CE stands for Christian Exploration

"CE", in the vernacular of Christian churches, stands for Christian education. I don't know, but this term appeared some time over the decades I wasn't paying attention. It used to be called sunday school. I was in sunday school as a kid, but I remember my parents attending adult sunday school, also. So, for as long as I've known, sunday school is church school for kids and adults. I guess Christian education displaced the term "Sunday school" because it sounds more serious or more grown up, or maybe more to the point; and CE is what you say if your life is so busy you don't have time to say "Christian education," which is true for most people.

I'm a big fan of education. I hope I'm learning my entire life. I love learning about many things, and Christianity is a big focus area for me. However, I get hung up on the term "Christian education" because Christianity is not a subject in which you school yourself like you can for Spanish, math or biology. Although I accept that there can be some uncertainties in school subjects, generally you can expect to be taught the facts of Spanish, math, and biology the same as anyone else would learn studying the same thing in another school.

Christianity, however, is not a science, or even a study of facts. Christianity is a faith, and faith is a personal thing. Faith is not something everyone can be taught to practice like everyone else. It is not like learning to ride a bike, or to conjugate verbs, or how to do long division. To me, it's bothersome to think I should be educated in what my faith should be. I can't imagine sitting through a class that aims to teach me what I must do or think to be a Christian. Yet, that is exactly what Sunday school, or Christian education, has long aimed to do. Fine, if you're six years old; but as an adult I know life and God and my spirituality are anything but simple, and they do not lend themselves to textbook rendering or classroom instruction.

I prefer to use the term "Christian exploration" for "CE". I don't have to get the whole of Christendom to accept a yet newer term for the old "Suday school." I just keep using "CE", but change what is stands for to "Christian exploration."  To me, that is what CE is. It is an exploration of faith, of my spirituality, the Bible, God, Jesus, the stories, and the Christian life. It is from this exploration (and, yes, an education of things new to me) that I draw my faith. It is not, however, where I am taught, like naming the bones of the human skeleton, how to be a Christian.

I know for some this may be splitting hairs, as they say. Education is a form of exploration, and vice-versa. It's just that I cannot accept the notion of being taught what to think or believe or in what I must have faith. My faith is not mine and it is not faith if it does not derive from my own heart and soul and mind. My faith is from me, from my relationship with God and my connection with Jesus. These are, by definition, personal. I'm all open to learning new things, especially in the area of how to live my life more fully and happily and meaningfully. Just let me take from what I learn and determine for myself what I believe.

I am a Christian. You may be, too. We are probably, however, not at the same place on our respective journeys of faith, thinking and believing and understanding things exactly the same. I know I don't think and believe and understand the same as I did five years ago. My faith is always an evolution. It is a journey. It is an exploration. Happy learning!

in God's love,
Eric

Bring a Salad or Dessert to Church on Sunday!

Homecoming Lunch Sunday September 8

We are having lasagna and garlic bread for lunch, courtesy of the Activities Committee. YUM!

But what's lunch without dessert? For that matter what is lasagna without a salad? Bring your favorite salad or dessert to round out the meal. If you have any questions, call or email Jamie Strong.

Christian Education classes are cancelled for the day and we will eat at 11:00. I'll see you there.

--Julia