Yeah, I didn’t know what Catechesis was either. I’ve written some posts here and there about catechism and it’s place in the modern protestant church. Most of us, including myself have images of old and outdated practices when we here this word. However, I think that many of us realize that the generation of Christ followers we’re developing are less than grounded. I’m not throwing out the idea of investing in parents to where they have the spiritual lead or throwing out small groups where peers and adult leaders can build into students. I’m talking about some manner of content that aligns the next generation with sound beliefs in a world of relativism. I honestly think we need to take a another look at catechism and see it’s place in today’s church, especially the church like mine where most who attend are totally unchurched. Catechism was designed for such people more than a thousand years ago.

What I found intriguing was how it was the reformers like Calvin and Luther who revived catechism, specifically for children as well as adults. As a response to the reformers, the Catholic church revised their catechism. It’s been a lot of months that I’ve been talking about catechism and I think I’m pretty close to moving on something. Maybe by this time next year I’ll have another angle to share, how we’re building young Christ followers the old fashioned way.

I felt I needed to follow up from my post on Monday.

I thought the speech was good. Actually it was really good, a message many of our kids need to hear. It was about failure, hard work and taking ownership of our future. Regardless of whether we like it or not, the president of the United States is someone we all respect because of the tradition of the office. Most kids look up to this office. What kid hasn’t dreamed of one day being the leader of the free world?

So, this is a great message for our kids to hear. It’s a message of encouragement from the guy in the job most of our kids dream of being. What did you think?

I’m not really sure I know how I feel about this. The first thoughts that come to my mind are not good ones. I understand that people don’t agree with our president’s policies and stance on moral issues, but is this behavior a little juvenile? The majority of parents and people making a stink about this are conservative families who are still sore about loosing the election last November and here’s a good way to stick it to ‘em!

Before you judge me or this post, read on.

Here is what the speech is about.
Here is pre-speech and post-speech activities and discussions for K-6th graders.
Here is pre-speech and post-speech activities and discussions for 7th-12th graders.

So tell me, where is the socialist agenda? Where is the health care agenda? Seriously. It is a freaking speech from the president to the kids. The speech is meant to encourage kids to step up, take ownership of their education and make learning a priority. This is a good thing. Many kids will not forget this moment, where they felt the president was talking to them. So many kids dream of one day being the president, this could be a great motivator educationally. If this was really about the speech or it’s content, then I’d understand… but I don’t think it is. It’s about what we feel about him and it’s an opportunity to speak out.

However, I do feel that it is our right as free people to protest, to speak up and to practice our freedoms. If this is your way of protesting, of showing the president “I don’t approve” then so be it. I can actually respect that. However, I’m not convinced that this is what all the commotion is about. People have turned it into something much more dramatic, saying that they’re afraid of how our president is going to brainwash our children with his socialist agenda. That, in my opinion, is ridiculous. Certainly we has parents have the influence in our children’s lives to teach them right from wrong and how to know when they’re hearing something that doesn’t line up with what we know to be true. Here’s a great post on how a conservative family might approach this situation.

Personally, I feel that this has given conservatives a black eye (if we didn’t have one already). This wasn’t a protest of people communicating to their government that they don’t approve, this seemed much more messy and ugly than that.

These are just opinions that don’t really matter.

Education + Evangelism = Responsible faith development.

There is a certain amount of education that needs to happen regardless of a hearers age, but it seems that this is even more essential for kids. Let me explain.

When communicating salvation to adults, the emphasis seems to be more on persuasion. It’s crafting the message in such a way that combined with the prompting of the Holy Spirit, a person wants to give their life to Christ. Again, there is some education involved as the story and situation are created, but the crux of the opportunity is in the ask.

When communicating salvation to kids, it seems like there is more emphasis on education. Kids are eager to learn. They need to learn about how the world was created, how sin came into the world, how this created a problem, what God’s solution was and then how we can make things right. There is a lot of stuff a child needs to know. Like I said yesterday, the emphasis doesn’t need to be on persuasion. Why, because it’s really easy to persuade a child. They’re sponges for information and their very trusting and willing to be persuaded. In this case, we need to educate them on what salvation is and how the scriptures teach this and what it means for our lives. When a child understands this, then it’s very easy for them to take the next step and choose to follow Christ.

I can easily call for a decision at the end of a message or have an evangelist come in and tell kids that they can choose Christ and tons of them will. However, are we taking the time to build in a layer of understanding through education before persuading kids to make a decision.

Again, this goes back to my reason for wanting kids to attend a baptism class before being baptized. I can quickly persuade a child to receive Christ before jumping in the pool with them, or I could take an hour and build in a layer of understanding. When I do this, then kids get baptized within that foundation of understanding, something their new faith can sick to.

Wendy describes how even in America, where you are born does determine your educational prospects.

• 13 million kids are living under the poverty level
• Of these, the average 4th grader is at the 1st grade level
• 1/2 will not graduate from High School
• Those that do graduate will be a an 8th grade level

Teach for America alumni actually say that the situation is worse than the stats above.

Wendy told stories of teachers who came in and saw children at many years below where they should be. They came in with a sense of urgency and turned their classrooms around and got kids to their expected level within two year.

What is my sense of urgency?

Most of the public feels that the problem lies with:

• lack of student motivation
• lack of parent involvement
• home life situations

However, the truth is that the problems are (suggestions given by Teach for America alumni):

• Teacher quality
• Principle quality
• Student expectancy