Sunday School in Lieu of Worship?

Sometimes it seems a refresher is in order. No, not talking about minimum wage this time.

The Third Commandment.

Thou shalt sanctify the holy-day.

What does this mean?–Answer.

We should fear and love God that we may not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred, and gladly hear and learn it.

–Explanation to the Third Commandment, Luther’s Small Catechism

One hears and memorizes this in a Lutheran church. If we’re lucky we don’t just hear it during the two years of formal catechesis. If we are really lucky one hears it from the head of the household, and I’m convicted of my hypocrisy here.

Given this, I don’t understand why a congregation or its pastor would want to summarily send children to a Sunday School during worship.

There are rationales: The Gospel is not any stronger proclaimed in worship as it is coming out of a Sunday School teacher. Kids are more likely to understand in Sunday School. Adults need the quiet to hear the pastor.

The adult-hearing issue is easily fixed. A pocket radio with earbuds (green M&M optional) can be had for $2. The transmitter can run from $70 to $600 (link dead) and can handle everyone who needs help. A pastor might also broadcast into the neighborhood with the larger transmitter and serendipitously serve people he had not anticipated.

Sunday School is good. Different groups ask different questions and need different answers. For the younger children crafts can be done to emphasize points. Yet to do this in lieu of Confession, Absolution, Introit or Psalm, Kyrie, Gloria in Excelsis, Alleluia, the Creed, Offertory, the Lord’s Prayer, etc., and oh yes, the readings from the Bible itself? Surely the Gospel is effective in either case, but where does one get more contact with the Word? Even if one doesn’t follow ancient liturgy, I would hope that there would be more Word in worship and hymns than can be found in craft instructions. If faith comes by hearing, isn’t there more opportunity for faith with more hearing?

My three-year-olds are good singers. My older one can sing both verses to “Jesus Loves Me”. The second verse, of course, contains the line, “Jesus loves me, He who died, heaven’s gates to open wide.”

Does my three-year-old know what “died” or “heaven” really means? I don’t think so; she’s quite smart, so maybe. Should I try to soften the song in terms she might understand? No, I would probably mess up the song and the meaning completely. Is the line any less right because she doesn’t understand it? No. When she gets old enough she’ll either ask the questions or infer it from other conversation. Until then it’s trapped in her brain to be repeated whenever we swing, play in the pool, or whatever. When she needs it, she’ll have it. Comprehension in faith matters is overrated. We don’t fully understand the Trinity. We don’t understand how the sacraments work within our senses. We don’t comprehend how Christ’s death and resurrection makes satisfaction for our sins. We merely trust his Word.

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:13-14)

If we send our children away from worship, how are we not hindering them? If Sunday School delivers more Gospel than one’s worship, then something is wrong with the worship. Children learn things by rote that they don’t “understand”. If they don’t go to worship until sixth grade and then are made to go, they will indeed despise what should be regarded as normal.

Similar Posts:

• Contemporary Worship in Newark
• The Divine Service is the True "Children's Church"
• Children Are Included In Divine Service