The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.
Matthew 23:1-12
Christian Education
Proper 26A, 30 October 2011
Reformation Sunday
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming
In the Name of
Jesus. Amen.
As
Reformation Day nears on the calendar, my heart and mind turn to reform in the
Church. We are Lutheran Christians, spiritual heirs of the 16th
Century Reformation of the Christian Church. Christians are always in need of
repentance. The Church, from a local congregation, to a regional group of
congregations, a church body or denomination, or Christianity as a whole, is
always in need of reform.
I
don’t mean “social justice.” There are always wrongs to be righted and ample
reason for righteous anger to be channeled as passion for helping the aged,
unborn, poor, and oppressed, but God’s justice is discovered in what Scripture
says, not a sinful heart, a social fad, or what some group determines to be
popular or “politically correct.”
Psalm
51 shows humble submission to God’s Word, heartfelt and mindful repentance and
amendment of life, and faith in the only One who can or could have mercy, blot
out transgressions, wash from iniquity, and cleanse from sin: “Create in me a
clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from
your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of
your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.” (Psalm 51:10-12 ESV)
The
Church of Christ Jesus always has need of the same kind of humble submission to
Holy Scripture, repentant and honest scholarship, and willingness to admit and
correct false teaching and sin. This is done for the sake of the Gospel of
Christ, He who creates in us that clean heart, right spirit, salvation, and
eternal joy through His sacrificial Calvary death and victorious Resurrection.
Where
do today’s Christians, congregations, and denominations need reform? I would
suggest that we look to the past for answers. No, no one really sees a modern
problem with “selling forgiveness,” but some media ministries get very close.
One of the historic errors within Christendom was reliance on human wisdom,
power, authority, or “doctrine” over and against what the Bible says. Every
sermon, Bible study, devotion, book, show, movie, or website that claims to be
Christian should be subject to rigorous Biblical scrutiny by Christians before
it is shared with the world at large. Teachers and teachings that contradict
the clear and in-context text of Scripture should be admonished and corrected
for the sake of the Gospel.
One
good occasion for repentance is listening to Jesus’ teaching about teachers in
Matthew 23:
Then
Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’
seat, 3 so do and
observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but
do not practice. 4 They
tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but
they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 They do all their
deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their
fringes long, 6 and
they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the
marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have
one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And
call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called
instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts
himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Heed
Christ’s call to following what God’s Word says, to practicing what we preach.
He calls for Biblically-informed, passionate, and faith-filled teaching and
practice at home, church, and school.
Christian
Education has always been important to Lutheran Christians.
- · Immanuel had a school before! In the 1920’s, Pastor Her, (1919-1927) taught Christian day school classes in the upstairs of the parsonage on Park Street.
- · In the history of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, there were more schools than congregations in our church body from the 1870s through the early 1900’s.
- · When the LCMS was first founded in 1847, there were sixteen original Lutheran congregations and fourteen original Lutheran schools.
- · Why did the Saxon Lutherans leave Germany? We know there problems with unionism and syncretism, but recent scholarship shows that they were more concerned with the sad state of German schools than even the theological problems of the state church. In particular, they were troubled by the fact that what was taught in the state schools contradicted the Christian faith that was taught at home and at Church.
- · Lutherans like Johann Sturm, Phillip Melanchthon, and Martin Luther revived classical education in their day, founding a proper education on Christ and His Gospel, but also advocating for education for all, including girls and peasants, and a free public Christian education paid for by the state, especially if the head of state was a Christian prince.
- · The Jesuits, formed by the Roman Church as a response to the Reformation, famous yet today for their rigorous quality education institutions, patterned their schools and curricula after Lutheran models.
- · Today, the LCMS is blessed with two seminaries, ten universities and colleges, more than 2,300 early childhood centers and preschools operated by congregations and Christian day schools within The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. More than 129,000 children, ranging in age from infant/toddler to five years of age, are involved in these programs. Additionally, our congregations operate 945 elementary schools which serve 107,000 students.
- · Martin Luther Grammar School was accredited this summer by The Consortium for Classical and Lutheran Education. Both Mount Hope, Casper, and Trinity, Riverton, will have accreditation visits next week. Three other schools are in the CCLE accreditation process, accreditation soon to be recognized as exemplary by the Synod.
Christian
education is important to Lutherans. And it all begins with the Fourth
Commandment.
The
editors of the new reader’s edition of the Book of Concord, Concordia; The Lutheran Confessions,
provide a very helpful introduction to the Fourth Commandment in Luther’s Large
Catechism:
Commandments four through ten describe
relationships with our fellow humans. Here Luther’s understanding of “vocation”
is apparent. Vocation comes from the Latin vocare,
meaning “to call.” God calls everyone to certain roles, or stations, in life.
In this commandment, Luther describes our duty before God to honor father and
mother, that is, to respect authority. God instituted all forms of authority as
an extension of parental authority, for our good. There are various parental
authorities, or “fathers,” in our lives, including pastors, teachers, and
government officials. Another insight by Luther is about the life of good works
to which Christians are called. We should not regard “Church work” as more holy
than the other things in life that we routinely do. Rather, all callings and
stations in life serve God and are opportunities for us to obey God’s
commandments and to serve our neighbor. The key observation Luther offers is
this: faith is what makes a person holy. Faith alone. Good works serve God by
serving other people.[1]
End quote.
As a congregation that
sponsors a Christian school, sometimes we need to state and restate the
obvious: parents are given to be the first teachers of their own children.
Parents are to have primary authority and choice over the raising of their own
children, not the state. Yes, parents are given to feed, clothe, shelter, and
educate their children, but the most important education a parent can give is
the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Paul teaches this in
Ephesians 6: 1-4: Children, obey your parents in the
Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor
your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well
with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger,
but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
This is an important and divine
responsibility. Education in this life prepares one for family, work, and
leisure. Christian education is a preparation for this life AND the life to
come. As you consider the education of your children or grandchildren, or if
you are still thinking about your own education, ask yourself this about any
educational opportunity or choice: “Will this school, teacher, or career
encourage my faith in Christ, or destroy or discourage my faith in Christ?”
Luther’s day had problems much like our
own. He says as much in this paragraph from the Fourth Commandment in his Large
Catechism:
170
Here again the sad plight arises that no one sees or hears this truth. All live
on as though God gave us children for our pleasure or amusement and servants so
that we could use them like a cow or [a donkey], only for work. Or they live as
though we were only to gratify our lewd behavior with our subjects, ignoring
them, as though we have no concern for what they learn or how they live. 171 No one is willing to see
that this is the command of the Supreme Majesty, who will most strictly call us
to account and punish us for it. Nor does anyone see that there is so much need
to be seriously concerned about the young. 172
For if we wish to have excellent and able persons both for 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. 173 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 issued this
command: we should train and govern them according to His will. Otherwise, He
would have no purpose for a father and a mother. 174 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 [Proverbs 1:7]. And if the children are
talented, have them learn and study something. Then they may be hired for
whatever need there is.[2]
End quote.
What did Luther say before? “….we must
spare no diligence, time, or cost in teaching and educating our children, so
that they may serve God and the world.” Amen. God strengthen our courage us to
that end.
We have need in Sheridan,
Wyoming, and the United States for faithful Lutheran Christians in every godly
vocation, from husbands and wives as parents, to laborers, educators, and
public servants. There will always be a need for faithful men to heed the call
to the Office of the Holy Ministry.
CPH: The everlasting Gospel
proclaims to us God as our refuge, our mighty fortress. The alternative is to
try to make yourself a fortress—not a smart idea. We are safe inside the
righteousness of Christ; neither Satan nor sin will be able to conquer us or do
us harm. This righteousness is a sheer gift, bestowed on us by Him whose Word
of truth frees us from all attempts to justify ourselves.
Dealing with sin is not a matter of training, discipline, or
education. If you train a sinner, you get a trained sinner. Discipline a sinner
and the result is a disciplined sinner. Educate a sinner, and you get an
educated sinner. A sinner forgiven in Christ is still a sinner, but that sinner
is now also a saint. Training, discipline, and education cannot accomplish
that! Only Jesus’ love can! Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving
one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Reformation Day is a time
to mourn the sad divisions within Christendom, caused by sinful rejections of
God’s Word. Yet, we also rejoice that the Lord still today preserves a faithful
remnant, no matter how much the devil, the world, and even our own sinful flesh
would oppose the true preaching and teaching of God’s Word.
While
it is true that Jesus prays “that they all [all Christians] may be one” (John
17:21a), it is just as true that Jesus asserts in the same prayer, “Sanctify
them in the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17). This is the same plea St.
Paul makes in 1 Corinthians: “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among
you, but that united in the same mind and the same judgment.” (1:10)
That,
too, is my prayer. I don’t want to “agree to disagree” or paper over or ignore
doctrinal differences between Christian traditions. Let’s honestly talk about
them and then measure all teaching by the standard of Holy Scripture. Can we
reject mere “people pleasing” (Galatians 1) and stand for the content of the
Christian faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3)? Are we doomed to fall
away from what God’s Word actually says and follow false teachers who tell us
“what it really means”?
Instead,
let us honor Luther and Walther and our spiritual fathers and mothers in the
faith across all time and space by submitting, in humble faith, to our One true
Rabbi, Teacher, and Instructor, Jesus, the Christ, and the Eternal Word of Our
Father who art in Heaven. Happy Reformation Sunday. Amen.
In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
