answer 8

If I hosted any exchange student I would treat his culture and religion with respect. It wouldn't be any different for a witch.

But I don't think they're going to let a single 24 year old VT host a 15 year old boy. :)

Answer 9

I would respect his religion. There would be no pressure to join my religion. However, many of our social events take place at our church and I would hope he would come so he could truly be part of our family for that year. There would be no attempt to convert him nor any expectation of such. But I would hope/think that part of the foreign exchange student thing is to learn about others and their cultures along with sharing your own. That's a two way street. You shouldn't expect someone to be able to be accepting of his religion unless he can be accepting of theirs.

Answer 10

Since both Science and Religion agrees, in unision, that is meaningless it wouldn't bother me in the least.

Funny how Science and Relgion agree on things, isn't it!

Answer 11

He is in your house....He will need to abide by your rules and respect your faith and home environment.

The only way to deal with this is to tell him the situation and tell him he can transfer if he wishes.....you did not know this ahead of time....you can discuss it with the school...he should have declared this somehow on his application.

no witchcraft in a christian home.....Jesus comes first, him second.