Things I Get In Trouble For, Part 1
It seems as if my job is always hanging in the balance. As a Bible teacher at a private Christian school, I seem to always be stepping into the crapper in one way or another. Our school is not affiliated with any one particular denomination, so we have students from across the theological spectrum...Baptist, Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, Charismatic, etc. While most students come from a conservative Christian background in whatever tradition, we do have quite a mix of beliefs about God, the Bible, the Holy Spirit, Church, etc. Basically, what this means is that someone is always hacked off. For example, we've actually had two families leave our school in the same month, one citing that we're too charismatic and the other that we're not charismatic enough. It's in this environment that I get the opportunity to teach the Bible.

It's funny that on most issues where someone is upset with me I most often never even get to talk with the person(s). It's a very Christian™ process. It usually goes through a channel where someone writes a letter to a principal or the headmaster with their complaints/demands, the principal and headmaster in turn meet with me, I request a meeting with the complainees, I'm told the person(s) don't like conflict and that I shouldn't approach them on it, I'm told to be careful and use wisdom in what I teach, and then we just keep going like nothing happened. If I ever do get a copy of the complaints/demands it is usually after everyone else has seen it...Principals, headmaster, local pastors, etc. No one ever approaches me personally. This whole process takes about 2-3 months.

The funny thing is that I've said plenty of things in class that could cost me my job. I've challenged wealthy students to think about whether as Christians their families should own things like lakehouses and fancy cars. I've talked about political issues. I've "cussed" in class to make points. I've challenged students to give up the American Dream of wealth and power for the dream of God's Kingdom, which is often best displayed in service and weakness. I've encouraged students to enter the mission field before going to college. Have I gotten in trouble for any of these things? Any letters of complaint? No. Not one.

The letters of complaint are typically things that I didn't say or assumptions people have made related to things things I did say. Lately I was accused of teaching that the Sermon on the Mount was irrelevant, and that Jesus probably didn't even say them...Which is 180 degrees from what I actually teach in class. I honestly think we could lose the creeds and just focus on being the kind of people Christ called us to be in Matt 5-7 (or Luke 6 and 12 for that matter).

The hardest part is that I've been told by my superiors to not even contact those with complaints. There is no opportunity for me to explain what I've taught. No opportunity to create some sort of understanding and possibly community between myself and those with issues. So they continue to view me as someone teaching false doctrine (without knowing me), and I view them with an anger and confusion than finds no outlet other than me talking with friends and writing this here. I am their heretic and they are my Pharisees...Objects and not people.

I know that many times my...er...critics aren't really looking for community, but should that affect my pursuit of it? My question to my headmaster remains one of "when do we get to be Christians?" By that I mean, when do we get to take the words of Jesus seriously. I do think they are relevant. I do think He was serious in what He said, expressing the values of living in God's Kingdom which are in total contradiction to the seeming wisdom and values of this world, where conflict is avoided and powerplays are made. Jesus said that when we have issues with brothers we should approach them. By not dealing with the issue, false images are allowed to remain. Fellowship is broken. This is exactly opposite from what I believe Christ desires for his people. No one likes conflict and it should not be pursued unncessarily, but unresolved conflict just grows and separates us. As Christians instead of running from conflict we should at times run to it and embrace it...maybe that's the only way we can truly know and embrace others.
posted by Jimmy at 10:00 AM | |