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How does your understanding of mankind’s fallen nature impact your work in the classroom?
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It greatly impacts my work in the classroom. Especially Dr. Black’s emphasis that fallen implies mankind was at a height (of authority) and fell from that place. That has totally transformed my way of seeing “the fall” and the sinful nature that was consequently inherited to the character of all mankind.
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I do not expect my students to be perfect and I am not shocked when they make mistakes. We use them as a growing opportunity.
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I understand we are all broken people. Many of my students have had hardships in their families as a result of a fallen world. I look on them with compassion, letting them know I am there for them and pray with and for them. I also let them know I adhere to discipline because I care about them and want them to grow into the men and women the Lord has created them to be.
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Because God has described the beginning and how sin became every person’s nature, that truth has impacted my whole life. As an instructor, I am happy to find some souls who are showing they may have been saved, evidenced by their behavior. I am never surprised to find evidence of a fallen nature, as all people have this. It enables me to frequently share our need of the Savior for all things. “Without Him, I can do NOTHING.” He is my goodness, my righteousness. So we also have discussions of glory and praise that belong only to Him if we do any good, to keep us from pride, which He hates.
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I show grace and forgiveness. It is important to model these actions.
