Teaching methods

Matthew 13:10-16

          I belong to a teachers union. I honestly am confounded by why that is so, but someone decided it long ago. People of certain professions belong to certain unions. I suppose you could argue that I teach the residents on their way to being physicians. I certainly drum certain principles into their heads at the risk of  being the butt of jokes at times I suppose. In any event, due to my position in this union I am keenly aware of some of the debates that have gone on and continue to be raised over teaching methods and teaching philosophies. It often seems as varied and as polarized as politics. But what is the best teaching method? When you want to get your message across, what do you do?

           I know one of the age old methods is discipline. Hard core disciple, rules and rubrics. Perhaps this was what the ten commandments are perceived to be. Certainly many religions seem to think the answer to salvation is in rules and rubrics. I think Jesus laid that concept to rest when railing so vehemently against the Pharisees.

           Another method is stories of which I would say parables are a subset.  It seems to me wholesale portions of Holy Scripture are stories that illustrate a truth that God wants us to know. Not that he penned the texts or took over the hand of a human but humans, divinely inspired wrote down stories, truths and history of man and his relationship with his creator and  lover. This explains why some of Hebrew scripture is not so flattering or contains some pretty graphic stories. Decidedly un-godlike. None the less, truths are contained in the passages that we must discern and learn from if we are to be closer to God and attain our true capabilities and God's full intent in creating us. The beauty of stories and parables is that they can seem shalllow and straightforward but they can also have considerable depth of meaning, depending on the ear and maturity of the person. In this way, scripture is incredibly awesome and why we can get different messages from the passage over our lifespan. 

         Of course there is a another method of teaching which is the antithesis of the disciple I mentioned before, it is love and by example. Our whole world is a vision of God by example if we open our eyes. From every plant, every animal, ecosystems, tectonic movements and down to every molecule and meson, it reveals the wonders of God. This teaching method also includes that age old expression 'they will know we are Christians by our love'.  That is the best example of anything, our love and our actions.

          If we say we love someone and then turn around and berate them or hurt them there is no real love there. Our professions are carried out in our actions. Sitting prayerfully in church and then mowing your neighbor down in the parking lot trying to 'escape' quickly shows a decided lack of carrying out one's faith. 

       On the positive side, how many people have been convinced gays are not the evil, degenerate monsters some people claim they are by actually knowing a decent loving gay man or woman?  If you see Adam and Steve living as good neighbors, being caring and committed, members of the community and comitted to each other, you might change your mind about gay people quicker than by any edict or law. 

      We teach (convert) hearts to God by our love. We learn best by example. What example we give is a true test of our faith and personal integrity.  What teaching method would you argue for?

           

Then the disciples came and asked him, ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?’ He answered, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. The reason I speak to them in parables is that “seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.” With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says:
“You will indeed listen, but never understand,
   and you will indeed look, but never perceive.
For this people’s heart has grown dull,
   and their ears are hard of hearing,
     and they have shut their eyes;
     so that they might not look with their eyes,
   and listen with their ears,
and understand with their heart and turn—
   and I would heal them.”
But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.