AS LONG AS religious education conceives of the Christian faith as a teaching about life—good teaching about life, even the best teaching about life—those who propagate it will remain as guides in Christ, but will never become fathers in Christ. They have reduced the Christian faith to the Word become word—a philosophy or a moralism. Until it becomes the Word become flesh, it is less than the gospel. In that case Christianity is a philosophy of life, a little more reasonable and better adapted to life than other philosophies. It cannot create life; it can only guide what has been created. If Christianity is a moralism directing life into moral channels, a little more moral and more consistently clear than other religions, then again it is less than the gospel. It takes its place among other moralisms—the highest place, for it is the highest morality, as a guide to life, but it cannot create life; it cannot be a father in Christ.
For this reason our churches are filled with people who have come up through religious education who lack the consciousness of Life. They have not been spiritually recreated, nor can they spiritually recreate. Religious education, on the whole, has been a guide in Christ, but it has failed to be a father in Christ.
Somewhere along the way the knowledge about Jesus must turn to a knowledge of Jesus—a knowledge of Him as personal Savior and Lord. This comes through repentance, through surrender, through receiving Christ into the heart and enthroning Him there as Lord by faith. The moment that is done, Life begins within. Then religious education can become a guide in Christ. Otherwise it becomes salvation by process, instead of salvation by a Person. It will produce those who are wistful, but not witnesses. They are always on the way, but not on the way.
O Lord and Master of my heart and life, I thank Thee that when I know Thee I know Life Eternal as a present possession and not merely as a future longing. I enter into Life, for Life has entered into me. I thank Thee, thank Thee. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: My religious education will educate me beyond religion to a saving relationship to Jesus.
