Hello All,
(Just a general disclaimer that I must insert here at the beginning. I am but a lay person, like most of you. And these weekly “thoughts” are but my own. Not the definitive word on this or any topic. Just my own conclusions derived from my own study and faith in God. The greatest hope I have for these weekly “thoughts” is to have them be a springboard for further study on your part. Not to be a weekly treatise to be blindly accepted. So, please read them with this intent, this motive in mind).
This week’s lesson from “The Adult Sabbath School Guide” is titled “The Church and Education”. As I am just writing this before our Thanksgiving holiday, I will keep this brief. Absolutely, our church (visible) is to be a place of education. Our visible church must be a place that explains God. We of all people must be the ones that know Him the best, explain Him to others the best, and live our lives as models of Him the best. So in that regard we need to remember how Jesus “taught” and educate in the same way. Remember….
• Education is not indoctrination. Jesus did not indoctrinate. He educated. He asked questions and raised his “pupils” awareness. He did preach imperiously or assume an air of “holier than Thou” (even though He was “Thou”). Education is allowing the pupils to make-up their own minds. To come to conclusions themselves. To have the joy of discovery themselves.
• Education respects the individual. Never trampling on their “individuality, power to think and to do” (Education pg. 17).
• And that the church visible does not necessarily comprise the entire church invisible. God’s true church, the church invisible, is comprised of so many. Many from the other denominations and faiths… or outside of any organized faith. Only when Jesus returns will his true church (invisible) become visible. Then, the truth will be visible. People can be in the visible church, but may not be God’s true church.
So as we seek to educate, let us not be arrogant nor assume. Everyone is precious in His sight and we must treat them as such. Precious. Important. And respect them. Information is not what the world needs. It needs to be educated… and loved in the process. Else all is lost.
With love to you all. May your Thanksgiving be truly thankful… and blessed.
Jim