"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it" (ESV).

"Point your kids in the right direction— when they're old they won't be lost" (MSG).

"Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it" (NLT).

"Teach your children right from wrong, and when they are grown they will still do right" (CEV).

Instead of the usual extended Bible reading, you get four versions of a verse familiar to Christian educators. Which version do you like best?

This verse often serves as a foundation or slogan for Lutheran schools and other children’s ministries. Coming from Proverbs, it seems especially wise as it guides and maybe justifies our institution’s existence. At the very least, it suggests rules, a naturally occurring (and often disputed) phenomenon of educational programs.

True: We need rules. When God had only one, the first two people broke it. The rule was for their good, but they didn’t think so. (Sound familiar?) Then God didn’t publish His rules. People did whatever they wanted. God later explained that the Law was written on the hearts of all people. But they didn’t read much. (Sound familiar?) The world almost didn’t survive the consequences. Later God gave ten rules. And yes, they were carved in stone. No negotiating. No loophole searches. No obedience. Yes, it’s a familiar situation yet today.

False: We can obey all God’s rules. So why on Earth (and perhaps elsewhere) did God make rules? While some find great delight in breaking rules, God didn’t provide them as toys. Nor did He provide training that we wouldn’t/couldn’t follow just to derail us on our journey to heaven. (That was Satan’s engineering.) Our ability to obey has nothing to do with the goodness of God’s rules. God trains us in the way to go. Even as it’s impossible to obey the 65 m.p.h. speed limit with a big Mack tailgating you and threatening to turn you into Interstate hamburger, it doesn’t cancel the authority behind the speed-limit rule.

Now one line of logic goes like this: If students can’t conform to the training we provide, why waste our efforts? Besides, wasn’t Solomon overly optimistic about how training the young translates into the behavior of the old? Didn’t he watch the news?

Sin remains tenacious, pernicious, and often way too delicious. Maybe the best we can do is ignore sin or attempt a positive spin on each revolution against God.

True: We’re in danger of misappropriating Proverbs 22:6.

God’s Proverbs indeed qualify as Law. The Law may control lives for awhile—even a long while—but it cannot change hearts. Only the Gospel has that power.

True: The proverbial way to go, the powerful training we can provide, the training that changes lives is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Forgiveness—earned and taught and practiced by the Savior is the training that lasts a lifetime (which is VERY LONG when you consider eternity). So read Proverbs 22:6 again, this time with Gospel eyes:

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it" (ESV).

"Point your kids in the right direction— when they're old they won't be lost" (MSG).

"Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it" (NLT).

"Teach your children right from wrong, and when they are grown they will still do right" (CEV).

Jesus did what nobody else could do. He obeyed, He sacrificed, He saved, and He trained. Following the Law is good; living in the Gospel is better. This is the true way to go.