Legacy of Discipleship, Sept/Oct 2007 Support Group Leaders Memo

Theologian Bo Giertz wrote:  “We see, therefore, how right our fathers were when they used to say that a disciple of Jesus is one who uses God’s Word and prayer to come to faith or to be preserved in the faith.”

In sharing this, Rev. Giertz refers to Church Fathers.  Since he wasn’t specific, it made us wonder if Polycarp was one of the Church Fathers that he was referring to.

Taught by St. John, the longest surviving apostle, Polycarp’s writings are some of the earliest Christian writings that are available to us today.  Polycarp references the New Testament writings around 100 times evidencing his familiarity with the ideations expressed in them.  Compare that to Ignatius whose writings also survived, but contain one-third the number of Biblical quotations.

Polycarp was a strong opponent to the Gnostic heresies of his day providing leadership as Bishop of Smyrna, a church persecuted and a recipient of a letter from John as recorded in Revelation.

Lessons in leadership can be drawn from the life of Polycarp in that he not only was a student who became a teacher, but he faithfully represented the Christian faith and was martyred defending it.  There are three men whom he mentored that became known for their defense of the Christian faith mostly through their writings.  Melito of Sardis was a prolific Christian writer whose writings were preserved in the form of lists by Jerome and Eusebius, unfortunately most of his writing did not survive.  Polycrates of Ephesus is best known for his writing that sought to establish the proper date to celebrate Easter.  Perhaps the best known student of Polycarp was Irenaeus who eventually was a pastor in Lyon, France (Gaul at that time).   Irenaeus listened to Polycarp’s sermons as a boy and later wrote extensively about the Gospels and refuting Gnostic heresy.

These four men are written about by Jerome, Eusebius and Ussher.  It is interesting to read about them as they lived during the time of Christian persecution by the Roman Empire.  Their beliefs could very well have cost them their lives, and for some, it did.  Their faith is inspirational.

Those new to homeschooling often ask us why we must remain vigilante in supporting our parental rights to home educate our children.  We encourage them to read Chris Klicka’s book, Home School Heroes, because it vividly describes the heroes of the last few decades who were willing to sacrifice so much for their belief that parents should be allowed to home educate their children.  It also portrays why we must remain watchful.

As long time homeschool leaders “graduate” (along with their children) into another life of service, the reins of leadership pass from one set of hands to another.  It is essential that we first know that the new leaders have been preserved in the faith by being steeped in His Word.  Secondly, we need to make it a part of our discipleship to pass along the spirit of watchful care so that parental freedoms do not erode.  The sacrifices of those who have gone before must be shared with a new generation lest they not know of the courage that brought us to this day.

Dr. Raymond Moore left a legacy of thoughtful, encouraged parents who, bolstered by his writings, seminars and life of faith, have the courage to educate their children differently.  (And Dr. Brian Ray’s research is providing evidence that it empirically works!)  Dr. Moore’s discipleship of countless parents and his bravery in helping to secure homeschool freedoms left a profound message to those who now take up the charge in his place.

It is not just homeschool circles where the torch is being passed.  Faith-filled men of courage like Dr. D. James Kennedy inspired multitudes of people with his, as Kevin Swanson put it, “distinctly Christian worldview” and his “willingness to stand against the tide of humanism, and bring Biblical law into the areas of education, law, politics, and economics.”

Who will bear the standard for the next generation?  Are the leaders in training for your group well prepared to lead, and teach the next set of leaders to follow them?  Will they be infused enough with the Word to withstand the current and coming persecution?  Let us earnestly pray so!

Mike and Paula Anderson

Proverbs 3:5-7

Copyright 2007 Mike and Paula Anderson, all rights reserved

9:39 AM - Oct. 11, 2007 - post comment