Boxes, Cans, and Spiritual Malnourishment
To say that our daughter-in-law has a passion for the education program of a local congregation of the Lord’s people would be a classic understatement. She is especially interested in providing the very best possible education and training for the youth of whatever congregation she works with, but her interest extends far beyond the boundaries of that church.
Some might think that she is so passionate about this because she and our son have two children. Those of us who know her also know that this is not the case. Both she and her husband (our son) want every person who “grows up in the church” to know the Bible and how to live the Christian life as they prepare for – and enter into – adulthood.
I was reminded of that yet again not long ago when I listened to a podcast that the two of them had recorded together. At one point, our daughter-in-law said something that I’ve been thinking about ever since she said it. What she said was almost presented as an afterthought to something she was talking about, but I believe that they are a long, long way from being an afterthought. In fact, I wonder if her statement might point to something that every person who is concerned about the spiritual wellbeing of people of any age might need to consider.
What did she say that was so profound? What has been in my head all this time?
“You can’t put that in a box.”
At the point in the podcast when she made this statement, she was talking specifically about those Vacation Bible School kits with which many of us are very familiar. She and our son were discussing such things as the need for creativity, concern, preparation, and involvement on the part of teachers.
At least a part of the point she was making, as I understand it, was that the teacher needs to make an investment that goes beyond the investment of some money in material. There needs to be investments of such things as time, energy, prayer, and a host of other things in order to teach effectively.
As I’ve continued to think about this, I’ve started wondering if boxes and cans may not provide a clue concerning the spiritual deficiency of some individuals, families, and congregations today. At home, we may open a box or a can of some prepared meal, ingest that, and wonder why we aren’t as healthy as we should be.
Could the same thing be happening to us spiritually? Let me suggest a couple of ways that this may, indeed, be happening to us.
I’ve already alluded to one of those ways. What if a person who is referred to as a “Bible class teacher” walks into a classroom “armed” only with material prepared by somebody else? What if that teacher has not even spent enough time with that “packaged material” so that it can be presented and explained to the students? What if the teacher has not even looked at the material before entering the classroom and/or does not even really understand the material himself/herself?
Can you not see the real possibility of spiritual malnourishment in that scenario?
Please allow me to present another one.
What if the students leave the classroom where they were “fed” boxed material and listen to a preacher presenting a “canned sermon?”
With today’s technology, it would be very easy for a preacher to find a sermon, print it off, and present it as his own. Even before this was possible, I remember very well an experience I had years ago during which I listened to a man preach what I knew was a “canned sermon.” I knew exactly which sermon outline book he got the lesson from. I had it in my library. As I remember it years later, all of the points, scriptures, and illustrations were from that book.
It seemed to me that the only part of that lesson that was original was his delivery of somebody else’s material. To be fair, he was effective with that; so much so that many were very complimentary of him and of “his” lesson.
How is it that two people can buy the same cookbook and bake the same cake and yet have a difference in the two dishes? I suppose that there are a lot of reasons for this, but one comes to mind that I think may illustrate what I’m writing about.
One of the people may follow the instructions in the cookbook to the letter and may be very efficient in doing so. The other may know how to make it a little tastier, may know and love the people who will be consuming the food, and may take extra care to do the best job possible to produce something that demonstrates care, concern, and legitimate pride in a job (and dish) that is well done.
Our daughter-in-law was right. Some things cannot be put in a box. A genuine love for the Lord and His people cannot. The time and effort needed to provide a balanced spiritual diet for people of any age cannot.
The eternal reward for those who really care, prepare, instruct, motivate, and help people grow closer to the Lord certainly cannot.
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AUTHOR: Jim Faughn
