I reread the comments of my confirmation posts, and I realized almost all of them were exceptions to the rule rather than the rules themselves. Admittedly, those exceptions test the rule, but no one bothered to argue that what I pointed out is the way things should be. Many of you seem to think that I think the pastor has no role in the instruction of our youth. Our pastors are the pastors of our congregations, from the newly baptized infant to the oldest member. First and foremost, our pastors should encourage parents to take their responsibilities seriously. If that doesn't work, then they need to step in.

The parents should be teaching the children because that's the way it was meant to be. Honestly, if you all want to continue to argue all the maybees and things that might happen, go ahead. Before you think of the next excuse, remember this: instructing our youth isn't about teaching them how to live. Instructing our youth is about teaching them how to die.