Christian Education and Social change

  

Vimala sees Christian education as an effort to help people gain knowledge and understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ to enable them to make a commitment to it and to grow and develop in their Christian faith and witness to power and leadership. Jesus in their lives. In this sense, the transformation of an individual into the image of Christ (Col 1:28) is the goal of Christian education. This is a differentiating factor from other types of education. This definition must be understood in a narrower sense and as an exclusive education in the Christian faith. Christian education in a broader sense is a shift towards a more holistic and comprehensive approach, in which education for social transformation is strongly promoted.

Christian education must be understood inclusively, as well as understood exclusively in a narrow sense. According to Paul Fiere, education should be understood as an agent of social, political and economic change in society. And Thomas Groome, according to Frier's ideas, understood Christian education as a political activity for people. He believes that Christian education is to educate people for "the kingdom of God, the Christian faith, and human freedom". One of Robert W. Pazmino's definitions of Christian education, "Education is a divinely inspired and human cooperative process in which people grow and they develop in life, that is, in godly knowledge, faith, hope and love through Christ. 

He also gave another definition that Christian education as "...promotes the change, renewal and reformation of persons, groups and structures by the power of the Holy Spirit to conform to the revealed will of God as expressed in the Scriptures and above all in the person of Jesus Christ, as well as any the results of these efforts." It is about sharing knowledge, values, attitudes, skills, understanding and behaviors that are part of the Christian faith. When we look at social change, it is "changes in the social structure and functions of the various units that make up society" . It includes those changes that occur in the family, institutions, and other related social spheres.

However, there are some educators who have advocated that social change also includes changes in the cultural system, beliefs, ideals, traditions, and practices. 2 Changes in society come as impact of education. Education helps a person to find a place in society of suitability and comfort. According to John Dewey, "Education is a process of social construction that promotes the growth and development of society ... the development of all faculties of the individual in such a way as to help them create their own environment and realize their potential”. This change can be gradual or sudden, evolutionary or revolutionary, and constructive or destructive. 

Education and social change are therefore closely related. One in the process determines the other. We can only mention three facts that determine the relationship between education and social change: (a) Education brings about social change (b) Education is an instrument of social change (c) Education as a result of social change Likewise, a sound theological foundation is necessary Christian education for social change . There are questions in Christian education that need to be addressed based on the ultimate values ​​of life, which are primarily theological in nature. A question like - what does faith mean? Is faith to learn something? In other words, it can be seen in the relationship between theology and Christian education. There are three ways they are related. Samson Prabhakar mentioned their mutual relations. First, the Christian community has to formulate its faith and it should be formulated theologically.

Second, Christian education is a process that fosters a relationship with God as revealed in Jesus Christ. Third, theology influences the methodology of Christian education. There are basic theological principles of Christian education. Christian educators like Samson called it a new model of Christian education. This is important in finding an inclusive community. This new model is based on the reality of the world around us and is identified with human beings. In this new vision of reality, there is interaction, mutual solidarity and cooperation. The relationship between human beings is not divided. The relationship between the Creator and the creature is also not dichotomized. And the church and the world are also not perceived in opposition to each other. It is a holistic vision. 

The visions of these three, 3 namely man, world and God, are important in the contemporary context of Christian education, because every Christian education that has its name is intended for the human beings that God has placed in this world. This holistic model can be understood in the following ways: (a) Human beings in the world: When God created the world, He created human beings and placed human beings in it, giving them responsible freedom to be stewards of creation. Human beings also shared God's creative responsibility and dealt with them as partners and co-workers. Thus began the historical adventure of human beings in a world where neither people nor the world is a finished product, but rather becoming. Christian education therefore tries to facilitate the process of becoming.

Human beings are called to move toward maturity, wholeness, and wholeness. Together with people, the world is called to fulfill its great goal, which is the reign of God. b) God in the world: God cannot be considered an abstract and distant being, distant from the reality of the world. Rather, God is at the heart of the world and actively present in it. It is an ongoing process that manifests itself in the "signs of the Kingdom" that need to be discerned. Christian education is a means of facilitating this discernment. If in terms of social change this world is not static. The world is changing and is in the process of transitioning from the past to the present and to the future. (c) The Church in the World: The Church cannot be isolated from the world or set against the world. Even in the world, Christians cannot be understood as aliens. 

The church is a smaller community of people of a different faith who have also experienced the presence of God in the world through the Spirit of Jesus Christ, which does not make them superior to other communities or special privileges than others. But it certainly makes them more responsible in their joint search for fuller humanity and fullness of life. Christian education is supposed to promote the awareness of the unity of the human family and is a means for people to reach the fullness of life.