RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23945, 21 October 1939, Page 14

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

By AmpUas LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINB " How do you know that Christ Is risen" someone asked an old fisherman whose faith in Jesus seemed very simple and sure. “Do you see those cottages near that high cliff,” he replied, pointing to the shore, “ well, sometimes when I am far out to sea I know that the sun is risen by the reflection in those windows. How do I know that Christ is risen Because I see His light reflected In the faces of some of my fellows every day, and because the light of His glory shines into my own life. And I hope that I am reflecting that light to others. That Is the way it was with the disciples on the day of Pentecost. They were reflecting ihe light of the risen Christ, and so the people were filled with amazement. Only as we reflect a risen Christ in bur lives will the world know that He is risen indeed.” PRESBYTERIAN SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION There was a good attendance at the monthly meeting of the Presbyterian Sunday School Union, which was held at Maori Hill, 10 schools being represented: Mr Sneddon, superintendent of the Maori Hill Sunday School, conducted the opening worship, and the president (the Rev. H. Hogg) conducted the general meeting. The Busy Bee report, presented by Miss Hutton, showed that there were 29 hives in the presbytery, with 812 bees, who have worked hard, having raised £2OB during the year, and having sent away 52 missionary parcels, besides making lesson books for the New Hebrides mission. An inspirational address was given to the teachers by the speaker, the Rev. S. D. Baird, of Musselburgh Church, his remarks being based upon a passage from Deuteronomy. Referring to the idea of some people that there was little of teaching value in the Old Testament, and that we should concentrate on the teaching of the New Testament, Mr Baird pointed out that this idea was due to ignorance, for there was much of great value in the teaching of the Old Testament, and no book was of greater value than the Book of Deuteronomy. There were 80 quotations from this book in-the New Testament; when Jesus wished to answer the Tempter he used words from it, and when the lawyer came tempting Him He referred him to the law contained fundamental doctrine of Israel was contained in the words, “ Hear O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord, and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” The problem of the Sunday school teacher was how best to get the knowledge of the contents and principles of the Bible into the hearts of the children. The verses which follow those already quoted were the most suggestive in the Old Testament with regard to the teaching of children. showed that meticulous care was necessary " Thdu shalt teach them diligently to thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way. fl nd when thou liest down, and when thou nsest up. The inference in these words was that religion was a perfectly natural thing, which can be spoken of at all times, not just a thing for Sunday. Teachers must endeavour to Impress this upon their scholars whenever opportunity oilers. A careful study of the verse showed what the children of the Israelites were to be taught-the nature of God- The Lord our God is one Lord , their duty to God—“ Thou shalt love the Lord thy God . . and the guidance of God—- “ When thy son asketh thee in time to come what mean these testimonies . . .? then thou shalt say to thy son . . . the Lord brought us out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand. . . .” The Jewish child was taught and made to feel that his religion was authoritative.' No matter how things changed, God remained the Unchanged One. This message was timeless. It met the need of our day also, of our lives, and the lives, of boys and girls growing up around us. . It challenged the modern church to have its note of certainty and authority. Teachers to-day were working under a handicap. Children to-day did not hear of religion as they did in Jewish homes; in many homes God was unrecognised. The strange thing was that so many people, without acknowledging God themselves, sent their children to be taught. Teachers had to use this opening and try to influence the homes. The literature provided for the children a simple method of approach. Many a child's lesson paper was read in the home, and the influence such a simple thing might have could not be estimated. There was no better way of influencing the home than by personal contact. Through having smaller classes, teachers could visit the homes, and these contacts properly used should be of real value in bringing parents to realise their responsibility to God. It did not seem natural to talk about religion, but the opportunity would come, and when it did it should be used.

Services should be arranged for parents and children. The fact of worship in the anniversary services should be stressed. Many parents come on that occasion merely to see their children. It should be emphasised that it was worship that mattered. The teacher should try to inculcate that idea in the children, and get the co-operation of the parents. The greatest hope lay in the children. During these habit-forming 'years the Sunday school and the church had to work together. Church attendance should

be stressed, and the teaching in Sunday school would naturally lead to church membership. The children had to know and understand what. it meant to have personal allegiance to Jesus Christ. This could not be forced, but had to be the natural outcome of Christian training. It could not be stressed too strongly that there was need for a special Instruction class for, church membership, culminating in a public confession before the congregation. People did not know enough of what the Church taught and believed. Loyalty to one- denomination, whatever that one may be, was an important thing in a home. Dr Dale said: “ The Christian Church should be an Institution to render adult conversion needless.” The aim and purpose of Sunday, school,. Bible class,..and church was that children should pass from step to step into full membership, and with wise and diligent care, they should be watched over and prayers should be made that, they might never cease to belong to the Church, which is the Body of Christ. A period of keen discussion followed the address, after which Mr W. S. Mitchell expressed thanks on behalf of the teachers present to Mr Baird for his remarks. The next meeting will be the final one for this year. ■ : ■ RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN FAR-OFF LANDS The Ceylon Sunday School Union now Includes a worship section in its monthly lesson notes. In doing so, it emphasises the fact that worship should form the chief and primary section Tn the Sunday school curriculum. Several discussion groups have been held, and the plan has been heartily supported. During the past several months the secretary of the union, the Rev. W. M: P. Jayatunga. visiting the schools, stressed, the place that worship should have In the programme of the school. He reports also much eagerness on the part of the children to take part in these services, offering nrayer, singing hymns, and suggesting topics for prayer. Thus they are coming to feel that they have a vital part in the service. Turning to China, Madame Chiang-Kal-Shek, in one of her recent addresses, referred to the. deep appreciation of the Chinese Government for the work of the missionaries throughout China, and told of the change of attitude on the part of the non-Christian members of the Government who had formerly been bitterly opposed to any religious courses in mission schools or colleges. This new ruling as promulgated by the Ministry of Education in Chungking reads: “In private schools, if. religious courses are offered, students shall have the freedom to "choose, and the religious exercises if they are held outside of class hours, the students shall also have the freedom to participate in.” The old regulation was to the effect that a private school was not permitted to give religion as a required subject nor religious propaganda In class Instruction, and in such schools founded by religious bodies students were not to be compelled or induced to participate. No religious exercises were allowed in primary schools or schools of similar grade. SOUTH AMERICAN TRAGEDY The Rev. Irven Paul, representative of the World’s Sunday School Association for the Spanish-speaking countries of South America, with headquarters in Concepcion. Chile, writes: " Eighty per cent, of the homes are uninhabitable as a result of the earthquake. All our Churches will have to be rebuilt. We consider it our main task to rebuild the. physical and spiritual churches in this vast region. There could be no better curriculum for Christian education than this endeavour to meet dire human needs. It is surprising to see how quickly the ruins are removed and how business flourishes. We drove by car all through the earthquake area. It was a terrible sight to behold. One town painted crosses on all the buildings where people were killed. We saw crosses on almost all of the buildings.”