THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD - PART 449

In my travels this week, I happened upon a symposium publication that provided a platform for the Free Discussion of Issues in the Field of Religion and their Bearing on Education. It was published in 1968. One particular article written by Robert E. Karsten and entitled, "A New Pedagogy for Theological Education" caught my attention. The specific article itself is written from the perspective that it is pedagogy that needs to be reconsidered and not necessarily theology if post secondary education students are to be attracted to religious studies within these respective institutions. This is not a road that I will be travelling down today. But there is an underlying theme in the article that has merit. This theme is particularly insightful for new believers who have asked Jesus into their life and are seeking understanding for their Christian walk.

If we consider that "a body of knowledge should be structured so that it can be most readily grasped by the learner" -- a notion established by Jerome S. Bruner in "Toward a Theory of Instruction" -- we realize that the New Testament  was written in such a way that both the educated and less educated can grasp Jesus' good news message.

Think of the many parables within the New Testament, the Beautide teachings (also known as the Sermon on the Mount) and the timeless images that present key insights and knowledge for our life. Similarly, the symbolism within the analogies and story line representations that are full of wonder, "of authority, promise and fulfillment" that are inherent in Jesus' speech. Indeed, Jesus' language was "picturesque and immediate" but it was also a language that each and every one of us can understand. Simple and yet powerful!

Karsten wrote that "They know God in that [people] are able to talk about Him, about their knowledge of Him, and about what this means in terms of ethics and morality. With more or less sophistication, they use philosophical and theological categories to talk about God." But as Karsten points out, the understanding of God does not end there.

"To have seen the Lord was, in some sense, to have known God, and to have known all that need be known of God. At the same time, from the beginning, set forth a knowledge of God which, within its own sphere was adequate. It was assumed that the preacher has been in some sense a witness either to the Lord himself, or to those changes in people which were themselves revelatory and contained the knowledge of God for him .... There was no need for a witness to be a preacher or teacher in order to be authentically a believer, and to know God."

How true this is. We can all be believers by asking Jesus into our life. As the scriptures state, there is no mediator between God and man except Jesus. He is the way, the truth and the light. Jesus said in John 8, " I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life" -- everlasting life -- life abundant!

He who is of God hears the words of God. This is why it is so important to base our knowledge and understanding on the Word -- the gospel that Jesus so willingly gave us so that our lives can be attached to the Rock of Salvation - the Rock of Ages. Luke 6:46-49 states, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord' and not do what I tell you? Every one who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like. He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation upon rock, and when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it because it had been well built but he who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation, against which the stream broke and immediately it fell and the ruin of that house was great."

Come to Jesus today! Build your foundation on the rock by reading the New Testament for guidance and wisdom in your life. It doesn't matter where you start reading in the New Testament -- only that you do. Stand in the Offering Plate!