Misunderstood

You know the saying, "he/she is just misunderstood"?  It is intended to say that someone is not what they appear to be.  There are verses in the bible that are not what they seem at first glance as well.  One verse that has really been on my mind lately is Proverbs 22:6 "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it".  I hear this verse used time and again as to why parents "force" their children to go to church.  I do have a firm belief that while your child is under your authority (i.e. they live under your roof, eat your food, spend your money, etc) they should abide by your rules and if one of those is going to church, great!  However, I feel they are missing the essence of this verse.  This verse means that you should train your child up in the way THEY should go.  That means identify and call out the natural gifts God has given that child.  This means NOT trying to fulfill your childhood dreams vicariously through your child, NOT trying to fulfill your financial security through your child, NOT letting the culture, society, or anyone else decide what is best for your child.  It means you help them develop their unique identity and set them up to succeed in their unique gifting.  In the mean time if you have to drag them church, then by all means, drag them to church, but help them become who they were created to be.  Then when God calls their name and Christ reigns as their savior, you will have raised a well shaped and fully developed tool that God can use for his glory.  You should help them define who they are, not confine them to who you think they should be.