LEAven Blog

I imagine that just seeing the word “choice” brings to your mind a wide variety of topics, debates, experiences, and, perhaps, emotions.  Our culture has been inundated with competing definitions, interpretations, policies, political strategies, and applications of a concept that is very simple.  Educators in Lutheran ministries are faced every day with the need to understand, synthesize, and respond to the worldly practices of choice while basing our ministries on what God has instructed us about what choice really means.

As Christians, we can take immediate comfort and assurance that God has already chosen us as His people, loved and protected as we follow Him and accept His call to serve in our respective ministry roles.  God’s choice has been made, and we are in positions of joyfully responding; yet, in our sinful world, we are constantly confronted with challenges, decisions, and diversions.  I am often reminded of the Old Testament admonition to the people of Israel when faced with other gods and temptations to serve other masters.  His final choice was “but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  (Joshua 24:15b ESV)

“Choice” has become a favorite concept among many in the education field as the idea of parents selecting the best option for their children’s education gains momentum.  It is also an issue that is controversial and often politically charged, with implications affecting finances, labor, and equity.  We are blessed in the USA to have a democratic system that protects the right to choose but begs the definition of how that right plays out in a variety of applications.

The word “choice” is widely applied in our world today to any time a person believes they have the “right” to decide.  It regularly comes up in court cases, social topics related to identity, and issues related to life … from conception to death.  When worldly interpretations begin to clash with God’s design for His people, we are already in trouble.  This pops up in Christian education daily.  How can we make God-pleasing decisions in school, in our homes, and in our communities?  The very purpose of Lutheran schools can be defined in part by Psalm 25:12:  “Who, then, are those who fear the LORD? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.”

Having just come off another national election here in the USA, I am reminded about the privilege we have to be able to exercise our right and responsibility as citizens to vote.  Collectively, decisions are made at several levels which will affect an entire nation and have global implications for four years.  Regardless of a person’s preferences for candidates, each has the right to participate in the process and to speak out.  We ALL have the additional opportunity to pray that choices made will be God-pleasing.

On a day-to-day basis, Lutheran educators face the challenges of the world with confidence that God will guide our choices if we first look to Him for direction and not be taken in by the patterns and changes around us.  I like Paul’s words in Romans 12:2: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  With this assurance, we can carry out our ministries knowing that God is always in control and pass it along to those whom we teach.