Professional Competence of Christian Religious Education Teachers in Teaching Honesty: A Reflection on Exodus 20:16 at SD Negeri 071150 Ombolata Alasa
Keywords:
Professional Competence, Christian Religious Education, HonestyAbstract
Honesty is a foundational virtue within Christian and national educational frameworks, yet many students in rural Indonesian contexts face increasing challenges related to dishonesty, peer influence, and weak moral formation. This study examines the professional competence of Christian Religious Education (CRE) teachers in teaching honesty at SD Negeri 071150 Ombolata Alasa, using Exodus 20:16 as the primary theological lens. Through an exegetical understanding of the commandment “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor,” honesty is interpreted not merely as a prohibition against lying but as a relational ethic essential for justice, trust, and communal life. To investigate how teachers communicate this virtue, a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted following PRISMA procedures, identifying 1,200 relevant studies published between 2010 and 2024. After screening and full-text evaluation, 87 articles were selected to explore four thematic areas: biblical-theological foundations of honesty, professional competence of CRE teachers, pedagogical strategies for value formation, and contextual influences on student behavior. The findings show that effective honesty education depends on three key competencies: mastery of biblical content, skillful pedagogical practice, and teachers’ personal integrity. Cultural characteristics of North Nias-such as communal harmony and reluctance to admit mistakes-require teachers to frame honesty as compassionate truthfulness. The study concludes that professional competence in teaching honesty is both a pedagogical and spiritual vocation, requiring teachers to embody biblical truth while cultivating an environment that nurtures integrity in both interpersonal and digital contexts.
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