THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A THEOLOGICAL AND A SECULAR TEACHER

A
Paper
Presented to
Mrs. Abigail Albert Abdullahi
ECWA Theological Seminary, Kagoro

In Partial
Fulfillment of the
Requirement for the course
Teaching Method

By
Ibrahim Solomon
B. A. Pastoral
ESK/2021048

October, 2022
 INTRODUCTION

In every given institution, there are those who impact knowledge, they a known as

“teachers”. But there are different sectors of teacher, who teaches in various institutions, with

different aims and goals, laws and principles guiding their teachings. Whereby, in this paper,

the researcher would look into the differences between a theological and a secular teacher, by

first knowing who a teacher is. John Milton Gregory said “teaching in its simplest sense, is

the communication of experience. This experience may consist of facts, truth, doctrines,

ideas, or ideals, or it may consist of the processes or skill of an art.”1 Further on, we shall

examine both the two, to know how they communicate, between the, teacher-and the learner.

Meanwhile, the researcher first of all will define some terms, to engage and to know

fully the differences, of a theological and secular teacher.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

WHO IS A TEACHER?

The words of Smith, in Emmanuel Joseph Chom’s work, defined a teacher “as a

person who helps others to acquire knowledge, competencies or values. A teacher un the

professional usage is seen a person who trained or recognized and employed to help learning

in a classroom situation, in order to achieve set educational goals.”2 In addition, the English

1
John Milto Gregory, The seven laws of teaching,(Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1965), 2
2
Emmanuel Joseph Chom, challenges of teacher education in the 21st century,( IMAGEpoint Graphics
& Publishing, Nigeria, 2018), 102
Dictionary defines a teacher as one who “instruct others in religion; a preacher; a minister of

the gospel; sometimes, one who preaches without regular ordination.”3 Therefore, a teacher,

teaches his listeners or student, in bringing terms, doctrines, and issues, to their own

comprehension. Again we see Kenneth and Howard defining a teacher as “a person with

transparent objectives and transformative motivation. He teaches more than a subject; he

teaches individuals. If the student has not learned, the teacher has not taught”4

WHAT IS SECULAR?

In contemporary English, “secular is primarily used to distinguish something (such as

an attitude, belief, or position) that is not specifically religious. Anything that is not affiliated

with a church or faith. Secular means, of or relating to the physical world and not the

spiritual world, not religious.”5 Again William R. Yount defined secular as “worldly rather

than spiritual” maters, “temporal,” “profane”6

WHAT IS THEOLOGY: The word theology is from a Greek words, theo which means God,

and logy which means word, that is say theology is the word of God, or the study of the word

of God. The words of Hodge Charles in the book of Danny MacCAIN define theology “as a

discourse concerning God” “the science of the supernatural,” and “the science of religion” 7
3
Princeton university, English Dictionary, (http://wordnet.princeton.edu, 2006)
4
Kenneth O. Gangel & Howard G. Hendricks, the Christian EduCator’s Handbook On Teaching
(Baker Books 1988), 243-244.
5
https://www.merriam-webster.com Access 24-August 2022
6
Williiam R. Yount Created to Learn, (Broadman & Holman Publishers, Nashville, 1996), 233
7
Charles Hodge, systematic theology, vol.III (Grand Rapids, MI USA: WmB. Eerdmans Publishing
Company, rpt. 1997), pp. 19-20. Danny MacCAIN, WE Believen An Introduction to Christian Doctrine vol. I
(Africa Christian Textbooks ACTS, 2009), 10
 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A THEOLOGICAL AND A SECULAR TEACHER

In this section, the researcher will refer to theological teacher as “Christian education” and to

the secular teacher as “secular education” because that is what they display and impact on the

student. Well, to know the differences one should know first, the content and what both of

the teachers teach. “All around us we see status given to secular education. Children spend

the bulk of their childhood in it. School board elections can become the focus of the entire

community. Amid all that, theological teachers are likely to feel like second-class educators,

people who “merely” teach the Christian faith, while “real” or secular teachers are out there

shaping the world.”8 Some of the differences are:

1. A HIGHER PERSPECTIVE: Every theological teacher in an institution aimed to

transform the student personally and collectively, so as to reveal to them what had

been known to men, but not so with secular teacher. “In the Christian education we

deal with the transcendent. Secular education deals only with the human.”9 What

secular teachers impact on student is “certificate knowledge” and the get paid at the

end of the day. “Christian education change lives, the Holy Spirit impart revelation,

the listeners their eyes open; their minds are animated”10

2. CONCERN FIRST WITH GOD

8
Earl palmer, Roberta Hestenes, Howard Hendricks, Mastering Teaching (Christian today, Multnomah
Press, 1991), 16
9
Earl, mastering teaching, 16
10
Earl, and Roberta,1991, 17
 Theological teacher centered his teachings on God knowing fully that all

things come from Him alone. “Secular education or teacher, assumes that human

observations and interpretations are the basis of realty. While a theological or

Christian education assumes that since God is the creator and sovereign of all, he

alone is the interpreter of all.”11 When God interpret we learn and mature positively.

Scripture uses at least three different words as both goals for teaching and measures

of maturity. “Maturity should manifest itself in relationship, morality, and

theology.”12 Secular teacher can focus on Business and money, matter and molecules,

people and issues, but the Christian educator can move beyond to the soul, the human

spirit, and life after death, the kingdom of God, the return of Christ, and also the

Eschatology.13 The knowledge of God will be there for the student to learn, to equip

them in both educationally and Biblically. The differences comes based on the aim of

the teachers, theological teacher works to transform the world, while secular teacher

works to shape the world per se. secular teacher according to Loise E. Lebar said

“Do not give central place to the unique revelation of God’s word that is

communicated by God’s Spirit, our distinctive content calls for distinctive

treatment”14

11
Earl, 17
12
Kenneth O. Gangel & Howard G. Hendricks, 1988, 64
13
Earl, 17
14
Lois E. Lebar, Eduaction that is Christian, (Canada England: Victor Books Press, 1995), 24
 3. A theological teacher aims at building set of individual Spiritually, and help to edify

student in knowing more about Christ and help them become like Christ, while the

secular teacher aim at academics, only to edify the world which will perish one day as

it result to certificate, to work either in the universities, colleges, and many others.

Religious education is faith seeking understanding, where student are thought to

depend on God of any wisdom that may come their way, while secular depend on

their deeds, capability and thinking they can do it with the help of either bribing a

lecturer for grade, marks and credit to pass a certain course. Which a theological

teacher will not permit such to happen.

4. To the theological leaders, teaching is a form of Ministry: since Christian education

transform student to grow spiritually, then the teachers should know that they are

already engage themselves in the ministry of God. The new Testament clearly

specifies teaching as a divine calling (Eph 4:11; 1 Cor 12:28; Romans 12:6-8). “A

theological teacher is a pastor or minister of the gospel.”15 But to the side of secular

teacher, he or she is seen as a mere person, who can do any how and nobody will

confront he/she, treat the student the way he/she wants to, some of them teach just to

earn salaries at the end of the month.

Teaching is much more than the passing on of information and stuffing student’s

heads full of knowledge. It is more than helping a student prepare for the world of

15
George R. Knight Philosophy and Education: An introduction to Christian perspective, (Andrew
University Press Berrien Springs, Michigan, 1980), 195.
 work. In its essence teaching is relating to the Master teacher in such a way that,

teacher become agents in the great plan of redemption16

CONCLUSION

The research thus far, has observed some of the comparison between a theological

and a secular teacher. But along the explanation, it may seem as if, the secular teacher

is not of much significant than the theological teacher, but the aim in which the

researcher had planned to achieve is to know the advancement of both of the teachers.

Though, in a nutshell they perform their duties in different fields, and have their goals

to achieve at the end of their service. The researcher will like to roundup like this, a

theological teacher should know he/she is an agent of salvation while, a secular

teacher should fully know that he/she is agent that boost an educational standard of an

environment or the whole world at large.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

16
George R. Knight Philosophy and Education: An introduction to Christian perspective, (Andrew University
Press Berrien Springs, Michigan, 1980),197 “what good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet
forfeits his s
oul?” (Mathew 16:26)
Chom Emmanuel, challenges of teacher education in the 21st century,( IMAGEpoint
Graphics & Publishing, Nigeria, 2018.

Gangel Kenneth O. & Howard G. Hendricks, the Christian EduCator’s Handbook On

Teaching (Baker Books 1988.

George R. Knight Philosophy and Education: An introduction to Christian perspective,

Andrew University Press Berrien Springs, Michigan, 1980.

Hodge Charles, systematic theology, vol.III (Grand Rapids, MI USA: WmB. Eerdmans
Publishing Company, rpt. 1997.

https://www.merriam-webster.com Access 24-August 2022

Lebar, Lois E., Eduaction that is Christian, Canada England: Victor Books Press, 1995.
Milto, Gregory John, The seven laws of teaching,(Baker Book House, Grand Rapids,
Michigan, 1965.

MacCAIN Danny, WE Believen An Introduction to Christian Doctrine vol. I Africa

Christian Textbooks ACTS, 2009.

Palmer Earl, Hestenes Roberta, Hendricks Howard, Mastering Teaching Christian today,
Multnomah Press, 1991.

Princeton university, English Dictionary, http://wordnet.princeton.edu, 2006

Yount Williiam R. Created to Learn, Broadman & Holman Publishers, Nashville, 1996),
233