Friday: Further Thought ~ Education and Redemption
Further Thought:
The great gospel commission (Matt: 28:18-20) set in motion a remarkable religious movement throughout the whole world.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
Here a few apostles or missionaries (the two words mean the same – “those who are sent”) went throughout the whole world and gathered up students, made them into disciples, called them to believe in Jesus, baptized them, and proceeded to teach them all the things Jesus has commanded them. The picture is that of Christian converts from around the world, representing different cultures and speaking different languages, coming out of the waters of baptism only to enter a school and begin their education. This is not surprising, for they still had much to learn.
The reason Christians are always learning is not just intellectual curiosity or an eagerness to master knowledge, but rather that the Christian life and faith permeates every corner of daily life. There is so much to learn. Because of that, the letters of the New Testament contain both the proclamation about Jesus (sometimes called by the New Testament word kerygma [keh-RIG-ma]) and education in all the things Christians have to learn (sometimes called by the New Testament word didache [did-ah-KAY]). A good example of proclamation is seen in 1 Corinthians 2:2, whereas education begins in 1 Corinthians 4 and continues on and off in the rest of the letter. What is it Christians have to learn?
Work, rest, social issues, community relations, church and worship, economics, philanthropy, relations with the authorities, counseling, family systems, marriage relations and child rearing, food and its preparation, clothing, even getting old and preparing for the end of life, both one’s personal life and life in this world. To be a Christian means to learn something about all these things and more. Understanding them does not come naturally. It has to be learned.
Discussion Questions:
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The title of this week’s lesson should be a challenging one. “Education and Redemption” should surely be a great combination of ideas. Mostly we have taken the title to be about our own education and redemption. The issue for me is that it an introspective approach. I don’t deny its importance. How we come to believe in salvation is something we should all think about deeply. But it should not be in the sense that we have got it right and therefore can graduate from Redemption 101.
The big challenge is that we are in fact educators and have the responsibility of sharing the good news of salvation to others. That is in fact our post-graduate work. And, further, we have to share that with folk who simply do not have the language to understand what we are saying. I know that I come back to this theme often and I make no excuses for that. If we do not make a concerted effort in sharing the Gospel, what is the point of hoarding the knowledge to ourselves?
I studied computer science for a dozen or more years part-time. One of the really significant things about this study was that all the time I was studying computer science I was teaching it as well. What I learned had relevance to what I was teaching. Not necessarily in syllabus detail but in intent and principle, I could take what I learned and apply it to not only what I taught, but the way I taught it. it was, in essence, on the job training. One of the benefits of this whole experience was that students perceived me, not as someone who had completed their education a long time ago, but as a fellow student learning with them.
In our Christian educative journey, we are quite possibly the most effective when we appear as fellow learners with those who we are sharing the gospel.
The amazing thing to me about teaching is that the teacher becomes a student- seeking, learning, formalizing, and internalizing new material for the express purpose of sharing it! That to me is what each Christian does...they are representatives/teachers of the gospel good news.
Amen brother, I am told that we will understand redemtion enough to be able to tell God's people who never fell about it, and what it means to us. A privilege we will have for eternity. And we will have the capacity to remember all the details. Since we are going to do that in heaven, we ought to at least be able to sumerize it for someone here.
I discovered this wonderful advice:
Counsels to Parents, Teachers and Students by EG White
Teachers may learn a lesson from the experience of the farmer who placed the food for his sheep in a crib so high that the young of the flock could not reach it. Some teachers present the truth to their students in a similar manner. They place the crib so high that those whom they teach cannot reach the food. They forget that the students have only a small part of the opportunity that they have had to gain a knowledge of God. They are too high up on the ladder to reach down a helping hand, warm with tenderness and love and deep, earnest interest. Let them step down and by their manner say to the students: CT 435.3
“I will no longer stand so far above you. Let us climb together, and we will see what can be gained by a united study of the Scriptures. Christ is the One who imparts all knowledge. Let us work together in an earnest effort to learn from God how to understand the truths of His word, and how to place these truths before others in their beauty and simplicity." CT 436.1
“Let us study together. I have nothing that you cannot receive if you open your mind to Christ's teachings. The Bible is your guidebook and my guidebook. By asking questions you may suggest ideas that are new to me. Various ways of expressing the truth we are studying will bring light into our class. If any explanation of the word differs from your previous understanding, do not hesitate to state your views of the subject. Light will shine upon us as in the meekness and lowliness of Christ we study together.” CT 436.2
This is the way in which the schools of the prophets were conducted. Time was given in the class for a faithful study of the thoughts presented. Hearts were warmed, and the voice of praise and thanksgiving was heard. The sacred gospel was humanized, as in the teachings of Christ. Much was accomplished for both teachers and students. Time was given for each one to partake of the heavenly repast—to study the truths presented and then to add that which he had received from God. CT 436.3
When the right spirit is cherished by teachers and students, they will have special grace from God, enough for each, enough for all, enough continually and forever. As the teacher learns from the divine Teacher, the Bible becomes a lesson book such as God designed it to be, giving clear conceptions to those who strive to grasp its grand and glorious truths. As the students search for truth as for hidden treasure, their minds are enriched with the highest of all knowledge. There is shed into the mind a flood of light on the problem of human life. They see how it is possible for men and women to be sanctified through a belief of the truth as it is in Jesus. CT 437.1
Dear Shirley - again, to share your choice of Ellen White's writings with us is very much appreciated. Her writing style is simple and yet so spiritually profound as it reveales the Wisdom of the Spirit of God.
I can testify to the truthfulness of her depiction of the spirit-filled teacher interacting with the student:
Again, I thank you for providing this opportunity for us to be edified by the Spirit of Truth.
Unfortunately, when it comes to the theme of education, it is nowhere mentioned, what it means to have a christlike character. The intentions of the Holy Scriptures is to educate and teach us about the necessity of a transformed character, which will reflect the character of Jesus. The Sabbath school lessons should place more emphasis on teaching about the character of Jesus and be explained in all detail. What does it mean to reflect the character of Jesus in a daily practical way in our relationship with one another: love one another, do no evil to one another, no gossip, no slander, or destroy another`s reputation and so on. In this context I would like to recommend the book: "What shall I do to inherit eternal life" by Margaret Davis.
Hmmm. I am not sure what part of the lesson discussion you have read Ewald, but as someone who reads not only the lesson but also nearly every comment written in this discussion I find that there is a considerable emphasis on "the transformed character which will reflect the character of Christ".
Hello Ewald - If I understand you correctly, you would have preferred for the 'Education' part of the lesson to place more emphasis on the "necessity of a transformed character" and provide more 'down to earth' examples of the application of the "Character of Jesus".
Yes, I agree, it is very important that all of us realize on a personal level that Christ Jesus' character reflects from us to others when expressed in our personal life and our relationship with others - imperfect and perfecting, growing and maturing all the time!
Thank you for sharing your recommendation of the book to help with this.
Dear Brigitte, it is wonderfull to know that you have understood the message, that I am trying to bring across to our sisters and brothers ! Thank you and spread the message. GOD bless you.