Certificate of Christian Education Chris Parker
How the Bible shapes Christian education Certificate of Christian Education
biblically grounded
biblically grounded culturally engaging academically rigorous
interpret the
1. What do we know to be true? 2. The importance of story 3. The problem of a fragmented Bible 4. Story layers within the big picture 5. The unifying story of the gospel 6. This is not always easy: some examples 7. Cultural stories and the true story 8. The true story and Christian education
In it were many word pictures that proved he must die to pay the penalty for sin.
In it were many pictures that promised he would rise again.
Jesus followers were amazed as they listened and as they read. Before, they had said, we have seen the Lord!
But now they could read God s holy book and say, even here, especially here, we have seen the Lord!
Jesus taught them carefully because he knew the day was coming when people would no longer see him with their eyes.
They would read of him instead.
He knew God s holy book would help others to believe and say, We have seen the Lord! And they too would be full of Joy.
Do you see the Lord? Painted on the pages of Israel's hard and happy history is the big picture of God s forever king.
1. What do we know to be true?
God has revealed himself
revelation 1. creation 2. word of God 3. word incarnate
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
Bible is inspired Bible has authority
so.. if inspired if authoritative then
it will be to interpret the Bible
this is what we find
your turn Does this concern you? If not why not?
interpretation doesn't have authority
no end point to interpretation community
so, how do we interpret well?
2. The importance of story
about God, not us!
story of God and His: creation people kingdom gospel
love story a story of redemptive love
rules facts devotions guides for life religious insights not even a book of short stories
a rich, diverse
true story
interpret well
interpret well consider story before we consider ourselves
what where how
1. What does the text mean in its initial context, in the THERE and THEN of its place within biblical history and what was the authors intent? 2. Where does it fit in the big picture, unfolding story of scripture? 3. How do I now respond to this revelation from God, now that I have answered the first two questions?
3. The problem of a fragmented Bible
what happens if I don t ask what and where
fragmented Bible
dropout method of biblical interpretation
Genesis biblical passage context Revelation cultural context me
e.g. individualism Genesis biblical passage context Revelation cultural context me
The Bible? That would be under self-help. Cartoon by Peter Steiner, New Yorker, 6 July 1998, p. 33
Citizens in a pluralistic, secular culture have trouble knowing what to make of [the Bible]. If they pay any attention to it at all, they treat it as a consumer product, one more therapeutic option for rootless selves engaged in an endless quest for self-invention and selfimprovement. Not surprisingly, this approach does not yield a very satisfactory reading of the Bible, for the Bible is not, in fact, about self-help ; it is about God s action to rescue a lost and broken world. Davis and Hays
ancient words true story of life and the universe not modern self-help
e.g. legalism Genesis biblical passage context Revelation cultural context me
Do not lie. Do not deceive one another. Leviticus 19:11
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. Matthew 5:17
Love does no harm to its neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law. Romans 13:10
The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbour as yourself." Galatians 5:14
what about the10?
what about the world looking on?
your turn Does this concern you? If not why not?
ancient words true story of life and the universe not book of legislation
e.g. prosperityism Genesis biblical passage context Revelation cultural context me
your turn How could the dropout method result in a theology of a promise of physical prosperity?
If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Numbers 14:8
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3
ancient words true story of life and the universe not guide to material prosperity
drop out method the word of God to interpret the word of God to
drop out method fragmentation
If we allow the Bible to become fragmented, it is in danger of being absorbed into whatever other story is shaping our culture, and it will thus cease to shape our lives as it should. Idolatry has twisted the dominant cultural story of the secular Western world. If as believers we allow this story (rather than the Bible) to become the foundation of our thought and action, then our lives will manifest not the truths of Scripture, but the lies of an idolatrous culture. Hence, the unity of Scripture is no minor matter: a fragmented Bible may actually produce theologically orthodox, morally upright, warmly pious idol worshippers! (Mike Goheen, Drama of Scripture)
4. Story layers within the big picture
closer look the biblical story story layers
story layers layer 4: mystery = God only knows! layer 3: meta = unifying grand narrative of the gospel layer 2: middle = history of God s people layer 1: mini = Sunday School stories layer 0:micro = grammar, syntax, genre, etc
meta (grand) view unifying narrative gospel middle view history ground view stories
where are you strongest?
5. The unifying story of the gospel
meta story
unified and pivots around the gospel
culminating event redemptive love story
pivot point history
fulfilment Old Testament
defining truth people of God
God s ultimate purpose in creation
And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:25-27)
Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. (Luke 24:44-45)
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. (John 5: 39-40)
the Bible is about many things creation, languages, people, sin, writing, death, countries, oceans, geography, love, marriage, food, priests, travel, rivers, birds, deserts, heaven, angles, fish, Satan, ships, animals, demons, children, jails, sickness, temples, mountains, fruit, kings, letters, wisdom, prophets, poverty, people, alcohol, churches, Pharisees, buildings, wars, empires, murder, sex, money, economics, governments etc
every character every event every story
Prophecy, law, narrative, wisdom saying, or apocalyptic vision are all related to the coming of Jesus Christ in some discernible way.
the overriding single purpose of the written word of God is to reveal the person and work of Jesus as the Christ
gospel prophecy and expectation Holy Spirit enthronement ascension resurrection death life birth Creation Fall Israel Church New Creation Jesus expected return 21st Century
your turn In your own words what do you believe to be the main purpose of the story of the Bible?
6. This is not always easy: some examples
Prophecy, law, narrative, wisdom saying, or apocalyptic vision are all related to the coming of Jesus Christ in some discernible way.
solution prayer solution community solution immersion
example one
The Book of Leviticus A seemingly random, inane set of rules and regulations for an ancient nation and alien culture and a different religion.
don t apply to us but still relevant to us
slavery behind them promised land in front of them system of living
Be holy because I the Lord your God am holy. Leviticus 19:2
classification holy clean unclean status could change
symbolically teaches 3 truths: 1. What is holy can not come into contact with what is unclean. 2. Sin defiles and makes unclean. Death represents sin. Loss of bodily fluids (life) represents death. 3. The effects of sin and death can be reversed by the spilling of sacrificial blood and the payment of a life.
sacrificial system priestly system set aside what they symbolised has been perfectly accomplished
don t apply to us but still relevant to us
example two
super powers super baldman
super baldman bald headed believers have special powers
From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. "Go on up, you baldhead!" they said. "Go on up, you baldhead!" He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. And he went on to Mount Carmel and from there returned to Samaria. 2 Kings 2:23-25
ignore context allegorise or moralise or just ignore story altogether
allegorise
moralise
Bethel = house of God important place throughout scripture Jacob s ladder
Eden Babel Bethel Jesus He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." John 1:51
Bethel house of idolatry families of Bethel have turned their back on God and the covenant
covenant promised blessings and curses to Israel
If you remain hostile toward me and refuse to listen to me, I will multiply your afflictions seven times over, as your sins deserve. I will send wild animals against you, and they will rob you of your children.. Leviticus 26:21-22
these boys are from the families of Bethel
the people of Bethel would not have been surprised
Elisha called God to be faithful to his covenant
Elisha Jesus
Jesus is the new Elisha but Jesus is the greater Elisha
God is faithful to his covenant curse idolatry Jesus takes the curse onto himself
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." Galatians 3:13
moral teaching allegory
your turn What might be some of the key points in interpreting the Jonah in light of the big picture?
7. Cultural stories and the true story
many cultural stories
the Bible is a story the story
tension
western worldview creed I believe in the ability and sovereignty of man.
I believe that man, apart from God, can solve the problems of our world and build a better one.
I believe in science almighty.
I believe in the power of human reason, disciplined by the scientific method to understand, control and shape our world.
I believe in a technological and a rational society, it s only begotten sons, which have the power to renew our world.
I believe in the spirit of progress and that a science based technology and a rationally organised society will enable me to realise my ultimate human goal; freedom, justice, happiness, and the comforts of material abundance.
To this I commit myself with all my time, energy and money. Amen
western ratio nistic (modernity) 3 problems dualism biblical stor d hope in Christ Jesus
redeem the tension
8. The true story and Christian education
everything is shaped by some story
education has been shaped
Christians understand all aspects of life fully when the gospel to shapes their understanding Paul - the gospel even shapes our thoughts!
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5
the gospel shapes the character of teachers but we must not stop there
the gospel must shape perspectives maths, music or design in secondary school integral curriculum in the middle school literacy and numeracy in the primary school biblical studies throughout the school
the gospel must shape rationales outcomes activities pedagogy resources assessment
the gospel must shape employment enrolment motivation discipline uniform
solution prayer solution community solution immersion
transparency parents students
teacher = story teller which story are you going to tell? as you shape the young minds and hearts in your classes
Chris Parker cparker@nice.edu.au