Esau Selling His Birthright (painting circa 1627 by Hendrick ter Brugghen) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Once again I taught a lesson to Jr. High students and they had no idea what I was talking about when I mentioned Jacob and Esau. Church kids who do not know the stories of the Bible. Where have we been? How have they made it this far with no knowledge of these things?
One problem is the onset of what I call “Christianity light”. The Bible is no longer a focal point of teaching in many churches (and families). I remember having to deal with students (and my kids) boredom at Bible stories they heard repeatedly. But, I would rather have that problem than this one.
Even then, students often failed to see the stories of the Bible, the people of the Bible, as real: real people with real emotions, real desperation, real problems, real joys, real lives. Jacob was a real person who became the father of the Israelites. Esau, his brother, sold his birthright for one bowl of stew! Have you ever ‘sold your birthright’ (lost something important) for a momentary pleasure of sin? Do you identify? How about the drama that went on in this house as parents favored a different twin and Momma helped Jacob take what wasn’t his.
bibles (Photo credit: fancycwabs)
These people are very real people, whose lives were often better than any soap opera. They are fascinating. Do we not see them as thus because they’re in the “Bible” so it must be a lesson or something? Have we become apathetic about the contents of the Bible and the stories it contains – the HISTORY it contains?
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Bible Study 2 (Photo credit: DrGBB)
I guess this post could classify as a rant, but it really isn’t. I want to understand so I can make a difference. How can our kids (or we) learn the meat of Christ if we’re not even getting the milk? How real are these people to you? Do you tell your children about them? Grandchildren? Others? Do you have any ideas about how we could solve this problem?
It so makes me sad that I have to spend so much time just telling the story, giving little time for building faith or even learning the basics.
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What about the story of Jesus? The movie, “The Passion of the Christ”, probably has done a
The Passion of the Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
great deal toward making the story of Jesus real. The scenes are difficult to watch at best. They bring home the very real brutality of what Jesus took for us. And we have no idea what it was really like, physically, spiritually, emotionally, mentally, the absolute torture He chose to endure for us.
If we really understood, even at a basic level, the reality behind the “stories” we treat so lightly, we would begin to see changed lives. We would change. We would become passionate about telling others. We would understand the depths and height and breadth of His love for us. Without this understanding, how can we expect the next generation of Christians to really be Christians? Maybe that’s what was meant by “will I see any faith on the earth” when I return.
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Christmas ball – Christianity (Photo credit: nabeel_yoosuf)
Do you get it? Do you have ideas for ways I can bring this alive to my students? What went wrong? What can we do to fix the problem? . . .
Related articles
- Selling Your Birthright (wdednh.wordpress.com)
- The cutest story ever told … (tvaraj.wordpress.com)
- Why not go to the Father? (thepauls.wordpress.com)
- Enjoying Your Bible (commconn.wordpress.com)
Jun 04, 2012 @ 12:41:47
Jun 04, 2012 @ 13:38:49
Our former pastor often referred to “Christian Light” when he gave talks. Worship in too many circles has become what people are comfortable with, doesn’t make them face their own sin or allows them the freedom to select what fits into their lives, without consideration for what God actually wants of us.
“Christian Light” is the religion of the seeds that fell among weeds and failed to thrive. Sure, those churches pack them in on Sundays and even during the week. But will they pack the gates of heaven come judgement day?
Jun 04, 2012 @ 20:42:47
You are right. Consumerism has become the way churches grow. Add to that the growing New Age movement in the west and we have a self-centered problem that looks nothing like Jesus Christ. We need to follow Jesus.
Jun 07, 2012 @ 23:17:51
I agree. I think we need to change that to Christian “like” because they seek to act as if they are Christians, but they have no real relationship with the Father.
Jun 04, 2012 @ 20:40:53
It is frustrating, yes I understand that. The key to this is not in a flashy program because God’s Word will always accomplish His purposes. The key to this is in people truly reading the Bible as if it is life or death for them. Think about it. If you knew that something would kill you, would you do it? Yet, Proverbs speaks about the folly of sin and the destruction that comes with it.
As far as the Old Testament, I love it. In fact, I am preaching this week from 2 Chronicles 34 for a Sunday in which we honor our graduates. The reason is two fold: 1) the message is great and will challenge them and 2) The Old Testament is not taught enough.
Jun 07, 2012 @ 23:19:43
The OT is very misunderstood. It doesn’t go away just because Christ came. It was fulfilled and it has TONS of great stuff in it to those with ears to hear. WOrking on getting my kids (mine and SS) to get in the Bible every single day. Not making much progress, but every little bit helps. 🙂 Angie
Jun 05, 2012 @ 14:27:01
Yep, but I must admit I’m guilty. I really thought those Bible stories were lame when I was in Sunday School. Maybe it was the way they were taught? Pretty preachy. I tried to zazz it up for my kiddo, and he knows more than he lets on, but I still swoon when we bring up a common reference he doesn’t know.
Jun 07, 2012 @ 23:23:09
Whether they are lame or not depends a lot on the teacher. Somehow we have to separate them from nice fairy tales and make them real. That takes a LOT of work! But God says His Word will not return void, so every little bit of Scripture we get plants seeds. In quizzing my 10 yo granddaughter, she did know Adam and Eve lol. Noah and Jonah made it and David (only the giant killer part). She gave me some ideas though about how to approach this problem with my church class. Thanks for coming by. Keep at your kiddo (no matter how old) because they’re never too old to learn 🙂 Angie