Misconceptions about Christian Education

Based on lectures given by

Dr. Gary Parrett, MDiv, EdD, Professor at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

 

 

I.  Christian Education is primarily the "church's" job.

 We rely on the ‘church’ to educate us and our children, and we forget that we are the church, and it is our job to instruct (katecheo).

II.  Christian Education equals Sunday School.

 When you ask about Christian Education, you usually get directed to the Sunday School program. Sunday school is a tool used in education, but its not the only one.

III.  Christian Education is exclusively for children.

 For some reason, we think everything about our lives requires constant instruction, except out Christianity. We think that providing a K-8 education program is discipleship, and those that become Christians as adults are somehow exempt from the need for any ‘formal’ education.

IV.  Christian Education is a secondary task.

 In the Great Commission we are called to spread the Good News of Christ, and there are two methods given, with equal importance. Baptizing, which is equated with evangelizing and repentance, and teaching the commands of Jesus.

V.  Anybody can do Christian Education.

 In no other ministry is it accepted that anyone, even those lacking in desire, training, aptitude, skill, or gift can perform the task of ministry.

VI.  Christian Education is only the pastor's work.

 Jesus’ command was not for pastor’s to do the work of the church, it is every Christian’s duty to both evangelize and teach.

VII.  Christian Education is not the pastor's job.

 The lay-movement of the modern Sunday school is a wonderful thing, but those that are involved in ‘professional’ ministry shouldn’t ignore Christian Education ministry. They are usually the most well trained members of the local church, shouldn’t they be involved in educating their sheep?

VIII.  Christian Education is simply about passing on knowledge.

 It is an impossible task to teach the entirety of the bible, and even if it were, it’s not the knowledge that is the goal. The goal is the lead people to Christ-likeness.

IX.  Instant Christianity

 

I heard a story about a new pastor at a church who put together a Discipleship course for the church, and announced it during the worship service. After the service ended, he was approached by a member of the church, who told the pastor they didn’t need a Discipleship class, since they had done that already. As if a 6 week class had made everyone a disciple, and they would never need instruction again.

 

Popsicles

It's funny how things affect you in ways you never expected. You convince yourself you feel a certain way, and you are absolutely certain that's what you believe. Then that moment comes, and somehow, you don't feel that way anymore. It reminds me of being a kid again.
You are sure you want the red popsicle. You have never been so sure of anything in your life, it has to be red. You don't even know what flavor red is, but that's what you want. You say it over and over again. Red, red, red, red, gimme the red one. Your mom grabs a popsicle. You see the color through the translucent plastic wrapper. Its red! Your heart jumps. She unwraps it and hands it to you. You taste the icy sweetness.
Oh no! I didn't want red! It was blue I wanted all along! You are forced to finish your red one, all the while dreaming of blue.
What is it about our nature that makes us this way? We make decisions about ourselves before we even know anything about what we truly want, or what we truly are, or what we truly need. We are continually impulsive, selfish and arrogant. I think it's because we continually lie to ourselves, because we want to be happy so bad that we can't cope any other way. We lie and say that we are happy, we lie and say we are caring, altruistic, loving, even-tempered people. Then when we do the opposite, we lie again and say that it was a one-time thing. We refuse to acknowledge our true selves because we know that on the inside we are filthy.
Guess what? I am filthy inside too. I lie. I cheat. I steal. I hate. I judge. I am lazy. I am greedy. I lust. I get angry. I do everything that I don't want to do, and I don't do everything I should do. But what I don't want to do is lie to myself and say that's ok. I need to stop and think, and say that I am nothing, and Christ is everything.

Commands

I've never seen love described as anything other than an emotion. That's how it's always portrayed, at least. It's something that comes upon you, that's out of your direct control. It's said it's like a narcotic, or even a being unto itself. You are under its influence, and the rest of you is just along for the ride.

This is my command: Love each other.
John 15:17

How then, can love be commanded? Moreover, how can you be commanding of any of your emotions?

Be cheerful no matter what.
1Th 5:16

Or.

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.
James 1:19

I'm not sure I have an answer for this. In fact I know I don't. What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary. (Romans 7:15-16)

Persistence

I envy the maintenance man. Not because of what he does. Not because of his work hours. Not because of his pay. And not even because of his dashing looks. I envy him because he has a job that while being one of the most thankless jobs in the company, without him no one else could function.

He makes sure the furnace is running before winter comes. He changes the light bulbs so I have light to work. He mows the grass where I sit and eat when it’s nice outside. He scrubs the graffiti off the back wall. He even changes those blue urinal cakes. Everything he does, he does quietly in the background, but it’s all completely essential.

Sometimes I feel the opposite. I am constantly scrutinized, monitored, and evaluated. I always have something else that needs done, and sometimes it all feels meaningless. I don’t directly do anything that is any benefit to anyone. Its hard to feel accomplished when you feel this way.

My only consolation is the work done for God isn’t done in vain, but that is starting to feel empty in a different way. I feel like I’m on the right road, but right now that road is one of those you always see in movies. The ones that are perfectly straight, cut between two corn fields in nowhere, Iowa. Maybe an abandoned farmhouse in the distance. You don’t even know where the road goes, and there is no one but you around. So you keep walking.