Soon, children in our community will be returning to school if they have not already done so. Hopefully, we have many challenges behind us as regards Covid-19 and the necessary, but problematic, online classes that ensued for our students and parents alike. I feel certain our teachers are collectively grateful to teach in person as well once again.

Sociologists will, no doubt, pour over the data associated with the drastic transformations we encountered in 2020 including the educational impact that may have occurred because of fast changing paradigms in educational delivery methods.

What is true is that these types of interruptions may happen again and again and sooner than we expect. If any number of possible scenarios become a clear and present danger to us, we may face even more restrictive societal mandates in the name of safety, security, and surety.

From a religious training point of view, a clear and present danger already exists. Regardless of one’s belief or trust in ecclesiastical institutions, one thing is certain; religious principles of right and wrong are in freefall as basic mores and ethics have all but ceased to be taught.

With the ever-increasing absence of families in the local church, the tenets and timeless teachings of religious doctrines have become the victim of indifference and apathy having been replaced by a relativistic philosophy that teaches little about altruism, generosity, and personal responsibility.

The product of such thinking is the tribalism of groups against one another rather than the “love your neighbor as yourself” religious school of thought and teaching. It is a sad commentary on our society that we elevate self over service to others and it begins educationally in homes and churches.

Perhaps, you are balking at my premise. If so, I might ask what other explanation can there be for the open hostility we find in social media interactions, the bullying of others whose ideas are different than ours, the demand to defund police departments, the desecration of the American flag and National Anthem, and the ensuing wholesale destruction of people’s character for simply asking reasonable questions or seeking a dialogue before rubber-stamping the newest infringement upon speech or rights? Is it not reasonable to question if the absence of religious training, and the demonization of such practices, is not the source of societal malady?

If you are in the camp that religion is “the opiate of the masses” and therefore is not only irrelevant, but a systemic threat to new and idealistic utopias just around the corner absent interference from people of faith, then I guess, have at it. But, if you believe that we must, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it,” then join me this week in church and let us work together to achieve these results. Keep teaching; it matters.

Kent Simmons is the pastor of Canyon Community Church in Kingman. He can be reached at kent@canyon-church.com.