Robert Keeley
Author
and Professor of Education, Emeritus
Calvin University
In each edition of IG Mix, we ask a guest writer two questions about serving in ministry.
What keeps you up at night?
I worry about what Christian Smith and his colleagues call Moralistic Therapeutic Deism and how prevalent it is in both young people and adults. I’m concerned that this has happened in part because our teaching about faith is too often more centered on how we should behave than on the grace of God. Sanctification is important, of course, but the good news has been watered down and is often subtly presented as more of a contract than a gift; i.e. do good and you’ll be rewarded.
What gets me up in the morning?
After a career in teaching in university and seminary, I’m still excited about the opportunity to help my students share the stories of God and his people with another generation of children and teens. I continue to learn more about how different passages in the Bible connect with each other to form one story. As I share this with my students, I see their excitement grow for being able to teach these things to their students. It is exciting to see the next generation pick up the mantle.
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Robert J. Keeley is Professor of Education, Emeritus at Calvin University, former Visiting Professor of Discipleship and Faith formation at Calvin Theological Seminary and the author of Helping Our Children Grow in Faith, co-author of Dear Parent, editor of Shaped by God and co-editor of Bridging Theory and Practice in Children’s Spirituality.
Also in the June 2023 edition of IG Mix
Information and Practice -- Learn: Step 3 in Becoming Intentionally Intergenerational
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