I have the sweetest sister-in-law anyone could have. She is one of those people you just enjoy being around. I don’t remember ever seeing her angry, and I have never heard her raise her voice. I know she can, because she was a teacher and a band director for many years.
When Pam retired, she was in great demand as a substitute teacher. She taught band, music, and, of all things, ISS classes. For those who are not familiar with ISS, it is In School Suspension. This is the one class no one wants to teach, much less be a substitute; but my sister-in-law loves it. When they moved to Alabama several years ago, she signed up to substitute there; and guess where they put her—ISS!
She and I were talking recently about how she manages her classes. She told me that the children she teaches are often angry, vulgar, disrespectful, and generally difficult to manage. But she has a consistent message that she shares with every student she teaches. She teaches them the fruits of the spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
Because she cannot teach scripture, she never mentions that these words are found in the Bible. She calls them words to live by. She tells the children that if they put these words in their lives, they will have a happy life.
Recently, a girl that had been in Pam’s class several times wrote her a letter. She had been an especially difficult student, so it was a little surprising to read her letter. This is what she said. “Thank you for teaching me those 9 words, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control,. I really think it’s going to help me…” At the end of the letter she said, “I’m sorry if I have ever did anything to hurt your feelings and I really do love you.”
The power of Scripture can never be underestimated. Even though no reference had been made to the Bible, the apostle Paul has laid a foundation for our use just as surely as he did in teaching the Galatians. What a powerful influence Paul has had, is having today, and will have as long as the world stands.
Though my sister-in-law, and others in her position, cannot teach the Bible in public schools, there is a way to teach Bible principles without revealing their origin.
Some things occur to me as I contemplate this method of teaching Bible truths. First, we have to know what the principles are to teach them. We can know them only by studying the Bible. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (Second Timothy 2:15 KJV).
Second, we have to be willing to share what we know. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16 ESV). Find a way to teach the truth in spite of any restrictions placed on you.
Third, we may have to be satisfied with “planting the seed” and not knowing whether it will produce fruit. “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor” (First Corinthians 3:7-8). We need to sow the seed and pray for a receptive heart.
Who knows how nine words taught by the apostle Paul, learned and shared by an ISS substitute teacher, and passed along to rebellious students will be used in the years ahead. But one thing is sure. Those nine words were taught and learned, and they are indeed the foundation for a happy life.
Sandra Oliver