In education today, some will be aghast at what I say here.
But in their hearts, they will know it’s true.
And this one is for The Church too. Find out why. Watch our Truth in Two (full text and link below).
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FULL TEXT
During my high school teaching I would sometimes begin a unit of study with a freewheeling debate about a topic. The discussions were always lively. Students were excited to express their opinions, though they had little substantive knowledge about the subject. At some point during the proceedings, I would cut off the chatter so we could begin our study. Inevitably, one student would speak for the rest of the class, saying, “Why can’t we keep discussing this?” And every time, I would say the same thing, “Because you don’t know anything yet.”
I was reminded of these memories when I read Richard Osmer’s 1997 article, “The Case for Catechism.” A link to the essay can be found in this Truth in Two. [Below] A catechism is a teaching program designed to train church people to address fundamental beliefs, which would lead them to think Christianly about all things. As Osmer says,
“To put it simply, you cannot think, speak or act unless you have something to think, speak or act with. Unless explicit attention is given to the acquisition of biblical and theological knowledge, the members of the church will not be capable of using the faith, to interpret their lives or their world. They will employ concepts from other areas of life in which they do have competence.”
So important do I view Catechismal instruction, that in the 1990’s I wrote a catechism for my children which has been used in various venues since then. Christian parents and churches should commit themselves to the next generation by training them in biblical knowledge. The apostle Paul said it best in Colossians 1:28,
“Jesus we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.”
For Truth in Two, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, president of the Comenius Institute, personally seeking truth wherever it’s found.
The Case for Catechism – Religion Online (religion-online.org)