Pilot Knob Lutheran What Not To Teach 7/5/2023
We know education is important for all ages, especially young children as they are developing their worldview, learning right from wrong and why. We also saw that the bible has a lot to say about teaching, training, learning and so on. All of us are teachers by communicating our values through how we live each day. We learn more by what is caught than by what is taught. What we truly believe will show through our actions.
While God is all for teaching and learning, there is one kind of teaching that is forbidden.
Deuteronomy 18:9 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. This passage does not forbid learning about them which will alert us to evil so it can be avoided. Deuteronomy 20:18 Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshiping their gods, and you will sin against the Lord your God. God’s followers are not to learn the ways of pagan nations. What is forbidden is embracing worldly, pagan ideas and values. Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world rather than on Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Paul tells us we are to control our thoughts and when they are contrary to His Word we must correct them with His truth, the bible. What that means is that we must learn to think in a way that is pleasing to God. That of course requires education. Do you think it is proper to subject children of any age to drag queen story hour, or teach that the bible is man’s word and contains contradictions, and mistakes? Of course not! However, young children will only know and learn what is taught and caught from home, church, school, and media.
Proverbs 22:15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away. The Hebrew word for discipline is the same word for instruction. That suggests the two go together; instruction involves discipline, which could involve a penalty for failure and a reward for success. Education is not passive.
One of the purposes of education and instruction is to remove foolishness. What is foolishness? Glad you asked. Foolishness is the lack of correct reasoning. It is the failure to use our minds properly. To ‘remove foolishness’ is to train a child to think properly – in a way that is pleasing to God.
Next week: Proverbs 22:6, what does that really mean?
Pr. Bob Snitzer
By the Way:
July 9, 9:00 AM Morning worship. Sermon: Joshua 7 Pt. 9. Sermon: Aching Achan – 2
July 9, 2:00 GriefShare
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