This week, about 9.1 million children in England will be starting a new school year. The majority will be wearing a familiar uniform and returning to a familiar building – but there will still be the nerves associated with the challenges ahead. Others will be ‘starting’ school – maybe heading to reception for the first time or moving up to middle school or secondary school or sixth-form college, or just moving schools for another reason.
About a million of them will attend one of the 4,630 Church of England schools.
In honour of this, and aware some adults will also be facing new challenges, the Church of England published a prayer ‘For the first day at work or school’
For the first day at work or school
Loving God, let me be strong today
as I meet new people in new places.
Make me brave when I am worried,
show me how to learn from everyone around me,
and help me to do my very best. Amen.
It is true that this time the social media team avoided the much-maligned retro graphics they used for the prayer they published on results day, but the content of the prayer is much worse. At least the prayer for those receiving their results sought wisdom from heaven and named Jesus Christ as God’s son.
Anglicans will be familiar with the phrase lex orandi lex credendi (the law of prayer is the law of belief) . So, it is important that the content of all prayers published by the church, are examined, not just those to do with "Love and Faith". Sadly, if you take away the address to the “Loving God”, and the “Amen”, this 'Prayer for the first day at work or school', is the equivalent of a completely secular, motivational ‘good luck card’
“Let me be strong today as I meet new people in new places”
That's a nice idea, but it is expressed as a wish rather than a prayer. There is no mention of God's presence in this new situation, no confidence that God is the one who gives strength and no encouragement to rely on God when weak. Strangely, without reference to these truths about God, the prayer ends up being pastorally quite cruel, as it offers no comfort to those who cannot muster up their own strength to face the classroom.
Think how different the prayer would have been if those writing it had meditated for a while on these scriptures and based their words on them:
Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! 1 Chronicles 16:11
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26
It is also worth pondering on whether a bunch of individuals all trying to be as strong as they can would really be a godly outcome? It is not difficult to imagine the chaos that might cause in a classroom or workplace. Again, if the authors of this prayer had allowed their words to be shaped by the Scriptures they may have chosen any one of the Fruit of the Spirit in the place of 'strength'
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
"Make me brave when I am worried,"
According to this prayer, fears and anxieties are to be met with ‘bravery’. There is no hint of how God might take away anxiety, instead, because it seems that trust in God’s sovereign power and presence cannot be mentioned, all that is left is the call to be ‘brave’.
How much kinder would it have been to point those starting a new school year or a new job situation to the Word of God?
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:6
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” - Hebrews 13:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:7
“… show me how to learn from everyone around me,”
It might be that this part of the prayer is seeking godly humility, but it gives the impression that true wisdom is found by listening to "everyone around". Surely this couldn't be further from the teaching of the bible? Some may be wise but others will be fools. Some of what can be learned is good, other parts could be evil. How much better it would be to pray that young people would have both the humility to listen to others and the discernment to seek God’s will and God’s ways.
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. Proverbs 12:15
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12-2
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.Therefore do not become partners with them. Ephesians 5:6-7
“... and help me to do my very best”
There is, of course, much in the bible that encourages hard work and perseverance, but in this context, the prayer leaves no room for failure or for grace. There is, therefore, a danger that such a sentiment points away from the gospel and creates a temptation to self-righteousness or despair.
To put it another way - "If a million children were to hear this prayer read at their CofE school this week, what will they learn about God and his desires for their lives?"
This prayer suggests that that a loving God wants them to be strong and brave, to listen to the world around them and to work hard. The question is whether that is what God really wants.
It is perhaps unsurprising that this prayer lacks any truly Christian content when the Church of England’s “Vision for Education” is equally misguided. Explaining why the Church of England is committed to education it states:
The God of all creation is concerned with everything related to education – wisdom, truth and knowledge; the learning and teaching of understanding, virtues and habits that shape individuals, families and communities; the worth of each person; what is passed on from one generation to another; in whom and what people trust; what people hope for; and more. All things and all people are intrinsically related to Jesus Christ, and that sets the horizon within which he is to be understood and followed.
Exactly what it means to ‘set a horizon’ is anyone’s guess; it might be the limit or boundary; it could be the focus or end point. The later chapter on "Our Christian Inspiration" uses the term in all these ways. However, the real problem with this understanding of learning is that it appears to turn the teaching of the bible on its head.
Gone is the wisdom of Ecclesiastes:
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Gone is the wisdom of Paul:
My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. - Colossians 2:2-3
For such wisdom would suggest that we need to fear God and know Christ if we are to best understand the world in which we live and the Church of England’s Education department thinks it knows better. In their view, “everything related to education” sets the boundary, or the focus, of how Jesus Christ himself, “is to be understood and followed.” In other words it is our learning that will help us understand Christ, not Christ who will help us understand our learning.
No wonder the Church of England is in trouble.
For those wanting to pray for those starting, or returning to, school, here are a few other options:
The much better prayer that the Church of England chose not to publish from their own resources
O God, the strength of my life,
make known your will for me in this place:
help me to discover friends among strangers,
to meet opportunities and challenges eagerly,
and to do my daily tasks in your name.
Give me strength to overcome my worries,
and preserve me in your safekeeping,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
A prayer from the ACNA Book of Common Prayer 2019
Almighty God, by your gift alone we come to wisdom and true understanding: Look with favor, we pray, on our universities, colleges, and schools, that knowledge may be increased among us, and wholesome learning flourish and abound. Bless those who teach and those who learn; and grant that in humility of heart they may ever look to you, the fountain of all wisdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Or, for those who like a tune to go with their prayers, you could try this from Awesome Cutlery.
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