This spiritual training begins in infancy. Bringing the child to be baptized, teaching the child the simple truths of God's word, and providing leadership in the family's worship and prayer life are examples of how parents carry out such training. Just as the father led the way toward a specific destination on their bike trips, so God's word speaks of training 'in the way' the child should go. This early training has a specific purpose and goal for the child's future. It's not the child's choice to determine the path or way, for by nature the child's only inclination is to take the wrong path (Psalm 51:5; Romans 7:18). In planning an earthly bike trip the father might ask, 'Where would you like to go?' Such an invitation may make family members happy on a bike trip, but it will not serve the family well in spiritual matters. Christian education requires a more direct approach. This approach is outlined in God's Word and involves a path that leads from faith in Jesus as one's Savior to a life of service on earth and eternal bliss in heaven.

From our personal experience we know that individual members of a family may go biking by themselves or with friends. Occasionally, parents may ask their children to run errands on their bikes. To insure their child's safety on such excursions, parents often give gentle reminders of lessons learned during earlier training sessions. In the same way, God's design for Christian education establishes an approach in which parents provide opportunities for their children to grow in their faith life. It includes ongoing nurturing of the child's spiritual, emotional, physical, and intellectual development. Through this nurturing, parents guide their children in life-long learning by providing wholesome experiences and instilling an attitude of service to God and their fellowmen. Within this approach, the emphasis is on imparting knowledge that leads to Christian discipleship and heavenly citizenship. This instruction includes both the law and the gospel. It includes warnings as well as encouragement. Above all, it includes the comfort and assurance of God's forgiveness through Christ Jesus.

'But Mom, when will dad take the training wheels off?' Dad will eventually remove the training wheels from his youngster's bike. In their place, the parent's hand will gently support the child in this move toward independence. But the training won't end here, for as children grow and mature, the challenges and obstacles they will face on bike trips will require ongoing preparation, training, and encouragement. Likewise in life's journey, Christian education doesn't end at a given time, such as, confirmation. It's an ongoing process with different challenges and opportunities, but with the same heavenly destination as when the spiritual 'training wheels' were first attached.

Silas Born is the ELS Director of Christian Education. He teaches at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota.