Comments on: unChristian: Post 2

By: Chris Clinchard

Chris Clinchard — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:25:01 +0000

This has been implied in some of the answers preceding mine…I would say what is “missing” from our curriculum/teaching is a focus on DOING–”My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s POWER” (1 Cor. 2:4)–We need to guide kids in making the leap from “learning” to “doing.” We teachers love to TALK…and we love for kids to LISTEN…but it’s time to start challenging them to ACT on what they hear in God’s Word!

By: Prescshool Teacher

Prescshool Teacher — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 11:24:09 +0000

Very Interesting! God Bless!

By: Larry Shallenberger

Larry Shallenberger — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:43:42 +0000

Keith, It’s obviously a matter of addition and subtraction.

We need to subtract frameworks shackle scriptures to a system. 252 isn’t the only curriculum with a strong organizing filter. I’ve experienced occasional discomfort in my own history as a curriculum writer for another company.

Additions would include becoming more missional in our teaching and praxis.

By: Keith Johnson

Keith Johnson — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:33:45 +0000

Not so fast! You state “I’m becoming increasing convinced that our habit of reducing Biblical narratives into instructive moral dramas is clouding the gospel.” This brought to my mind the current practice of 252 Basic to go beyond the text into character qualities. You support Reggie (don’t we all) but fail to critique this example (in my mind) of “reducing bible narratives”. Is it not an example that you discuss? What other examples do this? We are bound on the one hand by the constraints of childhood to developmentally appropriate reductions that I think we would all agree with (keeping the text instructive and helpful rather than, say, exegeting Jephtha’s harsh vow).

To be practical, we should not say what we should ADD to our curriculum but indeed what is missing! What in my mind is missing is the one-on-one approach (personal rather than a crowd or audience approach) or even an avoidance of practical application that is relevant to their world and even accommodates a child’s questions.

My observations of teachers is that they TELL children more than GUIDE children. They TALK more than they LISTEN. They teach LESSONS and often don’t teach CHILDREN. By doing this they amplify their anxiety that the truth they are relying on is not a relaxed and ascendant life, but one that they must argue for.

By: Larry Shallenberger

Larry Shallenberger — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:41:29 +0000

Here’s a question for all: What needs to be added to our curriculum to combat unChristain faith?

By: Larry Shallenberger

Larry Shallenberger — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:39:47 +0000

I would say that that even though I’m not lining up to purchase the 252 curriculum that there is much to be commended in the Orange Movement. I just watched the Orange DVD from last year and was impressed and challenged.

By: Keith Johnson

Keith Johnson — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:35:02 +0000

I re-read the “ladder” in 2 Peter and fully agree with it’s appropriateness for effectiveness and productivity as a Christian.

What I take odds with is the “Character Qualities” that Reggie is pushing: Initiative? These don’t separate us and make us peculiar people but merely reinforce the Christian as some sort of noble man, even a great character. It is our RELATIONSHIP with Christ that makes us a peculiar people and a winsome witness. This is not nit picking, but even Peter (or his amenuensis) stated qualities that were in Christ Jesus, our model of the noble life! Character qualities are simplifications that reduce our life to a very bland and often misguided attempt to look “godly” and not have the heart and mind of Christ Jesus.

By: Keith Johnson

Keith Johnson — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:22:00 +0000

Good point, and balance, on the whole, is often a good thing, or an example of the fallacy “of the golden mean.” Families create close bonds by means other than “flash card” truisms or wise sayings which frankly are lofty platitudes of oversimplification. Do you ever wonder about Proverbs being written by Solomon–great family pastor wouldn’t you say? Or Poor Richard’s Almanac written by the abandoned husband Benjamin Franklin (not to mention his foray’s in French salon culture on several levels). Knowing and Doing are always at odds, but families that seek to preserve the relationship would do well to avoid the over-simplification that Reggie provides

By: Ken

Ken — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:21:27 +0000

Sounds like a book I will need to read.

By: Larry Shallenberger

Larry Shallenberger — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:00:42 +0000

There’s a balance, Keith.

Character lessons ARE found in scripture. In 2 Peter we find a “character ladder” not unlike what was found in 1st Century Greek Culture. Paul lists the “fruit of the Spirit.” The authors of Proverbs used moral aphorisms.

unChristian doesn’t dismiss wisdom lit. or even address the issue of Character Based Curriculum. (Reggie Joyner makes a great contribution in the book).

I think Kinnaman might caution that as we present a character trait to a family that we need to be mindful that we don’t perfectly practice it, and that we need to be authentic about it.

There’s also the issue of being viewed as ’sheltered’… Kinnaman would caution us against intellectually oversimpifying our presentation of Christianity.