This reminds me of the grammar of Theology. I shall add it to the curriculum, because theology is the mistress-science without which the whole educational structure will necessarily lack its final synthesis. Those who disagree about this will remain content to leave their pupil’s education still full of loose ends. (from “The Lost Tools of Learning,” by Dorothy Sayers)
This week I served as the main speaker for Classical Conversations (“CC”) at its Fairbanks practicum. I benefited from the experience in many ways, not the least of which was learning a great deal about CC and the philosophy behind classical education. Like most homeschooling dads, my wife does the lion’s share of the work while I just try to stay out of the way (more on that below). So it was good to spend some time, however fleeting, in the world of CC and home education, that world in which my wife basically lives and moves and has her being. My admiration for her diligence and devotion certainly shot up.
Here, I offer a thought that struck me as I prepared for this speaking role, concerning CC’s curriculum: there is very little in the program itself devoted to theological instruction. This is not a criticism, but an observation; I’m sure there are good reasons for this. One may be that including theological materials, which are sectarian by nature, would make it difficult for CC to have a broad appeal to the different kinds of Christians that benefit from the program (in our community we’ve had families from Protestant, Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox churches). And, I would guess that those who design CC’s curriculum assume that parents are giving their children instruction in Christian doctrine along with the CC material. After all, CC is not a school providing a comprehensive curriculum, but a program to assist homeschooling families who desire a classical education for their kids.
However, instruction in theology is an absolutely necessary part of a truly Christian classical education. In her article that provides the philosophy behind CC’s approach to classical education, “The Lost Tools of Learning,” Dorothy Sayers writes, “… theology is the mistress-science without which the whole educational structure will necessarily lack its final synthesis” (CC’s own motto is: “to know God and to make him known”). Thus, Christian parents pursuing a classical education must ensure their children are studying the Christian faith as well as studying math, history, reading, writing, science, and so on. Without a grounding in theology, our children’s education will be “still full of loose ends.” How can we know God – let alone make him known to others – if we don’t have some knowledge about God? And how can we know truth about God apart from the study of theology?
Of course, our children should be learning about God in church and at home. However, I wonder if our churches and families purse the study of theology with the same rigor and discipline with which CC kids study their regular subjects? I fear that many families may simply assume their children are picking up what they need to know about theology in Sunday School, or during the worship service. But what if they’re not? Or even if they learn a few things here and there, is there sustained attention given to Christian doctrine? Parents need to make sure there is.
One effective and time-tested way to give our children this theological instruction is the use of a catechism. For centuries, the Church used catechisms to instruct believers in the doctrines of the Christian faith. A catechism is simply a series of questions and answers that provide a summary of biblical truth. It is a tool designed for instruction, especially for young people. So a good catechism is a wonderful tool for teaching theology.
Learning Bible stories and memorizing Scripture passages are obviously important. But a catechism is like a road-map that helps us see the “lay of the land” of the Bible. That is, it is an introduction to systematic theology, showing how different parts of the Bible relate to one another and how the entire biblical revelation forms one coherent, God-glorifying whole. This should sound familiar to CC parents – a catechism teaches the “dialectic” of theology! Why would we want to leave our children in the grammar stage of Christianity – stories, characters, and so on – and not push them to a deeper and systematic understanding of their faith? A catechism helps us to do this.
Catechetical training also teaches our children that the Christian faith is as concerned with objective truth as it is with subjective experience. As I said earlier, we can only know God if we know something about God. If we want our children to develop a coherent and comprehensive biblical worldview, they’ll need to learn that the truth of the Christian faith is not rooted in their experience as Christians. If they don’t study theology, how will they learn to integrate everything they learn into a Christian understanding of the world? Or, how will they be able to “make a defense… for the hope that is in [them]” (1 Peter 3:15)?
I am Reformed and Presbyterian by conviction, so naturally the catechism we use at church and home is the Westminster Shorter Catechism. But I respect the fact that CC families come from different traditions and therefore would use a different catechism. For Protestant families, the First Catechism would be an excellent choice (it is also distinctly Reformed, but at the same time most of it is simply historic Protestant theology). Both the Westminster Shorter Catechism and the First Catechism give a solid theological grounding as they deal with Scripture, God, the person and work of Christ, sin, salvation, faith and repentance, the covenant, the sacraments, the 10 Commandments, and the Lord’s Prayer.
You can begin training in theology with a catechism at an early age, when your kids are able to talk. Of course they won’t understand everything, but as we well know from CC, young kids love to memorize information and, as they grow into the dialectic stage, they’ll begin to grasp the truths they have learned by heart. Great Commission Publications has many excellent resources for teaching the catechism (including musical versions of the catechism(s), which should warm the hearts of CC parents!).
And this is something fathers can and should do (Ephesians 6:4). Typically, we dads don’t do much of the day-to-day homeschooling of our children. We have other responsibilities. But here is where we can make a tremendous difference – both in supporting our wives, and in forming our children’s hearts and characters. Dads, here is where you need to step up. Make a commitment to disciple your children in the grace and knowledge of Christ, using a good catechism.
I am a big believer in catechism training (need I say?). We use the Westminster Shorter Catechism in our family devotions, and I work with each of our kids in memorizing it (though not as much as I ought!). I am convinced children who learn the catechism will benefit from it when they are older. Today the Christian faith is facing profound challenges from a radically secular worldview. If our children are not equipped with an understanding of their Christianity that is as thoroughgoing and comprehensive as the humanist philosophies of our day, they will be vulnerable to unbelieving thought and practice. Mere tradition (“my parents didn’t believe that!”) or knee-jerk conservatism (“I just don’t like that idea!”) is insufficient to sustain a robust Christian faith and walk in our secular world. A solid theological footing, and the ability to think deeply and critically – the very things a classical Christian education seeks to provide – will be absolutely vital for Christians to remain faithful to our Lord in a society lacking the support of a cultural Christianity, and where confusion and darkness are so prevalent.
I’m also convinced catechetical training is vital for the future health of the church. The church will need strong pastors, elders, and missionaries. One concern I have about the homeschool movement is a tendency, I think, to have a diminished view of the life and ministry of the church. Not that homeschoolers aren’t committed to church, but I believe our focus on family and home education tends to push to the margins the church’s role in our lives. Maybe I’m wrong about this, but that’s my impression. For example, I don’t ever remember meeting a homeschooled boy who aspired to be a pastor or missionary. But perhaps a vision of God’s surpassing glory as revealed in Scripture and summarized by the theology of a good catechism will ignite a spark in the hearts of our young men, and more of them will desire to serve Christ as preachers of the gospel.
Finally, I believe instruction in the catechism can help keep the grace of God before us. The gospel cannot be merely assumed – it must be explained, and taught, and believed. As homeschoolers we must fight the temptation to think we can ensure our children’s (or our own, for that matter) salvation by sheltering them from sinful influences, or by training them to live a moral and upright life. Sin comes from within, and our only hope for ours and our children’s salvation is the gospel of Jesus Christ. A good catechism will point us to Christ, and remind us of all he has done for our redemption.
And at the end of the day, no matter how classically educated our children are, if they do not know Christ, they are nothing more than “white-washed tombs.” No curriculum or catechism can save us (and a catechism is not the Word of God). But a faithful catechism, that clearly and carefully explains the gospel, will instruct us about the One who does save us.
Scott's Thoughts 