The Social Competence of Christian Religious Education Teachers in Teaching Compassion for Others: An Expository Study of Genesis 45:11 at SD Negeri 167102 Tebing Tinggi

Abstract

Education in the Christian perspective is a transformative endeavor that nurtures intellect, character, and faith, aiming to cultivate moral integrity and social responsibility. Within Christian Religious Education (CRE), teachers are called to model and impart compassion-an expression of Christ-like love that transcends self-interest and seeks the good of others. This study explores the role of social competence in enabling CRE teachers to teach compassion effectively, using Genesis 45:11-Joseph’s compassionate response toward his brothers-as the expository foundation. Employing a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) guided by the PRISMA protocol, the research synthesizes 21 scholarly works published between 2015 and 2025 across theology, education, and psychology. The findings reveal that teachers’ social competence-including empathy, emotional intelligence, and relational sensitivity-is essential in creating compassionate learning environments. Expository engagement with Joseph’s story transforms biblical knowledge into moral experience, allowing students to internalize compassion through reflection and practice. The study highlights that compassion-centered pedagogy fosters emotional safety, empathy, and prosocial behavior, while strengthening moral reasoning and spiritual imagination. In the Indonesian pluralistic context, the socially competent CRE teacher becomes both moral guide and peacebuilder, embodying God’s redemptive love in diverse educational settings. Compassion thus emerges as both a theological virtue and a professional competency that bridges faith and life, transforming teaching into ministry and learning into formation. The research concludes that compassion-based education grounded in Scripture cultivates students who not only understand love as doctrine but live it as a daily moral practice, reflecting God’s own compassion in human relationships.