Christian Education... After The Reformation

In our Heidelberg Catechism (Lords Day 38), the explanation of the Fourth Commandment mentions, that the ministry of the gospel and the schools be maintained. We have to keep the Lords Day Holy. It is a very sad token of moral decline and public forsaking of the Lords laws when the Sabbath is despised and desecrated. We should understand that for the hallowing of the Lords Day, it is a must that the ministry of the gospel be maintained.

On Sunday, we go to the Lords house and the Lords Word is proclaimed. Now as for the schools. What do they have to do with the hallowing of the Sabbath? What is the relationship between the worship of Cod, and the education received at schools?

In the first place, our fathers emphasized the importance and necessity of seminaries; students studying for the ministry could then be trained and receive preparation for their office. How sad it is that so many universities are influencing young people by false and deceitful teachings. Humanistic theories evolution, societal criticism and revolution are often taught and promoted. The damage caused by this is greater than many realize.

Our fathers used every means to support Christian education. Rev. Bernardus Smytegelt, one of our old writers who preached for many years in Zeeland, said, Let the Church never lack men qualified to teach the young. See to it that there are Academies where they may be taught, and teachers that rightly divide the Word of truth. Christian elementary schools are also very necessary. Our fathers have seen the need for good and faithful Christian instruction.

The Reformation of the Church in the 16th century also resulted in a renewal of school life. Luther urged the government to install new schools. In 1524 he sent a request to the Mayors and Magistrates of all the cities in Germany to institute schools and to oblige the parents to send their children to them. He himself performed a lot of work for instruction of the youth. He composed a small booklet in which he gave some instruction about the Apostless Creed, the Ten Commandments and the Lords Prayer. He also recommended that the government not only maintain Latin Schools, but clearly emphasized the necessity of erecting public schools for the common masses as well, in which he advocated the boys should receive a minimum of two hours of daily Christian doctrinal instruction, and the girls a minimum of one hour.

Our fathers used every means to support Christian education.

In 1528, Luther made a trip throughout Germany to survey conditions in the churches. This journey had a very discouraging effect because of the peoples religious ignorance. When he returned home he immediately tried to rectify this dangerous situation. Therefore he wrote a Larger and Shorter Catechism and distributed this to the churches. The Shorter Catechism had to be memorized by the children and the Larger Catechism was given for help and use by fathers and office-bearers. That Shorter Catechism was very useful for children as it was prepared in simple language with a concrete explanation of the doctrine. He urged the parents to instruct their children. We do know that his efforts were blessed by the Spirit; it is clear that from the Reformation onwards the knowledge of the Scriptures and of the truth increased.

This example of Luther was followed by other teachers and ministers. In a Church Order made by Bugenhagen, there is also an order for schools to give some guidance for instruction. Calvin also saw the importance of good Christian education. He promoted the foundation of schools; he could see a good education was a powerful weapon for use in battling Roman errors. Education had the special purpose to keep truth in the Church pure and undiluted. We can see that the Church was very interested in education.

The Synod of Dort (16181619) declared in its Church Order (Article 21) that teachers must also teach godliness and the Catechism. They said the teachers had to subscribe to the Confession of Faith and to The Forms of Unity, and they had to submit themselves to the Church Order.

Christian Education, however, has to begin at home. Our fathers emphasized the necessity of Christian teaching: at home by the parents, in the schools by the teachers, and in the Church by the minister and elders. They said the office of parents is to teach diligently their children the principles of Christian education, to admonish earnestly to the fear of God and true godliness, to exercise family worship in holy prayer, and take their children to the preaching of Gods Word, to prepare them for Catechism instruction at the schools. The Church also emphasized the necessity of having good teachers. In Holland there was even a rule that teachers should be examined by Classis in: (a) purity of faith, (b) ability to do their tasks. In all those rules and expressions, their interest in school life was shown.

There has to be a close relationship between school and Church. A good foundation, and a reliable guideline are necessary for the realization of a Christian school life. The foundation has to be Gods Word and the Forms of Unity. We agree wholeheartedly that the constitution of our schools be founded on Cods Word and the Three Forms of Unity. The purpose of our schools is to provide daily academic and religious instruction in accordance with this foundation.

We may be thankful that the Reformation gave us back His Word and the pure preaching of it. In spite of the many attacks on the truth, the decline of Church life and school life, and the penetration of errors into it, the Lord has faithfully provided godly people, sent forth true servants and watchmen upon the walls of the Church, and gave new and further instructions. Sometimes he gave blessed revivals when the truth was darkened, and the Church seemed to be utterly destroyed and ruined by errors and worldliness. He also gave us places where we may be gathered for the worship of God, to hear His Word, to be admonished, instructed, encouraged and comforted. He provided for schools where our children can be instructed according to Gods Word and the Confession of Faith.

But do not forget, fathers and mothers, that it is the duty of parents in the first place to teach children in the way they should go. Once we promised at the baptism of our children, to see our children, when come to the years of discretion, instructed and brought up in the aforesaid Doctrine, or cause them to be instructed therein. That is our parental duty, confirmed with our public oath before Gods countenance in the midst of the congregation. It is very important that school and family may work together; and that it will be practiced, what we read about Abraham in Genesis 18:19, For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment.

Abraham used parental authority in governing his children. He cared not only for his children, but also for his servants, and had love for all that belonged to his household. How necessary for parents in their homes, teachers at school, and office-bearers in the Church, that they have a heartfelt love to souls. As long as a man does not care for his own soul, he also does not care for the souls of others. We need to have a desire to use our talents for Christ.

If we have true saving faith, we will have the desire to use our gifts, money, knowledge, and authority for Christ. Do we use our talents for him by grace? In the Scriptures we find many examples of such desire and practice, such as Abraham, Job, and Joshua, when he said, but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Eunice, the mother of Timothy, had instructed her son in the truth revealed in Gods Word, and it was richly blessed, And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures (II Tim. 3:15). We may be glad with the opportunities of Christian education. However, we have to seek more ways to increase these opportunities so we may have further, higher education. May the Lord provide in that respect so that our youth may keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment (Gen. 18:19).

How richly privileged we are when we have such parents and teachers who teach us in that way! Oh, that we may know the way of His commandments, and also that there is a blessed and rich people who may know a righteous but merciful God who answered their prayers. That we may hear about the bitterness and foolishness of sin and the value and preciousness of the service of God, and of the ways of the Lord with his people. Important as it may be that the constitution of schools subscribe to true doctrine, and that we have teachers who can agree with it, its indispensable that the work of the Lord is in the heart. We can establish schools, set up committees, install institutions for different kinds of education; but without true conversion, renewing, and reformation it will be insufficient. The only way for conversion of a nation is through reformation of churches, teachers, and students; this can only lie in the personal renewing of hearts. But now many empty places are found in the churches. Some experienced children of God are taken away.

There are many believers rich in themselves, but the Lord leaves a remnant of poor and needy people who trust in Him. They have experienced the mercy of God, His faithful care, and received instruction at His feet.

How privileged we and our youth would be, if as should be done, we would fulfil Psalm 78:4, We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength, and His wonderful works that He hath done.

May the Lord graciously give us such parents and teachers, to the welfare of our children and families.

Rev. C. Vogelaar is pastor of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation of St. Catharines, Ontario.

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen