In conversation with a colleague the other day, he put it to me that there was
a clear difference in two forms of educating and developing people. On
the one hand, there is education through discipleship, where we believe that
faith is caught and not simply taught; where development comes by copying and
discovering how to live on the basis of another's life. But this
system at its worst can lead to sectarianism and bigotry. It is limited by
the inspirational abilities of the person who is leading.
On the other
hand, development through education built on discovery and freethinking has
attractions. It allows a man or woman to develop and explore new areas and
new thoughts. But education through discovery can, if left to itself,
lead to 'I'm unfettered' and 'I'm not answerable' in living and
attitude.
What interests me is that Jesus seem to believe both in
discipleship and discovery. Combined with real accountability. I'm content with that.
