Teach for understanding’s sake
April 4, 2006
As a sometimes struggling adult Bible study leader, I generally agree with what Bill Tammeus writes from Kansas City.
Kansas City Star | 04/01/2006 | Teach for understanding’s sake
Authority in our culture has lost much of its appeal and credibility. If either of these teachers had presumed simply to announce what we, as Presbyterians, are obliged to believe about these subjects, the reception would have been — how to say this? — chilly.
We Presbyterians don’t do anger too well, but we can be top cabin at chilly. We’re not called the “Frozen Chosen” for nothing.
It is certainly not wise for a teacher in church to push what “we Presbyterians are obliged to believe,” but doctrine is important. The martyrs thought it more important than their lives, and they were no dummies.
The search for truth always involves hard questions, but at the end of the day the discussion leader has the obligation to stand forthrightly for truth as it is revealed in the Bible and to say why he or she so believes. Ultimately, the Holy Spirit is the Convincer, but the leader should beware of grieving the Spirit by shoddy preparation and fuzzy thinking.
Dave, getting a little nervous about teaching from the Bible.
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