I get to be the Bible Adventure guy for our community VBS this year. Yay! Day one we learn about Elijah being fed by ravens and deduce that God provides. Day two we learn about Elijah hiding under the broom tree and learn that God comforts. Day three we learn about Namaan the Syrian and that God heals. Day 4 we learn about Peter's forgiveness by Jesus and that God forgives. Day 5 we learn about Jesus promise of an eternal home and that God loves us forever. These are all great things God does.As I'm studying for VBS, I also check Twitter and read news. Who says only females can multitask! On twitter I link to a blog on marriage post Supreme court.(http://blogs.ancientfaith.com/joeljmiller/where-marriage-is-headed-next/) Joel's premise is that marriage started to fail back in the 50's as society began to view all its institutions through the lens of individual autonomy. Individual autonomy became our nation's highest value at that point and divorces rose. In fact, the author feels that we presently live in a serial polygamous society due to the rise of divorce and remarriage.
If Mr. Miller is right, and he just might be, how is our VBS curriculum interacting with such a society? Generally in this sort of curriculum God is the responder to what the child feels they need. I need something, well, God is the provider. I need comfort, well God is the comforter. I need healing, well, God can do that for me. I need forgiveness to get rid of my guilt, so God has already squared that away for me. Almost feels like God is the servant to my individual autonomy. I have more study to do.
