Now that I have kids in
school, questions about what to do for their education comes up. What school should they go to, how to pay for college,
etc…. One thing that is clear is that the education (both of secular and religious matters) is the responsibility of the parents. This is a great responsibility, because, Proverbs 22:6 tells us, "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." Conversely, in Hosea 4:6, we learn, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."
Some parents use this for justification for homeschooling, which is fine, but not necessary, in my opinion. Others use it as justification for private schools, where their children can get the "best education money can buy". Still other parents use this as justification for religious private schooling. To me, it does not matter and a good public school can work as well. What is the most important is the parents are engaged, which has actually been shown to be the most important indicator of student success.
However, it is done, religious instruction is as important, more important actually, as secular and it is also the parents' responsibility. Martin Luther recognized this and so he wrote his small catechism as a resource for parents to teach their kids at home. Nowadays, we have delegated that responsibility to Confirmation, or catechism class, and parents think they are off the hook. In reality we can delagate the teaching of it, but not the responsibility for it. From that comes downplaying the importance of this education. I think Herman Sasse said it best, when he said:
Some parents use this for justification for homeschooling, which is fine, but not necessary, in my opinion. Others use it as justification for private schools, where their children can get the "best education money can buy". Still other parents use this as justification for religious private schooling. To me, it does not matter and a good public school can work as well. What is the most important is the parents are engaged, which has actually been shown to be the most important indicator of student success.
However, it is done, religious instruction is as important, more important actually, as secular and it is also the parents' responsibility. Martin Luther recognized this and so he wrote his small catechism as a resource for parents to teach their kids at home. Nowadays, we have delegated that responsibility to Confirmation, or catechism class, and parents think they are off the hook. In reality we can delagate the teaching of it, but not the responsibility for it. From that comes downplaying the importance of this education. I think Herman Sasse said it best, when he said:
“We recognize for too
seldom that religious and confirmation instruction and the Sunday school can in
no way give what previous generations knew from home through Bible reading and
what was learned from pious parents. Today the need of the hour for the
Lutheran Church is to become a teaching church again…. Do we really believe
that the members of our congregations take so much with them from a few hurried
hours of confirmation instruction… that they are able to live on it throughout
their whole lives as people who daily return to their baptism?”
Not only is religious instruction important, but practice is of the utmost importance to be taught, which is not done at all in most churches. Sasse says elsewhere, “We need
extensive instruction in the liturgy.” Not only should the liturgy and practice be taught, but once it is, it actually teaches us even more. Pastor Mark Surburg says,
"The liturgy is also one of the most important tools for pastoral care that the Church possesses. The repetition of the liturgy is not mere repetition. Instead it is implanting words [the Word of God] into us so that are ready to be used by the Holy Spirit in the reception of Christ’s gifts and the response of praise – no matter where this takes place. The repeated use of the liturgy makes it part of us and thereby allows us to experience the Divine Service in spite of age and illness.
"It is therefore crucial that we teach our children the liturgy – both for the present and the future. This is a task that a congregation needs to take seriously in the weekly celebration of the Divine Service, in Sunday school and in catechesis at all levels."
"The liturgy is also one of the most important tools for pastoral care that the Church possesses. The repetition of the liturgy is not mere repetition. Instead it is implanting words [the Word of God] into us so that are ready to be used by the Holy Spirit in the reception of Christ’s gifts and the response of praise – no matter where this takes place. The repeated use of the liturgy makes it part of us and thereby allows us to experience the Divine Service in spite of age and illness.
"It is therefore crucial that we teach our children the liturgy – both for the present and the future. This is a task that a congregation needs to take seriously in the weekly celebration of the Divine Service, in Sunday school and in catechesis at all levels."
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