There is a documentary on the horizon called "Waiting for Superman". It is a personal, hard look at the state of public education in the United States and how it is affecting our children. The synopsis of the documentary is found on the movie's website and includes this statement: "When disaster strikes in America, heroes rush in. We've seen it time and again: when all seems lost, real-life supermen (and women) step up to save the day. But what if right now there is a hidden catastrophe spreading quietly, insidiously through our nation's cities, towns and communities - and yet we have the power to stop it? What if our children and their futures were in peril? Who will become a hero now"? The experts assert that the break down in the education system lies not solely, but primarily, in the hands of the teachers.
Teachers, are those who are charged with imparting information and knowledge. There is an expectation that the information that is being taught is not only accurate, but is presented in such a way that the student would not only learn the information but understand and retain it. If the student retains and applies the information it would be reasonable to conclude that they have learned.
Michelle Rhee is the Chancellor of the D.C. Public Schools. Since coming into office, she has aggressively sought to reform a school system whose students historically produced below-average test scores. She is known for a tough, ruthless approach, seeking to purge public schools of teachers and principals who were, in her opinion, incompetent.
I put great value on education. My husband and I have raised our children to value and seek higher education. College was never a question for our children. After 12th grade comes a four year University. We have one in college, a senior in High School and a freshman in High School. We set out to foster in our children, an appreciation for the privilege of being educated. I, like many other parents applaud Michelle Rhee's efforts to reform the Public School System by ridding it of unmotivated, unproductive and unknowledgeable teachers. But there is something that I value more than that of a formal academic education and that is a Biblical knowledge and understanding. While I believe that knowledge is power. I also believe that-that power is powerless if you are not educated on the power of God.
The Bible says this of teachers in James 3:1 - Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. Clearly he is addressing teachers of the word of God. But I believe that this shows the importance of the position and responsibility of teaching. Youth Ministry workers. All of us who teach young people the Word of God. It is our duty, our responsibility, our honor and our privilege to impart the knowledge of the word of God to them. We must be knowledgeable of the subject matter (THE BIBLE) and make the word of God our prime focus. It cannot be secondary, or a back drop, or an aside to other "activities". If you are going to lead a missionary project then teach. Why are we doing the project? What does the Bible say about missionary work? What IS a missionary? If you are going to out to feed the homeless we have to teach the youth that we cannot just offer physical food. The Bible says that man cannot live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. TEACH IT! Impart the knowledge of the word so that when the youth go out to share physical food they can share spiritual food as well. They cannot share what we do not teach them and we cannot teach them what we have not taken the time to study and learn ourselves. I would be outraged if my child's English teacher did not know anything about subject verb agreement. I would be equally outraged if my child's Sunday School Teacher or Youth Worker couldn't answer questions about salvation, loss, the will of God, God's plan for our lives, the sovereignty of God, the Trinity, etc. These are basic Biblical principles that we should know. They should be written on our hearts and we should be able to teach them with great enthusiasm to our youth. I am in no way suggesting that Youth Workers should know everything. We are ALL learning and growing in Christ. But we should know basic Biblical principles. And if we don't, we should make it our top priority to learn it and spend some time in prayer for understanding. Our Youth Ministry Programs can no longer be filled with activities, talent shows and car washes. We must engage our youth in a REAL conversation about God that stresses relationship with Him.
Youth Workers. Challenge yourselves to create, promote and sustain viable Bible centered Youth Programs. Judges 2:10-11 says, “After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did what was evil in the Lord’s sight and worshiped the images of Baal” This is what will absolutely happen if we do not put the teaching of the Gospel above all else.
Just as the documentary "Waiting for Superman" holds teachers primarily responsible for our failing Public School system, I believe that teachers of youth in our Churches hold a large responsibility for this generation of youth that do not really know God. For the Christian, our Superman has come. He has walked among us, healed, taught the masses, made personal connections, delivered, liberated, hung, bled, died and rose again. Jesus is our Superman.
Teachers.....time to GET IT IN...................
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