The Professional Competence of Christian Religious Education Teachers in Teaching Family Responsibility: An Exegetical Reflection on Genesis 18:19 at SMP Negeri 3 Siempat Nempu Hilir

Abstract

Family responsibility constitutes a foundational moral value within Christian education, particularly in communal contexts where family structures strongly shape students’ character formation. This study examines how the professional competence of Christian Religious Education (CRE) teachers contributes to cultivating students’ awareness of family responsibility through an exegetical reflection on Genesis 18:19 at SMP Negeri 3 Siempat Nempu Hilir, Dairi, North Sumatra. Genesis 18:19 presents family responsibility as a divine mandate rooted in covenantal obedience, righteousness, and justice, positioning instruction within the household as central to moral continuity. Employing a qualitative research design, this study integrates three methodological approaches: exegetical analysis of Genesis 18:19, a systematic literature review (SLR) of recent scholarship on Christian pedagogy and character education, and simple semi-structured interviews with Christian teachers serving approximately 380 Christian students at the school. The findings reveal that while students often understand family responsibility in practical terms, such as obedience or household chores, they frequently lack a deeper theological framework that connects responsibility to faith and identity. The professional competence of CRE teachers, expressed through biblical interpretation, pedagogical creativity, relational sensitivity, and ethical modeling, emerges as a critical factor in bridging this gap. This study concludes that integrating biblical exegesis with professional pedagogy enables CRE teachers to transform family responsibility from a mere social obligation into a lived expression of covenantal faith. Such an approach strengthens the moral and spiritual formation of students in public-school contexts, fostering responsible, faithful, and community-oriented individuals.