Paedo Adorans:

Homo sapiens. Thinking man. This is the Latin phrase used to describe and classify the human race. But does this description reflect a biblical way of thinking?

In his essay, “The Case against Western Civilization,” theologian James B. Jordan argues that man should be described, first and foremost, as homo adorans: worshipping man. Says Jordan: “Human beings are not, as the Greco-Roman tradition teaches, homo sapiens, ‘thinking man.’ Rather, we are homo adorans, ‘worshipping man,’ something the Bible teaches and which the older pagans had not yet forgotten. Sadly, the Greek assumption seems to underlie most Christian education. Worship is basically left outside, and if included at all, is not foundational. As a result, education winds up being contextualized along a Greek, ‘thinking man,’ model.”

 Of course, Jordan is not suggesting that learning to think and reason has no value, or that our worldly callings are time-fillers when not engaged in more “spiritual” activities such as worship. The problem arises when we treat worship as something extra tacked on to our regular lives. 

As Christians, we begin the week gathered as the body of Christ to offer the Lord our praise and worship, where we are strengthened and fed. Then we go out to continue our labors. Homo adorans reminds us of who we are and of the reason we can and should pursue our worldly callings with zeal and joy in service to the Lord.

This applies to our children as well. Jordan continues: “True education flows from worship and back to worship, because that is how the world really is. True education is not merely a matter of learning the descriptions of reality but is fundamentally a matter of learning to move as God has directed. It is song and dance. We start by singing around His table. We move out into the world, learning things and doing things, and then we return as more mature singers to gather at His table. In this way, all that we do and all that we learn are liturgically contextualized, set in a context of ever increasingly wonderful sabbaths week by week and year by year and age after age.”

 The education of our children should reflect the fact that they, too, are homo adorans. Their training should be preparation not only for their future callings, but to be kings and priests in the kingdom of God. To this end, our children should be immersed in the stories and language of the Bible. Encourage them to participate, as much as they’re able, in worship. And teach them to sing.

 Not everyone has a natural ability or inclination toward music. But despite our individual callings and gifts, every believer is called to worship the Lord with music. Here is a list of scriptures that call us to sing to the Lord. In addition to many other benefits, musical training helps equip our children to be more faithful worshippers. 

 “Wait, a minute,” you might be saying, “Are you suggesting that God won’t be honored unless the congregation sounds like a professional choir? Won’t the Lord be pleased if we simply make a joyful noise?”

Absolutely! At the same time, we want to offer our very best to Him. Just as God is honored when his people gather for worship in an ugly warehouse, that doesn’t mean congregations shouldn’t seek worship facilities that reflect the beauty and grandeur of the Lord, if they are able. God’s people can be fed through the words of an uneducated minister, but that doesn’t mean the minister should neglect study and preparation for his sermons. So, too, with music.

Let’s assume you are convinced of the value of musical training for your children. How do you put it into practice? Piano lessons and participation in a school, church, or community choir are two good ways to do this. You can also do simple exercises at home with your children, even if you aren’t confident in your own musical skills. Below are a few suggestions; most of these can be done even with preschool-aged children:

 Play two notes on the piano and ask them whether the second note was higher or lower than the first. Start with fairly large intervals, then move to smaller intervals.

• Sing or play a single pitch and ask them to hum it.
• Sing or play two or three random pitches–ask them hum them back.
• Sing (using “la”) or play a familiar melody (hymn, nursery rhyme song, “Happy Birthday to You,” etc.) one phrase at a time, and have them sing it back to you.
• Do the above with a melody unfamiliar to them.
• Clap a brief rhythm; ask them to clap it back to you.
• Enjoy listening to good music together (vocal and/or instrumental) at home or in the car

Your child may not end up being another Bach or a Mozart. But hopefully he will be able to say (or sing!) along with the Psalmist: “Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones; praise is becoming to the upright. Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy.”

 –– Angie Brennan encourages young Schola students to love what is good, true, and beautiful through music, art, and language in grades 2 and 3.