Things We Used To Know - You Are Created With Purpose

 There are things we used to know. 

When I say we, I don't necessarily mean me and you. I am intending this in the larger sense of us, as a people. The people of our community, of our area, of our country. This means that when I additionally say used to know, I am talking about something that our ancestors knew and we no longer know.

One of the many sources of my assessment of our lack of knowledge and our ancestors actual knowledge is in the textbooks that they would give to their children. The number one textbook that was given to children in this country is The New England Primer. This textbook was the number one selling book in the American colonies and eventually in these United States. It was based on an older Primary School Textbook from England, which means ... to put this bluntly... it was around for a really long time. It was literally around - and used - for generations. It was used, until it was replaced by men like Horace Mann. 

In the very center of this children's reader was the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Here is a screenshot of that page in the Primer. (And yes, sometimes their "s" will look like an "f".)

So, there is my introduction. Now I would like to point out something that we used to know. I would like to do this over several posts, introducing one element from this (essentially) first grade reader.

Something We Used To Know

So the first question in this childhood catechism is "What is the chief end of man?"  What an astounding question!  Before we even consider the answer to this question, consider first that they were asking this question of children!  Speaking to and talking with children about their purpose is something that we used to know. We used to know that it was important to tell a child what their purpose was. Their chief, or primary, purpose. We didn't just talk to children about candy, games, and fun, no. We spoke with them about purpose. we knew that was important to do.

The answer might seem like it has two parts... that man has two chief ends. But that would not make sense to the question, because the question is about man's chief end (singular), and the answer doesn't say anything like, "...and the second is like unto it..." So, we must assume that the writers of this catechism were answering what man's one chief end was, but it is answered by demonstrating two aspects of that chief end. On one side of the coin is the glorification of God. On the other side of that same chief end coin is humanity's enjoyment of that same God. 

This makes sense if one understands both glory and enjoyment. People rarely glory in something that they do not enjoy and most enjoyment produces some form of glorification. This is true whether it is the new recipe of taco at the local Mexican restaurant or the beholding of a waterfall in nature or a man's expression when his bride enters through the church doors at the back of the sanctuary. 

Let's reclaim what we used to know. Ask your children today what their main purpose is, but don't be satisfied with idolatrous answers. Their main purpose is not to play, to watch Bluey, to build with Legos, or to even be nice to their neighbors or obey their parents. Their Chief End is the glorification and enjoyment of their God. They need to know this just as much as you do.