I Used To Teach Sunday School

I am cleaning out my hard drives and I came across a letter I had written to my church leadership back in 2008.  I was a Sunday School teacher at the time and the Sunday School staff was going through a morning of training by a para-church organization that was dedicated to child evangelism.  I was taken aback at how aggressive the training was to get children to make professions of faith.

Reading the letter, I am struck by how obvious it is that my perspectives were going to eventually lead me out of the faith.  One simply does not find a home in conservative evangelicalism if you believe that questions and choice should be part of one's path.

It is also plain in the letter that indoctrination and, dare I say, grooming are a set component of children's ministry in such churches... which is why they are forever accusing others of the behavior.  Projection, projection, projection.

Anyway, if you are interested, here is the letter.

Dear Friends,

Let me first say that I am excited about everything we are doing with the kids in Adventure Canyon.  Mary Lee and I are grateful to be teaching the kindergarten munchkins! 

I have some concerns about what was presented this morning by the Children’s Evangelism group.  I am reluctant to bring up anything because I know, being in leadership, you are juggling enough items without me adding to them.  I know the decisions made by the leadership at Adventure Canyon are done in the best interests of our children.

As followers of Jesus, we would like to see everyone become followers of Jesus.  I believe the circumstances in which one begins that journey can be crucial to the direction it takes after the event.  When it comes to children, we have to be careful with our practices.  

This morning we heard about how one would lead a child to Christ and what that might look like.  The presentation made me uneasy.  I know, for myself, that I have no intention of leading Kathryn and Jacob down that path anytime soon.  I feel they are too young to make such a decision.  In the same way, I would not expect my 9 or 6 year old to make a decision about which career they would choose or whom they shall marry.  They could “make” such a decision, but I do not feel it would be a competent or cognizant one. I want my children to fall in love with Jesus, and as tempting as it might be for me to put them on that road, I must let them make the decision.

I know that others would hold to a different view in that regard, but that is my point.  There will be many views amongst parents about the how, why, where, and when such a thing as a decision for Christ would happen with a child.  I choose to model my Christian practices and discuss with my children why I feel the way I do concerning God.  I want them to use that as one of many perspectives when they begin to make independent steps toward God.  It would be more than a little troubling to me if an enthusiastic Sunday school teacher overstepped my intentions.  

It was brought up this morning that a teacher might feel led to lead an entire class in a sinner’s prayer.  Consider that event from an outsider’s perspective.  My family has visited our local ward on a number of occasions.  I know that my kids may hear stories from the BoM or about Joseph Smith while there in Sunday school.  I accept that.  However, I would feel completely violated if my children were to come back from Sunday school having been baptized into the Mormon faith!

I feel that we did not get a chance to process or talk about what was said this morning.  There were a dozen or so folks present and there may have been many varied interpretations of what was presented.  The spectrum could be from someone like me who would be reluctant to walk a child through a sinner’s prayer, to someone who may have intentions of a ten for ten conversion ratio by next week.

I am asking that, perhaps, we need more time as a teaching staff to talk about this before we jump in.

Happily serving the children in Adventure Canyon,

Andrew Hackman

Thanksgiving

Been thinking a lot about what I have to be thankful for as Thanksgiving approaches.

There is this scene in a Dracula mini-series that comes to mind. It is the year 2015 and Dracula has been asleep for centuries.  Upon waking, the first home he encounters is a small bungalow.  Inside he finds a woman very unhappy with her lot in life.  She has let her home fall into disrepair in her depression.  Where she sees nothing of worth, he walks through her home in fascination.  Clean water flows from the tap. A refrigerator to store food.  A shower that produces hot water in an instant.  A toilet... in the home!

She miserably shrugs off his wonderment.  He finally looks at her and says, "In my time, princes in palaces could not have imagined the luxuries afforded to you."

I was listening to a podcast yesterday where the guest was talking about how our discontent as a society stems from the comparisons that are forever presented to us on social media.  We are always being reminded of what we do not have.

So, this week I am going to remind myself to focus on the laundry list of "luxuries afforded" to me.  I'll take some time to acknowledge the wonder of a hot shower.