Will the Real Bible Teacher Please Stand Up?

Bible (School) Teacher? Remember that term? Sounds like something from the 80's right? Do they still exist? Yeah, they do. And don't call it a come back, they been here for years. Parents, church-elders, volunteers... The truth is, they've come in all forms depending on your early church experience. My earliest memories with my bible school teacher is when my four siblings and I would arrive at church an hour early to be shuffled away from our parents and into a small room of the rented fire house space (the church building fund was still bare) where us kids would color ditto pages depicting bible stories and learn basic Christian principles such as, "For God so loved the world (John 3:16)... or memorize the Lord's prayer, "Our Father, who are in even... (Mathew 6:9-13). While my parents were in their own version of bible study on metal folding chairs in the meeting hall, we would have cookies and milk and promise to be good little boys and girls while reciting the new verse by heart in front of the congregation when we all rejoined collectively. And 7-year-old me (I loved to sing even then) was charged with leading the children in a song like "Father Abraham" or "Yes, Jesus loves me," while our parents doted proudly assured they were doing all they could to provide for us a spiritual foundation even as flawed as they themselves were.

As I came of up in small church communities and until I left for college, my experience with learning the bible continued to be variations of youth programs with watered-down messaging. While my meager bible study experience left a lot to be desired especially when it was time to face some of life's greatest challenges, fortunately for me, I had somehow grasped and held on to a strong grounding not in church but in Christ Himself. That included the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Why? Because at the age of 6 (I think) and routinely thereafter, I had encountered experiences where I felt Him. It became known to me has an undeniable welcomed presence. So unlike the natural questioning that often plagues others coming-of-age, even as I was introduced to various philosophies such as existentialism in my AP literature and religious studies courses or heard about or as I was exposed to "hood theory", I never questioned God's existence. I had felt the spirit throughout my adolescence and while I wasn't exactly sure about what "it" was completely, I knew it was a connection with something bigger than I, and I wanted "it" to be a part of my life forever. So I would do my best to understand its power into adulthood on my own terms.

What more, even as a church kid, I had become prone to making reckless decisions as an adolescent. But somehow I knew that related to that "connection", someone was watching over me and that "someone" was stepping in on my behalf to ensure that I would live to manifest the stronger purpose He had for my life. Let me tell you, when the two of us finally were on the same page (okay, I was on His same page), everything made sense as if a locked door opened. (Read more about this in the upcoming post "God's Got Your Piece (Peace)".

Fast forward to my late 20's when I got married and started having children, I knew I needed them to know the same God that had sustained me. By that time, my husband and I started attending a small store front church in Baltimore, some 200 hundred miles away from where I had attended the firehouse church. To ensure my kiddos had at least the same introduction to Christ as I had back then, I volunteered to build and lead the church's children's ministry where there otherwise was not one. But in line with what was on trend at the time, I took the children out of main service to get their lesson as not to have them interrupt their parent's Sunday morning sermon. Early Sunday morning bible study seemed to be a thing of the past. Truth is, there is something to be lost in removing children from such a powerful experience as watching the Spirit chase demons from a holy room. But I digress and that's a topic for another post. Nonetheless, as my young family and I moved around the country, I have come to learn that depending upon the church, its size and funding, a child's bible study experience can range from completely non-existent to impressive almost over the top programs accounting for youth sanctuaries, a resemblance of collegiate level biblical curriculums, youth leadership teams and youth worship bands totally separate from the parent experience. And good for those organizations making the ultimate investment.

But even with the bells and whistles, I have also learned that whatever your youth church experience was, there comes a time when you have to experience God for yourself. While we still need to give it up for those shuffling young ones off to children's churches on Sunday morning everywhere, it is essential especially as we enter adulthood to develop a relationship that is free from religious traditions, not limited by the knowledge of someone else (myself, included), and not only operating between the business hours of the latest church community you've been invited to explore (either in-person or live stream). It is not contingent upon your parent's deep relationship with Christ or their disbeliefs in Him. Whatever your story, it is important to really know your creator. And I do mean REALLY know Him. For nothing more than to say, "Yeah, I met Him, the dude's cool and yes He does love me."

I try really hard not to do it, but even in my 40's I sometimes make assumptions. And one I was about to make was the thought that people don't need bible teachers anymore (especially with the explosion of online video access to mega-church messaging). So the business plan I had laid out, would never work. But as I began to talk to God and open myself to be guided by His plan, he reminded me, yes it is true, that His sheep hear His voice (John 10:27). While He needs no help, we often need peer to peer encouragement if only to be open to "hear" Him. So with God's help, here I am opening a door for you. And despite what my feminist 12-year-old daughter would say, we all need someone to open the doors for us once and while, right? Now, while I don't claim to be a pastor with an affiliate to a particular church, from one sheep to another, and as your friend in Christ, let me (re)introduce you to The Holy Spirit. He is that life-long connection I talked about earlier. It is He who is the original (REAL) Bible Teacher and He who wants you to experience the real Him through His Word. So standing corrected in my assumptions, I would certainly venture to say, better yet scream from the rooftops, yes!!! The World certainly still needs Him! And I? I'm just glad I could facilitate the (re)introduction.