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Pastoral Points
When babies or children are baptized, their parents and sponsors promise, among other things, to teach them the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments; to introduce them to the Holy Scriptures; and to provide for their instruction in the Christian faith.
The whole body of Christ promises to support parents in these efforts, as children are always baptized into the Christian community. So grandparents, aunts and uncles, friends and fellow church members need to think about these things as well, and consider how they can help.
Parents, you are your children’s most important teachers of the faith. How do you connect with your children on matters of faith? If you don’t already, perhaps you could set aside times for regular prayer — mealtime and bedtime prayers make good rituals that children appreciate. Young children are especially adept at the concrete thinking of both asking and thanking God for good things.
You could read Bible stories, perhaps from age-appropriate story Bibles if your children are quite young. You can talk together about the highs and lows of your day and how they relate to your faith. How can you see God in both the ups and the downs?
Parents, as important as you are, you are not alone in your efforts. The Holy Spirit is always at work in you, your children, and your family. And Christian education
is the work of the whole body of Christ. Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, confirmation classes, catechism and other organized opportunities for learning are important, and it takes the whole church to make them happen.
Another essential means by which children learn the faith is by worshiping. I know how hard it is to corral your kids into a pew, keep them halfway quiet, juggle all their stuff, deal with (hopefully rare) bad attitudes from others around you, and still manage to feel like you’re actually worshiping. But it is an immeasurably valuable gift — even when it doesn’t feel like it.
Children’s participation in the life of the church, including worship, is vital to their own formation as Christians, and it is also vital to our well-being as the body of Christ. We’re all in this together, and we all need to be fed by the promises of our God, who calls all of us — including the little children — to come to him.
Thanks to you parents for your faithful efforts! And thanks to all the supporters who help parents fulfill their calling!
