In my first year of teaching, I sat at my desk during a free period as the volume rose in a nearby classroom. Passion rather than anger fueled the exchange, which I believe was about baptism and when it should happen. The teacher was Anglican, the class from a variety of Christian denominations.
The conversation energized everyone involved, each one’s ideas heard and valued. As far as I could tell, no one walked away wounded.
Iron was sharpening iron. The Church arguing within itself but loving itself too. That Christian school represented 33 different churches. Children were becoming adults as they learned to debate their faith respectfully.
Freedom and respect happened that day. And I got to watch them unfold. The teacher’s goal wasn’t to protect the students from the emotional upset of having their doctrine challenged. And students had no fear of retribution for challenging the teacher’s way of thinking.
The time is coming when the Church may be the last vestige for freedom of thought in America.
Continue reading “Iron Sharpens Iron in Freedom and Respect”
Iron Sharpens Iron in Freedom and Respect
