Gerhard Groote, founder of the Christian education movement who taught the reformers
The allure of celebrity has infiltrated the modern church. The goal of many congregations is to become a megachurch, making the pastor a celebrity within the larger Christian community. Celebrities created by the media, through sports, television, movies, or other pop culture media, often parade before audiences to demonstrate how cool it is to be a “Christian.” The result of celebrity dependency is at best a superficial conversion and, tragically often, disappointment, as the celebrity returns to a life of depravity after their brief experiment in “Christian living.”
There is nothing inherently wrong with celebrity. Billy Graham achieved celebrity status by maintaining his integrity and standing firm in his service as an evangelist. The pastor who achieves celebrity status through church growth may, in fact, develop deep spiritual strength in his church members. The singer, actor, or sports phenomenon can have a deep understanding of the truths of the Scriptures, and can live the Christian life as described in the Scriptures. Celebrity is not the necessary ingredient to effect the culture of the kingdom of God.
Case in point; How many of you have ever heard of the 14th century character Gerhard Groote? The son of wealth in Deventer, in the Netherlands, Gerhard Groote rejected corruption in the church and spent his youth in the debauchery of the world. It wasn’t until he recovered his health after a serious illness at the age of 34 that he began to dedicate his life to Christ. In the ten years from his conversion to his death, Gerhard Groote built a foundation that shook the world and affected all of Western civilization.
Groote emphasized themes such as penance, contempt for this world, the final judgment, and love for heaven. Although influenced by Christian mysticism, Groote followed a more practical path in teaching it. Along with his emphasis on Bible study and meditation, Groote taught the need to confess Christ before the world in word and deed. It is through conformity to the life of Christ that Biblical doctrine would change the world. While he rejected the medieval doctrine of justification by works, he taught that works were a necessary result of regeneration.
It was not enough for Groote to invest his life in teaching the milk of his time to live a reformed life. Groote taught leaders to teach leaders. After his death, Groote’s followers started Sisterhood Houses and houses for The Sisters of Common Life to teach the principles of imitating the life of Christ to all believers, whatever their vocation in life. ; farmer, merchant, ecclesiastical or any other activity. Dozens of these houses were founded in the Netherlands and Germany. Luther and Calvin received some early education in the Brotherhood House tradition because second-, third-, and fourth-generation followers of the Brotherhood continued to build schools for the training of youth in practical Christian living.
The modern Christian school and home education movements are heirs to the Gerhard Groote tradition. You can have a profound and lasting effect on your culture by instilling in your children and youth in the church the idea of imitating Christ in every area of life. This generational approach to Christian education is the best way to fulfill the great commission mandate to teach all nations.