A New Year...An Old Thought

How was it that you learned how to speak English? Did you learn it from a book? Did you choose to buy one of those classes on audio cassette and learn it that way? No, of course not. You learned to speak English from your parents, your brothers and sisters and other people around you.

In my very first congregation I one time was involved in a conversation with a prominent member of the community. He was sitting drinking coffee with our group of people at the community center and was crowing about the fact that he did not influence the religion of his children. He said that religion is a personal choice and that his kids, as Americans, had the right to choose for themselves.

Being young and newer to the community, I held my tongue as long as I could. Then, when I could take the idiocy no longer, I asked, “Harry, why did you teach your kids English?” He sat silent for a moment. I asked again. “Why didn’t you let your kids choose to speak to speak Swahili or Greek?” Harry answered, “Well, it is important to learn English to survive in this world.” I then countered, “You are willing to let your kids choose for themselves something that will direct their eternity, but you will not let them choose something that will only last them 70 or so years? That doesn’t sounds so reasonable to me!” Harry left in stunned silence. But his children did come to church more after that!

You see, we learn English and the Christian faith in the same way. We learn it from those around us who model it. It is very much like apprenticeship in the construction trades. An apprentice observes and takes direction from someone who has much more experience. This is exactly how we learn the faith. Our parents and grandparents brought us to church. We watched as they sang the hymns, prayed the prayers, even received the Holy Sacrament. And from them we learned the practice of the faith.

In this coming year of 2006, we need to get back to the idea that we are called to be a place that has an apprentice program firmly in place. To do that, we need to remember that when we are in worship, or when we are NOT in worship, young eyes are watching and learning from us. When the hymn starts, is your hymnal open and are you, at least, making a joyful noise unto the Lord? Or are you just sitting there? Which would you want you child, your grandchild or the kid the pew over to learn from you?

What about the Lord’s Supper? Do you model that it is an important part of anyone’s life with Christ? Do you hunger and thirst for it as a means for your sins to be forgiven and a means to bridge the gaps between fellow Christians? Or do you treat it like it is yours to take or leave, depending on how you feel?

What about Bible Study? Do you model that? When you bring your child to Sunday School to you head out for breakfast or feast on the Holy Word of God? What would you want them to learn from you? Or Stewardship? Are you modeling the tithe visibly with those who are learning from you?

In this new year, may God grant us the grace to teach, not with our lips, but our lives. May our practice of the faith be THE apprentice program. For this will last those who learn it well beyond the years of this life!