RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Evening Star, Issue 20256, 17 August 1929, Page 8

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

[By Forward.] “ If you want to reach a place where you can more an empire, bnt do not want to become a king, become tbe teacher of that king.” PERSONAL. At tbe annual meeting of the Dunedin Presbyterian Sunday School Union, whicn was attended by about seventy-five teachers and youth workers, the following officers were elected President, Mr D. S. Heath; vice-presidents, Messrs M. Johnson and W. Anderson; treasurer, Mr H. Booth; treasurer, Mr D. Craigie; committee— Miss Calder, Mrs Little, Messrs J. Sinclair and H. L. Watt. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. A vote of appreciation was passed to the director of the Otago School of Religious Education for the services of (he staff of the school at the various conferences that had been held, and to Mr A. H. Reed for the use of the room in which the meetings were held. . Dr Hunter gave a most interesting, helpful address, and was accorded a hearty vote or thanks. After the meeting closed sapper was served. t —— THE SPIRIT OF GLADNESS. “Laugh and be merry, remember, better the world with a song.” More than once I have read this poem with a class, taking it as an elaboration of the Guide Law that “a Guide smiles and sings.” Some day I think I shall suggest the first stance as a motto for Sunday school! Why can’t we bring more of the sheer gladness of our Christian faith into our Sunday schools? We have a glorious lesson—for example, the Easter one—and instead of “ returning with joy ” we “stand solemnly gasing up into Heaven” and announce solemnly that “There is a happy land, far, far away.” But that is so nn-Christian-likel To be sure, He taught men a new sense of proportion, a lesson in spiritual valuation, which helped them to realise that this world is not the beall and end-all of life; but He showed, too. how this new sense of value, this real faith in God, would make this land a heavenly one, not far away, but here. What we ought to encourage children to sing is something like this: Lord, in the fullness of my might, I would for Thee be strong; While runneth o’er each dear delight, To Thee should soar my song. There is something far wrong with us if in our study or Christ we picture Him habitually as the “Man of Sorrows.” Think what a sunny outlook He must have had, how that characteristic must have impressed itself on all who came in contact with Him, since the accounts of His life which have come down to us tell again and again of His joyous thanksgiving to tne Father for the goodness and beauty of life and the opportunities for service it gives: and the letters written by His disciples simply brim over with joy. Was ever a word of three letters so significant, except the greater one, God?

It is this atmosphere that we want to have in our Sunday schools. How can we expect children to sing with any measure of appreciation about “ the glad morning of their day ” if they come into an atmosphere of gloomy solemnity where smiles are met with frowns and a stray sunbeam seems out of place P Reverent laughter is one of the most wholesome things in life. In Sunday school we are not really showing forth Jesus Christ to our scholars if we ignore this aspect of Him. Certainly the adolescent pupils will enjoy the humour and quick wit of His answers to those who tried to trap Him, and the absurd illustrations whereby He revealed to men their own absurdities. One day soon I intend to read to my class a certain chapter of * The Jesus of History ’ to show them this. Then to younger pupils it is surely possible to pass on something of Christ’s infectious gladness to make them see that He 13 happy in their happiness. I do not suggest that we should come to Sunday school with broad smiles on our faces and make jokes for the benefit of our pupils. I can think of nothing so undignified or so un-Christlike. But if during the lesson some incident (whether connected with it or not) appeals to our sense of fun, then by all means let us laugh and enjoy it, provided we do not disturb others. Few things so strengthen a teacher’s influence over her pupils as this fact—that she can and does laugh with them. It is good from a psychological point of view also, since laughter is usually associated with pleasant memories, and that is how we wish our scholars to remember the hours spent in Sunday school.

I Now. all this does not mean that we must not emphasise the other aspect |of our teaching, that Jesus is our j Saviour. Easter has been and always | will be the greatest fact in our Christian faith and life. You remember how Jesus said, “I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto Me,” ana how 1 terribly He was lifted up. Sometimes 1 we are too much given to thinking that this verse refers only to the actual physical crucifixion; but does it not apply in a very definite sens© to u«? That “ if ” is significant, the condition on which men will be drawn to Him. If His disciples do not “lift Him up” in very truth, are they not failing their Master-? W® must show Him lifted up, and do it gladly. After all, how otherwise can w* do it, when His presence makes life worth while, gives us that abundant life for which we long. And so, while we take to ourselves the deeper spiritual meaning of life, we can enjoy, too, the abundance of physical life which wo find in our scholars, and encourage them to express this harmony of matter and spirit in whatever way seems good to them. We can share with them the way of laughter, and show them that in the midst of it they are offering a sacrifice ©? praise. Then perhaps they will begin to feel that God enjoys their delight. What we try to bring about really is a desire for consecration on tli© part of each pupil, and we must guard against the mistaken idea, which some of thorn are almost sure to take up, that consecration (only they don’t use such a woid II does not include one’s whole personality. Christianity, however, has its tender side, aye, and its stern side, too. A fearless Saviour who has never known grief and agony of spirit does not always attract men, for gaiety and sunshine do not help when the spirit is bruised and suffering. It is then that the Man of Sorrows is the Saviour who comforts us. But, you say, that side of life has little or no meaning for children, so we may leave it out. Then can we try to show the sterner side of the Christian life? T think we can. A life of ease has no fascination for the eager, adventurous soul of youth, “ Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Certainly, then, we must show this stern side of life. Above all; however, it lies with us to show amid the sternness and the tenderness and the sadness that radiant j’oy which is born through fellowship with Jesus Christ, and which no one can ever take from us. And it is no use to tell children about it; we must live it out.—* Scottish S.S. Teacher.’