Subscribe to feedI recently listened to two pastors discuss the problem of having Sunday school members who want to teach biblical doctrine. “Sunday school is not the place for doctrine!” said the pastors “it is the place where new believers and non-Christians can learn the basics of the faith!”
I wanted to ask these pastors to give me the people that wanted doctrine in Sunday school.
Sunday school ought to be a great training ground for all in the church, not just new believers. It is where new believers can receive milk and those old in the faith can receive meat. My great frustration with Sunday school, particularly Southern Baptist Sunday school, is that so much of what we do is watered down to insubstantial blandness.
Our people need anchors that run deep in the Word, but few are trained to do more than splash the surface. Our people need training in doctrine and theology, but to many these are foul words.
Spurgeon’s view on the subject is revealed by a comment in his book Lectures to my Students:
We have occasionally had applications at which, perhaps, you would be amazed, from men who are evidently fluent enough, and who answer all our questions very well, except those upon their doctrinal views, to which repeatedly we have had this answer: ‘Mr. So-and-so is prepared to receive the doctrines of the College whatever they may be!’ In all such cases we never deliberate a moment; the instantaneous negative is given. I mention it, because it illustrates our conviction that men are not called to the ministry who have no knowledge and no definite belief. When young fellows say that they have not made up their minds upon theology, they ought to go back to the Sunday-school until they have.
Note the last line. Spurgeon expects men to be trained in theology through Sunday school. Theology is not for those advanced in the faith; theology is not just for theologians and pastors; theology is for everyone in the church. We believe God to be the author of truth. Once we begin to explore God’s truth we begin to form our theology. To hold no theology is to hold no knowledge of God’s truth. The better our theology, the better our knowledge of God and the truth he has revealed.
Sunday school teachers, give your people theology! Let the rivers run deep and the food be rich and substantial. Dive into the Word of God and emerge with precious jewels of truth to spread among those given to your care.
