Catching the Faith

Despite the growing popularity of Christian schools and the long-term reality of Religious Instruction in the state education systems, we are still facing a decline in those that profess faith in the West, especially among the younger generation.

Why is it that much of our faith-based education seems to have the effect of inoculating, rather than inculcating the faith?

Could it be that our methodology is all backwards? Much of our faith-based education is what you would call indoctrination. It is based on the assumption that our children are already Christians, and we need to school them in the essentials of the faith. Often this schooling can be very moralistic, trying to ‘house-train’ good little Christian boys and girls.

This is in direct contrast to the way Jesus taught the crowd. Jesus’ teaching method to those 'outside' the faith was story-telling, particularly parables; riddles of the Kingdom. Jesus didn’t bother to explain these riddles, but allowed to sit in the air and perch in people’s hearts when the time was right. [to be bait, waiting to hook the fish!] These riddles didn’t inoculate the hearer, as the mysteries were kept hidden, but now and then one would take root and bear fruit in someone’s life.

If you examine the parables of the Sower in Matthew's gospel [chap 13:1-52], and the discussion during and after it, you see that the gospel in a treasure not to be thrown to swine, but protected in the oyster shell of the parable. Everyone is up to a different stage [road, rock, weeds, good soil], and when the time is right, the seed can take root. If you plant it too early, it will spoil.

I content that we need to rediscover the Master teacher’s method for proclaiming the kingdom. I know it sounds risky; our Western minds want to explain, dissect, and ensure children understand. But when you dissect something that is alive, you have a tendency to kill it. What is more alive than the word of God. I know this sounds like a risky method, but how could it be less successful than what we have now - indeed, isn't it about following Jesus?

Our task isn't to produce moral people, but noble people. Our job isn't about external compulsion, but internal transformation.