What is the role of sin in education?

The fairest child, who has entered life this year and become the sunbeam of a family, is not, as his mother perhaps fondly calls him, a little "angel" or a little "innocent," but a little "sinner." Alas! As that infant boy or girl lies smiling and crowing in its cradle, that little creature carries in its heart the seeds of every kind of wickedness! Only watch it carefully, as it grows in stature and its mind develops, and you will soon detect in it an incessant tendency to that which is bad, and a backwardness to that which is good. You will see in it the buds and germs of deceit, evil temper, selfishness, self–will, obstinacy, greediness, envy, jealousy, passion, which, if indulged and let alone, will shoot up with painful rapidity. Who taught the child these things? Where did he learn them? The Bible alone can answer these questions! Of all the foolish things that parents say about their children there is none worse than the common saying: "My son has a good heart at the bottom. He is not what he ought to be, but he has fallen into bad hands. Public schools are bad places. The tutors neglect the boys. Yet he has a good heart at the bottom." The truth, unhappily, is diametrically the other way. The first cause of all sin lies in the natural corruption of the boy’s own heart, and not in public schools.

Taken from the book of 'Holiness', chapter 'Sin'.

Does 'sin' ever being considered in the learning culture of educational institution? or education is simply 'bringing out the best' of one's potential? Our present learning instution lives in a denial of the story of the Fall. When sin is not considered, teachers always tend to be puzzled as why the reality of teaching is so much different from the ideal he/she had. Even worse than that, the danger lurking in a not preconceived defect will always in the end violate what is being taught academically. To simply develop one's mental capacity without considering one's sinful nature is an inadequate education. This error has led to the fall of modern rationalism. However, how has the education world changed in its pedagogical methodology? Not very much, sadly. Rather, it may have become one of the modernisation monster that robs one's significants individuality in trade of a profit minded end. Such is the sad fact of our time. Will there be changes? Only when sin is considered. Only when confession is made. Only when it is rightly dealt in life.

Cathedral of Messiah

The new church of GRII -pusat was dedicated to the Lord on 20th September 2008.  It was named Cathedral of Messiah.

see link for the image:

http://www.daylife.com/photo/02oGbvB2eH0zc

I was struck by the sharing of Rev. Stephen Tong when he said, earlier in the morning he asked the Lord, whether He is willing to use this building for His work. It was almost unimagineable for me to think that after all these hardworks, time, money, efforts poured in by Rev. Tong himself and all the church members in order to build this church and in the end the church would not be pleasing to God. 

His sharing correcting my understanding of a ministry or service before the Lord. It is not us to decide whether what we do is good or bad. God always have the final judgment. We are meant to give our very best to the Lord. But our very best may not be good enough for Him. This would have a propelling effect in our doing before God. If we think we've done our best and cannot do any better, we will be stuck in that stage and difficult to have a good progress later on. But if we continually strive our best to the very last of our breath, we know we could only done so little in a vast and might work of God.

I remembered, the sharing from the life of Joshua. Towards the end of his life, he was not told to remember the past glory of his achievements but rather to look at the great promised land which are yet to be conquered by the Israelites. In Jakarta there are 1.2 million Christians. To have a church with a capacity of 6500 is truly considerably small. Thanks to God for the sharing of Rev. Tong that helps to put things in perspective.

The Alpha

This blog is started with fear and trembling, aware of the writer's inadequacy, yet compelled to minister in the capacity and talent given, not to boast of this self but rather to be a blessing to those who may read the writings in this blog. Three categories of life comes into the blogger's understanding of life: 

1. The Natural aspect 
   
2. The Cultural aspect 
3. The Theological aspect 

None of this aspect stand on its own, each is distinct and yet influencing the others. Hence, the blogger seeks to explore further and contribute for a richer development, not merely intellectual but of life in its fullness whose origin and fulfillment came from God who implanted the seed in man's heart. 

Blessed be to God, The Creator, Redemeer and Fulfiller of life.

Audy Santoso