My Sunday school teacher had some difficulty teaching us a familiar Old Testament story yesterday, although I am sure she didn't notice. The story comes from Numbers chapters 21-30something. It is the story of Balaam the prophet who is commanded by his king, Balak, to ask God to destroy the Israelites. God says no, and informs Balaam that the Israelites are blessed. Balaam, however sides in favor of king Balak and the riches he offers. On his way to cause problems for the Israelites, Balaam stops dead in his tracks when his ass refuses to budge. The ass can see the angel blocking the path while Balaam cannot. Balaam beats the ass until, out of anger and frustration, the animal talks to him and tells it like it is.
First inhibited by the word "ass," our Sunday school teacher had trouble telling the story. Second, held back by the unnatural talking ability of the prophet's burro, our Sunday school teacher was unsure how "to apply this lesson to our daily lives." Should she use the story as a metaphor? Should she use the story as a real life example of some Christian ideal? She opted for door number three: hybridity. This meant she made the story a metaphor when it inconveniently defied reality and made it reality when she didn't understand the possible metaphorical meaning. This practice is common among Christians who choose to remake God in their own image. (Oh America! When will you learn how to read?)
Entirely bored with the lesson and the teacher's deliberate misuse of a great opportunity to say "ass" at church, I devised my own study guide that looks at the story strictly as a metaphor. Please consider the following questions in your personal study of the scripture:
1)The stubborn man Balaam beat his own ass as he attempted to disobey God,
In what ways do we beat our own asses in an attempt to disobey God?
2) How can we put our stubborness behind us and listen to our own asses?
3)What are some of the asses that God speaks to us through today?
If you choose to read the story as it is and not look for metaphorical applications, please devise your own study questions and send them in. I am interested in what I was "supposed" to learn from this tale.
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11 comments:
DYING LAUGHING here. Thanks!
My mother-in-law is notorious for skipping the "bad words" in the scriptures. She wouldn't allow others to read them aloud during family scripture study either. Funny lady!
My view is that the story is quite literal, and my question is- where can I get an ass like that? My ass tends to sag and is not as young as it used to be. I would like one that would be firm like that, unmoveable and strong.
I'm sorry you had to sit through a dumb lesson but I have to admit that I sympathize with the teacher and with Suzie's mother-in-law. In teaching Seminary for 9 years I always had a hard time saying the "a" word. Do you have any idea what happens when you say that work in front of 30 immature 14 year-olds at 6:30 in the morning? You have to live with the consequences for the whole rest of the year! But then, I also had a hard time teaching them about circumcision, too. I guess it's time to get off my donkey and do something besides sit in front of the computer!
You are further along in Sunday School then we are. WE have been discussing Charlton Heston and the 10 Commandments ....oh sorry Moses....but actually I think more people have watched the movie than actually read Exodus. So I have to beat my backside to make myself go to sunday school.
I don't know about your Sunday school teacher Mike, but you can bet your a** that I am not going to have rice crispies!
That is very true, Mo. I am in the middle of teaching the Old Testament to teenagers in Sunday School. Very true.
My real complaint isn't against a teacher's decision to not use the word ass, but against the teacher's inability (or choice not) to acknowledge the complexity of the text and her reaction to it. She pretended that the story was a simple lesson on obedience, and that is why it is in the Bible. I was also mad when she began the lesson thus, "As I read the lesson before church today..."
Aren't most things in life simply trying to teach us to be obedient? I mean, maybe I am too simplistic on my view of life, but I prefer not to try and look beyond the mark, or ask for more meat when I need to learn how to eat the manna. And-- maybe she has kids and was up all night, or exhausted all week and didn't have time for preparing. Maybe I am just lazy, but I am sure glad when it is someone else teaching the lesson and not me, because there is always someone who knows more than I do, and I hope they just have enough charity in their hearts to forgive my failings.
I don't think that Sunday school is meant to be an end all be all of gospel knowledge. Some of the purposes are to help us in our personal study of the scriptures and to stimulate gospel discussion. I have trying to read the bible straight through this year and I admit at times is is challenging, but I have really loved it. I am reading psalms right now and I love how much David loved the Lord and how he really had a personal relationship with him. However, I do think that some of the lessons from the bible would be challenging to teach. I think that if the gospel doctrine teacher has made us think and instilled in us a desire to search the scriptures further than she has done her job. I think the ass discussion has been funny but I could care less if someone decides to say donkey instead, it is their perogative to do so. But I do like the jokes that have been made!
Gee thanks, Ward, thanks June. I guess I couldn't see the big picture because I was so mad at Wally and Eddie.
Your site is on top of my favourites - Great work I like it.
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