Last post I described our annual summer camp for students. As is typical, this year I again brought my students through the biblical narrative, Creation to Christ (C2C). We actually don't begin with Adam when sharing with neighbors and friends...never, not ever. Not as the starting place. But in Sunday school it makes sense, right!? That's how all the children's story books are arranged. Start at the beginning. Describe how it was. Describe where the problem started. Describe the solution. Very intuitive, logical, linear, personal and...Western!
I had to laugh because just as I was automatically using this C2C model this in my class, a brilliant writer on contextualization, Jackson Wu, was criticizing this very approach with a compelling argument -- which you should definitely read in just a moment...
Allow me to illuminate the problem of beginning with Adam from my class experience. Let's imagine the story from inside the ears and brain of my half-listening, it's-summer-break-why-am-I-in-class, when-is-our-watermelon-break student.
Welcome Dear Student Who Has Never Heard Any Of This Before,
God made the world... and blah blah blah... people were naked.
(Embarrassed laugher erupts as boys and girls now imagine classmates, teacher, granny and everyone walkin around nakey.)
Bad snake tricked Adam and Eve into eating fruit.
(Talking Snake! What's wrong with eating fruit?)
Now the whole world is broken and I am going to hell.
(WHAT.)
It's not necessary to fling these obstacles and confusing problems at my student just as we are introducing this Story. There may be a better way!
If you're interested in thinking more about how we share the Message, I highly recommend thinking over Jackson Wu's biblically-formed insights on contextualization, our starting point and beyond -- applicable in both Eastern and Western contexts, I think.
Furthermore...
counting the graces
thank you Father for
close friendship, understanding and inside jokes with LJ
running while the boys biked, and they did so well
Drew's growth as a B teacher/study facilitator
quiet, relationally less-intense weeks at the end of summer
moments to make my boys feel special, important and loved each day -- listening, hugs, ice cream cones
breakthrough freedom and authenticity in leading worship for our group
vision for worship album
being invited to Paul's Marine ball
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