We spend a good deal of time talking with kids. We spoke with a fifth-grader named Katrina about her learning experiences at church:

Thom: How long have you been going to church?

Katrina: Since I was a baby.

Thom: How do you like your classes at church?

Katrina: They’re too much like school.

Thom: How’s that?

Katrina: They’re boring.

Thom: How so?

Katrina: We have to sit in chairs and memorize stuff.

Thom: What have you memorized?

Katrina: Verses from the Bible. We get a piece of candy if we come with verses memorized.

Thom: Can you say the last verse you got some candy for?

Katrina: I don’t remember.

Thom: Do you remember any of them?

Katrina: No, I’m sorry.

Thom: Well, can you remember what any of them meant?

Katrina: No. I guess I have a bad memory.

Thom: Katrina, can you tell me what it takes for a person to get to heaven?

Katrina: Study hard.

Sadly, we have ample evidence that our people (of all ages) aren’t learning much in church. What they are learning isn’t always what we think we’re teaching. Katrina’s plan of salvation (“study hard”) is but one example.

We’re all victims of an outdated educational system. No one has intentionally sabotaged learning in the church. Ineffective teaching methods have been passed down from generation to generation. And we’ve continued to use them—all with good intentions.

The overriding goal of education in the church has been rusted over by expectations that few have bothered to stop to evaluate. And these expectations have frequently become the misguided barometers and goals of the church’s educational efforts. Some examples:

“The kids keep coming.” Is a body in a chair the net result of Christian education? Are we no more than a convenient drop-off zone for parents on their way to Sunday morning doughnuts? Attendance is fine. But attendance doesn’t ensure learning. Attendance is not the goal.

“Our classrooms are well-disciplined and quiet.” Silence and passivity in a classroom usually indicate a lack of learning. Passive kids or adults sitting quietly while the teacher imparts his or her knowledge may make the teacher feel great, but are we certain anyone is learning anything? Discipline and silence are not the goal.

“We’re using this theologically correct material.” Good theology is good. But good medicine matters only if someone swallows it and is healed. Our educational efforts must be both theologically sound and result in actual life-changing learning. Theologically correct curriculum is not the goal.

“The children are busy the whole hour.” Were they punching out those little stickers to paste on the take-home papers? Were they toiling over another set of Bible word-scrambles? Is our goal merely to fill time—or to encourage life-changing learning? Busyness is not the goal.

“We believe in strong Bible teaching.” But do you care about strong Bible learning? If a political candidate makes fiery speeches but receives no votes, what is gained? Teaching is not the goal.

“We teach our denomination’s history and foundations.” That’s fine, unless your students fail to learn the bigger lesson. What would it matter if a Boy Scout knew the date when the scouting movement began, who started it, and where it originated if he didn’t learn to always “be prepared” in real life? Sectarian historical knowledge is not the goal.

“Our people are earning lots of incentive awards.” Many churches dish out rewards for attendance, bringing visitors, completing assignments, and memorizing verses. But that’s teaching people to focus on the grade rather than the process of real learning. Winning stickers, stars, and bribes is not the goal.

While the church’s keepers wander in the wilderness of forgotten goals, millions of children, youth, and adults wallow in spiritual malnourishment. The body of Christ has the best of intentions, but time, tradition, and busyness have dulled our senses and crippled our better judgment.

So what’s the answer? We’ll explore that in next month’s issue of The Inside Track. In the meantime, spend some time thinking about how many of the above examples fit your church. Are your teachers equipped to encourage real spiritual growth in their students, or just to do a reasonable job of filling an hour? We’ve talked about what the goal isn’t, but what would you say your church’s educational goal is?

Adapted from Why Nobody Learns Much of Anything at Church: And How to Fix It (Group Publishing, 2004.) Thom and Joani Schultz are pioneers in re-thinking church ministries. Thom is president of Group Publishing, and Joani is Group’s chief creative officer.

Copyright © 2004, Group Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved