UNION BIBLICALI SEMINARY PUNE
GROUP NO. 4
SUBJECT: CHRISTIAN EDUCATION FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
TOPIC: THEOLOGICAL BASIS FOR CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AND SOCIAL CHANGE: HUMAN
BEING IN THE WORLD AND GOD IN THE WORLD
SUBMITTED TO: REV. MRS. RACHEL BHAGH
PRESENTERS: GRACE RANA, GANASALVANA, PRASHANT DESAI
CONTENT
INTRODUCTION
1. HUMAN BEING IN THE WORLD
1.1 Purpose of Human Being in the world
1.1.1 To worship God
1.1.2 Stewardship and Responsibility
2. GOD IN THE WORLD
2.1 God in the World as Nature/Creation
2.2 God in the World as Word/Scripture
2.3 God in the World as a Son
2.4 God in the World as liberator, redeemer and restorer
3. THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
CONCLUSION
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND WEBLIOGRAPHY
INTRODUCTION
In this paper we shall discuss the theological basis for Christian education and social change
through Human being and the works of God in the world. Education in the Biblically sense
means the liberation of human kind from sin to have a free and fuller life and education is also
a direct derivation from the imperatives of the bible.
1. HUMAN BEING IN THE WORLD: The bible gives us the clear teaching on humankind’s
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origin, nature and destiny (gen 1-2, Ps 8; acts 17:16-31). Humans are the result of a
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direct act of divine creation in which God declares they have been made in His Image
(gen 1:26-17). 1
1.1. Purpose of the human being in the world
The image of God involves humans relating to the earth as vice regents just as God is sovereign
to God as children in filial fellowship expressing a family likeness in righteousness holiness and
integrity. Humankind’s destiny is twofold. Those human beings some from every tribe language
people and culture to whom Christ has applied salvation from sin and who have responded in
faith to the saving good news will enjoy an eternity at the end of time in the glorious presence
of their saviour (rev 5:9). Those who continue without repentance in their blind rebellion
against the one true God will experience the eternal punishment that such sin enquires (matt
25:41, 46’ rev 20:15).2 The fulfilment of God’s depends on God’s grace. Since reason is used for
selfish purposes or prideful purposes which are a substitution of selfish ambition for God’s will
that Christians call sin. The task given by God is not to abuse the earth but to look after the
earth as God would desire.3
1.1.1 To worship God
Worship is the time when we pay deep sincere respect, love and fear to the one who
created us. In Ecclesiastes 12:13 we see “fearing God and keeping His commandments is our
duty”. God is the creator of everything who does not dwell in the temples made with
hands.4 If we had never existed, God would still be a God (Malachi 3:6). Being the image of
God humans have the ability to love, serve and worship Him. Humans created with the
purpose should act according to His will.5
1.1.2 Stewardship and responsibility.
A steward is not an owner but one who has a responsibility to an owner to treat property
with care and respect. It is a term that refers to the responsibility of a steward to manage
wisely and not one abuse it or takes its advantage. Luke 16:1-13. Humans are called to be
stewards towards other creation which extends particularly to those of man’s and woman’s
equals to their fellow human beings. Everything belongs to the Lord: the earth and all who
live on it is his ps24:1. Because of sinful nature of Sman have fallen short of responsible
members of God’s creation which resulted as human suffering. 6 Humans are called to be the
1
Evangelical dictionary of world missions, ed. A. Scott Moreau, (Grand Rapids: Michigan, 2000), 462-463.
2
Evangelical dictionary of world missions, 463.
3
Towards a Theological Basis for Education: A Resource Book- VIITH ASIAN ECCUMENICAL COURCE THAILAND,
OCTOBER 4- 20 1982, Singapore Christian Conference of Asia 1983), 9.
4
K. Thanzauva, Transforming: A theological basis for social transformation (Bangalore: Asian Trading Corporation,
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2002), 8.
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Towards a theological basis for eduction: A Resource book- 31.
6
Towards a theological basis for eduction: A Resource book- 37.
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stewards towards responsible environmental management, not engaging in reproductive
technologies that intentionally destroy human life or humans for experimentation. 7
2. GOD IN THE WORLD: Christian God is not a hidden God, rather a revealed God through
in His own many ways. He is the God who always likes to be revealed before his
creation. Since the very beginning of the earth He was revealing in different ways in
different places. His revelation to the world can be categorized in to three major parts.
They are
I. General-self-revelation in nature/creation.
II. Special self-revelation in the Word/Scripture.
III. Personal self-revelation in the Son of the God.
IV. Self revelation through his works.8
2.1 God in the World as Nature/Creation:
God’s general self-revelation to the world is through nature or creation. The purpose of
creation is revelation. The method which God used to create the universe was by the
word of His power (Gen1 & 2). In this opening chapter of the Bible it is the creative
Word of God that gives shape and order to the creation. God’s word is like the decree of
a king which is law for the subjects in the kingdom and cannot be repealed. The Word
that initially gave structure and order to the creation continues to give structure and
order. It can be seen in two ways through non-rational or material creation and through
rational creation. And through the rational creation God reveals on the consciousness
level. Man is one of most rational creation as far as this world is concerned, because
man was created in the image and likeness of God. The purpose of man is therefore to
glorify God.9
Jesus and Paul have also clearly mentioned about God’s revelation in the world through
the nature, such as in the gospel of Mathew chap 6:25ff. Jesus indicated in such as a way
to recognize nature as God’s revelation by which human being can have consciousness
about God. In the same way Paul in his letter to the Romans 1:20 says that since the
creation of the world, his eternal power and divine nature, invisible through they are,
have been understood and seen through the things he had made.10
2.2 God in the World as Word/Scripture:
7
http://www.cfcindia.com.com/web/mainpages/word_for_the_week.php?display=01_05&year=05. Accessed on
07-07-16.
8
H.W. Byrne, A Approach to Education (Grand Rapids: Michigan, 1961), 45.
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9
Byrne, A Approach to Education, 50.
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10
Collin W. Williams, The Church in the Series “New Direction in Theology Today” vol.4 (London: Luther Worth
press:1969), 19-20
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The Christian God is not like a pagan god, but the God. To know Him is require the
essence of knowledge and wisdom. The Christian God is revealed to the world as a
special self-revelation through the word or scripture or the Bible. The Psalmist called all
creation to worship God for his work of creation and redemption that had been
accomplished by the one Word of God. Heb 1:1-3, clearly says that how God has
revealed to the world through his word. God’s special self-revelation came to us through
the Bible. As a record of such events, it enlightens us to know God. In the gospel of John
it is very clear that how the word became flesh and revealed to humanity. His word is
holy, inspired by the Holy Spirit, which has plan of redemption.11
2.3 God in the World as a Son:
The highest level of God’s self-revelation was in His personal self-revelation through His
son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The method by which this was accomplished is called the
incarnation. God came in the form of man (John 1:1, 2, 14). God’s main communication
to man was through His son Jesus Christ. The Son is the mediator between man and
God. He is the God-man. The revelation Jesus Christ cannot be restricted with the
incarnation, but it also has to do with the teaching of Jesus Christ, the significance of
cross, the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. It has to do with the whole life and
work of Jesus Christ on earth and all His work for us is regarded as the activity of God by
which he himself known to man.12
2.4 God in the World as liberator, redeemer and restorer:
The revelation of God cannot be identified exclusively with the three major events, so
called in creation, in scripture and in incarnation rather it also has to do with various
activities of the Father God, the son Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit, for instance His
activities of liberation, His redemption and restoration are also methods of revelation as
well.13
3. THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
The biblical view we learned that education means liberation of human kind from sin to
have a free and fuller life. The main purpose Christian education can be described as an
attempt to bring Christ’s life to the people and to be Christ’s incarnate presence
extended through human history. It is based on the vision of the meaning of humankind
that incarnation gave us not only humanity created in the images of God but also
humanity for whom God died. This means that Christian education should be governed
by a realization of human kind’s worth and sacredness of human sinfulness and redeem
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11
Byrne, A Approach to Education, 45.
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12
Byrne, A Approach to Education, 45.
13
Byrne, A Approach to Education, 50.
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ability and should aim at the full growth in stature in mind, body and spirit of each
person.14 While education mission of the churches should be primarily directed towards
the oppressed it is also concerned about the oppressors with the aim of making them
“turn around” and join the movement of the oppressed in solidarity with them. This is to
help them regain their humanness and be saved.
CONCLUSION
Thus we have learnt through theologically and biblically that education is for liberation and
transformation of humankind and humanizing education. Humanizing is liberating when making
people aware of the shape of evil around them and enabling them to participate in a society
that is just. Liberation means that people should fell free, think free and that their basic human
needs are sufficiently met.
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND WEBLIOGRAPHY
Byrne, H.W. A Approach to Education, Grand Rapids: Michigan, 1961.
Evangelical dictionary of world missions, ed. Moreau, A. Scott Grand Rapids: Michigan, 2000.
Williams, Collin W. vol.4.The Church in the Series “New Direction in Theology Today” London:
Luther Worth press: 1969.
Thanzauva, K. Transforming: A theological basis for social transformation Bangalore: Asian
Trading Corporation, 2002.
Towards a Theological Basis for Education: A Resource Book- VIITH ASIAN ECCUMENICAL
COURCE THAILAND, OCTOBER 4- 20 1982, Singapore Christian Conference of Asia, 1983.
Witmer, S. A. Education with Dimension, Edited by Ipe Forges & Prasad Rao New York: Witmer
Press, 1962.
http://www.cfcindia.com.com/web/mainpages/word_for_the_week.php?
display=01_05&year=05. Accessed on 07-07-16.
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14
S. A. Witmer, Education With Dimension, Edited by Ipe Forges & Prasad Rao (New York: Witmer Press, 1962), 22.
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