Christian Youth Program Shames The Academically Inclined
In a 2017 issue of Christianity Today, an article detailed how AWANA is changing its strategy from one of competition to more of study.
All well and good in order to help those less inclined to the program’s rigors feel that they are also a part.
But the way that this new approach was justified in the article was also disturbing.
One pull quote reads, “We need to tell the kid who is always raising his hand … ‘Can you sacrifice personal achievements for the sake of others?’”
But what if this is the only thing that the child excels at?
AWANA is being altered so as not to push away the child not as academically inclined?
But what about pushing away the child that is wired in such a manner?
There is nothing in Scripture commanding that one attend AWANA.
So if the child that knows the answer is now being asked to stifle it for the sake of the COMMUNITY, will the child that is the better athlete be similarly compelled to step aside to allow the pupil not as gifted at sports to quarterback the championship game or pitch a critical inning? Likely not.
Many times in school I was told to put my hand down because, “We already know what you are going to say.”
Yet the same clique was usually allowed to monopolize physical education especially when it came to football and baseball.
Frederick Meekins is an independent theologian and social critic. Frederick holds a BS in Political Science/History, a MA in Apologetics/Christian Philosophy from Trinity Theological Seminary, and a PhD. in Christian Apologetics from Newburgh Theological Seminary.
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