Pioneer Christian Monthly - September, 1986

Christian Education - So What?
Joan Drost

It was at a youth workshop where I heard a dedicated instructor say that as we prepare our lessons or courses, we should write in bold letters at the top of the page, "SO WHAP" The implication was, at the end of the session, would the group be so uninspired, or would the material be so irrelevant that they would say, "So what?" That sounds harsh, but how many in our churches do you think have said this? I presume many more than we wish to admit. The question has haunted me ever since, and I find myself saying those two words "So what?" - many times as I prepare for the various tasks in the church. So what? Indeed! So what can the group do with this after the lesson is over? So what difference will this make in the short or long term of peoples' lives? And, yes, will they shrug their shoulders in the end and say, "So what?" If s a thought- provoking question, isn't it?

When we think of all the expenditure of time, energy and human resources that go into a Christian education program: all the many words spoken, and all the money spent, it behooves us to look again at what we are doing or proposing to do and ask, not cynically but concernedly, "So what?" What good will this do in the discipline of our people? What are we or are we not accomplishing? Is the program necessary? Does it meet the new challenges of the daSO Does it meet any needs or simply fill time? So what is Christian education all about anyway?

Thomas Groome reminds us that Christian education is an activity which we do deliberately and intentionally for the kingdom of God, faith and human freedom. That is a tall order, and reminds us that the intentionality of our work does away with the mentality which says, "We have leaders for all the groups; the rest will fall into place automatically". Psalm 78: 5-8 looks at the activity of Christian education in another way. Verse 5 gives us the charge: Teach! (He commanded our fathers to teach the children.) Verses 6-7 give us the challenge (that the next generation might know, that they should set their hope in God, that they should not forget the works of God, that they should keep His commandments). Verse 8 gives us the goal of change (not to be like our fathers: stubborn, rebellious, not steadfast, not faithful to God). The charge and challenge to be instrumental in changing peoples' lives, to make disciples, is an awesome one, requiring the deliberate and intentional work and prayer of all those involved in teaching and leading.

Therefore, we must have the courage, as we begin this new educational season, to answer the question "So what?" with brutal honesty. Do we have the strength, if necessary, to make some radical decisions to change, to add or to delete from our present program? Do we dare to begin to reconstruct something which has been with us for so long a time that we hardly take time to evaluate its significance? These are all difficult steps to take, and most of us would rather not take them, for they are time-consuming and can be painful.

Revive us again, 0 Holy Spirit, so that our programs may be reviewed prayerfully and skillfully, that they may be revamped according to Your direction, so that renewal may take place. May disciples, young and old, those that teach and those that are taught, not ask apathetically "So what?", but "What's next, Lord?"

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