Mark Galli in Christianity Today has an article on The Cost of Christian Education that questions the way we teach children about faith. Galli, drawing on an essay by Debra Dean Murphy, writes about how educational programs traditionally designed by the church are inadequate to fully teach children how to be Christians.
Murphy argues that in the industrialized West, education normally takes place within the structured environment of a classroom, where a teacher makes use of various tools and techniques to transfer content to pupils. Knowledge has been mostly considered a repository of neutral facts conveyed by an expert in teaching technique, and mastery of these facts is the goal of education.[...] Historically, especially for American Protestants, Christian education has followed this model, with its priorities of classroom instruction, curriculum development, and dependence on an expert teacher (even if the expertise is based on merely doing the teacher prep in the curriculum). The objectivist model is also a favorite of traditions that place the pulpit at the center of worship, giving priority to teaching by a “dynamic, effective communicator.” Do note: This approach is not without its merits! It is an efficient way to impart many Bible facts, a Christian worldview, and core doctrines. And who does not like to sit at the feet of a gifted teacher or preacher?
Still, we recognize that a purely objectivist approach can actually make it harder for people to be converted to God. It tends to make faith mostly a matter of the mind and divorces it from spiritual experience. If the supreme knowledge for Christians is, as outlined by Augustine and others, a personal, experiential knowledge of God, then we need something more.
The educational system of Jesus was rooted in an utterly different approach: living in and with a community, so that theology was not only taught but also lived in the context of community prayer. Jesus’ educational system is not objective in the least—it is decidedly not interested in knowledge that helps us remain unbiased and neutral about life. Instead, it is profoundly subjective, that is, concerned with creating an irrational loyalty to Jesus and over-the-top concern for others. It is not the mind that is the center of attention but the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—and the whole person in community.
This approach depends not on teaching technique but on people like you and me who strive to live our lives in Jesus’ name. While it’s nice to have saints to emulate and great teachers to learn from, most of us on most days simply need fellow believers to help us walk the walk. [bold emphases mine]
Galli talks some about this communitarian style of education but the only specific example he mentions is sending his kids to summer camp. While this experience was undoubtedly valuable for his and many other kids, I am left wondering where that leaves us for the other ten months of the year. Other than a passing mention of small groups, we are given few clues as to how families and congregations can model this kind of community. How can parents and churches create an educational program rooted in the community that teaches this whole faith to our children? How can we not only teach our kids about Christianity but also help them to live as Christians?
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June 15, 2007 at 23:54
This topic is the number one issue facing the Church in our age. The question asked at the end of the post leads to a most despairing answer. The answer is: There is no way to teach our children the life of faith if none of us live by faith in commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. This would not be so disturbing if the Protestant church was not so determined to protect people from the danger that comes along with trusting what is known subjectively. This is the place were faith must reign sumpreme over reason. But the true Christian faith has been undermined by teaching that the faith is based on accumulating objective knowledge accociated with the doctrines of Christianity and believing them to be true. This might make for raising up a new generation of theologians and professors in seminaries; but unfortunately make little or no difference in a person’s life. That is, as far as one lived in abandonment to God’s providence and being a witness for the testimony concerning Jesus Christ.
June 17, 2007 at 07:41
It does seem that being a protestant has more of a focus on BEING RIGHT rather than living right. The general opinion seems to be that the closer we get to wanting to live right, the closer we get to a works-based theology.
I think we focus on education to strengthen our doctrine for the occasional debate with non-believers. While it is true that we should try to convert others by sharing the gospel message, we should also display the love of Christ to everyone, in hopes that those who are seemingly unreachable will see that our faith is genuine, and not just something we’re selling to others.
So, to answer the question, we should spend evenings (not just Sunday mornings) with our children reinforcing the biblical things they learn in church. Then, when we are out and about, our children should see the love of Christ in all of our dealings with fellow church members, gas station attendants, passers-by, etc.
Children should see that EVERYTHING we do has an ultimate focus on glorifying God. Internally, they need to see us lift one another up in our family, in our church, and with our friends. Externally, they should see how we try to share Christ’s love when we deal with schoolmates, coworkers, neighbors, and those strangers in need.
So, long story short, being a Christian is a lifestyle, not just a text book or program that is learned for one hour, one day per week.
June 23, 2007 at 18:12
The time is coming and is now at hand that we must become intentional about community, like actually living on the same streets or blocks as our congregation. Church becomes a continuation, not a culmination of lives lived in daily worship.
~Anna
June 25, 2007 at 15:35
The idea of living among the bretheren and intertwined in the loves of fellow believers is a major function of the church, which is the same thing as the gathering of the bretheren. God designed church to be a few things, and one of those things is a socail gathering. it is important for any church service to schedule time for social interaction, and it is important to teach church memebers to stay after service ends and just to chat with fellow believers.
One good tool to use (that my church does(New Boston Baptist Church, New Boston,NH)) is a morning breakfast before sunday school. this may not work as well in large churches, but my church is smaller than 50 people. it is something to consider
June 28, 2007 at 23:07
The idea of community seems very intersting. I too will start teaching in 2 months Sunday school kids, and this post was of very great interest to me. May God help us all to shine forth among our families and friends.