- SRE lessons are supposed to be provided by Schools.
- This is not state funded - we pay for it ourselves.
- We live in a secular country and so we have no 'right' to compel the reluctant to learn about Jesus Christ.
- If they want their children to learn about Islam, Humanism, Bahai or whatever let them provide the teachers and organise it themselves.
- We have a great opportunity with those who are interested.
- General apathy in Australian society means that churches are likely to be the only organisations (or at least one of the few) to be able to deliver SRE on a regular basis.
- The only way to communicate to a Post-Modern society is to preach to it. People will not accept our presuppositions. There is no view from nowhere (as far as they are concerned); but that means that everyone should have a fair-go at communicating 'their truth'.
So, let's support our SRE teachers in the fantastic job they do. Don't waste time on comparative religion or other contemporary sensibilities. Simply teach those who want to come the gospel. The level playing field means that it is just our story and our truth. However, in so doing all these young people might just meet with Jesus Christ who is the way, the life and THE truth.
Let's pray for those who go into Petersham, Lewisham and Summer Hill Public Schools, and those who go to Dulwich Hill High School. What a great job they do - thank God for them!
5 comments:
Hi John, thanks for the nice summary. I'm not sure about your last point "The only way to communicate to a Post-Modern society is to preach to it." I think your point relates to the nature of the teaching we provide in the classroom and I agree with this, but I wouldn't want SRE teachers to overlook the powerful impact their lives as well, the way they love and show concern for the children they teach. Our daughter Nicole had two wonderful SRE teachers who had a big influence on her early faith. In both cases they combined a wonderful ability to teach with a deep love and concern for the children that showed itself in contact out of class, birthday cards, special events outside SRE etc. I'd hope that this too would be something that with set Christian religious education teachers apart as well, and that it would be evident not just to children but to teachers and parents. It was in our family where we were all touched by their words and their lives.
Too true Trevor.
My point about 'preaching' to pomo culture was about attitude and not technique. We too often assume that preaching only includes a didactic monologue.
Instead my definition of preaching would involve all that you say about the examples of our lives. (It is not less than direct proclamation ... but it is more than it!?)
Just thought I'd leave a comment on this browsing through! I know an atheist family, good friends of mine whose son became born again in an SRE class. 7 years old. He is incredible, loves the Word, reads it for HOURS (I've seen it) and learns all the scriptures etc. I've never seen anything like it! Such an anointing on his young life! So these are such important classes!
Also...I'd say, from experience, the best way to reach a post modern society is through love, and through letting them experience the power of God. This I have seen. New Agers want to EXPERIENCE a real and powerful God, and we serve a real and powerful God. I've seen incredible miracles of healing, prophetic words and dream interpretations (Joseph was a dream interpreter) used to reach hundreds of lost New agers and a post modern society for Jesus! I've done it! BIG BIG GOD!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the comment Ursula - although it does raise a question ... What happened in that SRE class? Did your friend's son become born again because of dream interpretation or because the volunteers taught him the gospel in word and deed?
Cathy (my wife) came across Isaac (our son) sitting at the kitchen table the other morning reading the Bible. He was trying to locate the verse he had been taught in kids’ church the other day. Hallelujah! OK, not learned in SRE, but it might just as easily have been. We do indeed walk by faith, not sight. We plant the seed and trust that God will water it, and that it will one day become a tall, strong tree. It’s so important to keep on teaching our children about Jesus, and SRE is such an important part of that. If we don’t actually teach it ourselves, let’s make sure we support and encourage those who do.
Greg T
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