Pedagogy is definitely a weak spot in modern Lutheranism. Modern theories of education, derived from anti-Christian enlightenment presuppositions, rule the day in most schools. In some places, catechesis is perfunctory at best. And perhaps most destructive, parents--especially fathers--do not lead and teach their children as they ought, and in many cases, not at all.
Obviously we cannot blame poor pedagogy alone for the horrific retention rate in modern Lutheranism. But it certainly is a deserving candidate for much of it. Lutheranism, and the Missouri Synod in particular, used to be held up as a shining example of the intentional training, thorough indoctrination, and shaping by the Word of God which parents and pastors are to give to their children.
