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Recently I had the wonderful opportunity to speak to our 6th grade youth and their parents at the Catechism Milestone event. In that time, I had the opportunity to share good news and bad news. Since we are Lutheran, I thought it was only right to share the bad news first. I shared about the decline in ethics and integrity in our society. I shared regarding the decline in baptized children participating in confirmation and the decline of young people staying connected to the church post their confirmation years.
I also shared Scripture regarding the opportunity/responsibility
God has placed on us with the gifting of children. Proverbs 22:6 “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he
is old he will not turn from it.” and Prov. 29:15 “The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself
disgraces his mother.” The hardest news to hear is that God is holding us accountable for the faith life of our children.
Luther writes in the Large Catechism, Fourth Commandment “For if we wish to have excellent and able persons for both
civil and Church leadership, we must spare no diligence, time or cost in teaching and educating our children, so that they
may serve God and the world. We must not think only about how we may amass money and possessions for them. God can indeed
support and make them rich without us, as He daily does. But for this purpose He has given us children and issues this command:
we should train and govern them according to His will. Otherwise, He would have no purpose for a father or a mother. Therefore,
let everyone know that it is his duty, on peril of losing the divine favor, to bring up his children in the fear and knowledge
of God above all things (Prov. 1:7)” Hard words indeed.
The good news is that there is someone who cares more about His children and their salvation than
even we do. He cared so much He gave up His Son on the cross for us and our children. He has given us His Holy Spirit to work
through Word and Sacraments to grow us in our understanding of who we are who He is and the relationship we share. In addition,
He has given us the church to partner with parents to assist them in the fulfillment of their Baptismal covenant. Here at
Bethany this is found every Sunday with worship, Bible study, prayer, and opportunities to serve in each of these areas. On
Wednesday night with confirmation instruction and Bible study. During the summers with VBS, Summer Camps, various events,
and free family devotional materials from both Children and Youth ministries. Please don’t miss out on these opportunities.
Grace
& Peace,
Bill
Prann, DCE
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