Literate Christians.

What does that mean? 

Throughout the Bible we read the message to teach the ways of God to the people of God.  We are to teach our children the ways of God and to show them the way of life. 

One example is Deuteronomy 11:19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.  But lest we think this is only about teaching our children the faith, we must first know it ourselves.

Those who followed Jesus knew him as teacher and asked to learn from him (prayer and parables, for example).  They called him Rabbi and sought to learn the ways of God’s Kingdom. He spent a great deal of time teaching the disciples what God was doing and how they were to participate in the gospel message.

When we look our own faith journey; do we see ourselves as students?  How well do we try to learn the deeper, meatier aspects of the faith?  How committed are we to teaching our children the deep spiritual life in Christ through our own example and faith?

Christianity is more than Sunday morning, right doctrine, and quoting Bible verses.  It is a way of living in the world, a way of making decisions about life.  Christianity is more than reciting the creeds.  We must understand what we say and know why what we say is important.  There is substantial depth to our faith that many of us never dive into.  Prayer, sacraments, atonement, sanctification, the communion of saints, and the Holy Trinity are all extremely important to finding a faith that challenges and comforts.

Christian formation is more than teaching our children good Biblical morals. It is teaching them how to love God with all their heart, mind, strength, and soul and how to love neighbor as self.  It is teaching them to pray as Jesus prayed, and how to live as Easter people.  It is about teaching them where God is in the darkest moments of life, and how to depend on Grace - not only to survive, but grow.

If we want this for our children, we must seek it for ourselves.

Join one of the many Bible studies or a discussion group.  Listen to the sermon and discuss it with another adult.  Show your children how important Christian maturity is by using the resources Trinity has made available – online and on campus.

We are meant to be literate Christians – being able to talk with comfort and confidence about the faith that is in us.  Trinity wants to help you be a literate Christian.

Peace,

Father Gerry+