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How does your understanding of mankind’s fallen nature impact your work in the classroom?
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The work of teaching middle schoolers right from wrong is constant and ongoing. Sin will always creep back in, so it is important to bring God to the forefront and encourage students regularly.
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My understanding of the fallen human nature mean that I realize that sometimes students will behave in a selfish manner or lie to get out of trouble. I know that they are not always choosing this path but are following a default sin nature. It helps me to remember that we are all human and need redemption, so I apologize readily when I realize that I’ve made a mistake as well.
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All people have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. This, of course, includes all students. One of my goals for the school year is to lead students to Christ, who do not yet know Him. We receive many new students during middle school who have had little to no exposure to Jesus. Their parents often realize how “bad” public middle school is and want a more “wholesome” school. Many of these parents do not attend church regularly or at all. So rather than “partnering” with parents to raise their children for the Lord, we are challenged to lead their child to Christ, which can draw parents to Him.
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When students make behavioral mistakes, it is at that moment that I look for ways to provide grace to use as a teaching moment. Sometimes the reasons they make the choices they do are in no way connected to the classroom and they need the grace to address the larger issues that are controlling their lives.
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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.