Whatever the shaping influences of life, it is the child’s Godward orientation that determines his response to those shaping influences.
Yes and no. One's orientation does help to shape but does not necessarily ALWAYS determine the child's response. For one, there are other dynamics at play: mental/cognitive ability, emotional maturity of the child, the brain (diseases, disorders, injuries), biological makeup (the child is influenced by a mother's health while a child is inutero). For another, children have not developed spiritually to have that kind of clear impact on their perspectives. A child could be regenerate but will still say, think, or do things that are trespasses. Another child might have no heart for God but her disposition, temperament, and personality leans in the direction of a strong moral bent. Parents can teach and direct but we cannot know for certain if indeed a child has a healthy Godward orientation.
