Teacher Professionalism and the Spirit of Obedience: A Biblical Reflection on Matthew 7:21 in the Context of SMP Negeri 1 Ulususua
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Abstract
This study examines teacher professionalism through the theological perspective of Gospel of Matthew 7:21 in the educational context of SMP Negeri 1 Ulususua. The verse emphasizes that authentic discipleship is demonstrated not merely by verbal confession but by doing the will of the Father. Grounded in this biblical principle, the research investigates how Christian Religious Education (CRE) teachers embody the spirit of obedience within their professional responsibilities and how such embodiment influences students’ spiritual development. A quantitative descriptive-correlational design was employed involving 78 Christian students taught by two CRE teachers. Total sampling was applied due to the limited population size. Data were collected through a structured Likert-scale questionnaire measuring two primary variables: teacher professionalism (pedagogical competence, subject mastery, ethical integrity, fairness, responsibility, and consistency) and the perceived manifestation of obedient faith. Instrument validity was established through expert review, and reliability testing yielded acceptable internal consistency coefficients (α > 0.70). Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s Product-Moment correlation were used to analyze the data at a 0.05 significance level. The findings indicate that teacher professionalism is perceived at a high level and that there is a significant positive correlation between professional conduct and students’ internalization of the spirit of obedience. Students reported greater spiritual awareness and moral commitment when teachers consistently aligned their teaching with lived example. The study concludes that professionalism in Christian education functions as an embodied expression of obedience, transforming institutional responsibility into spiritual vocation. Integrating theological reflection with professional competence strengthens both educational quality and students’ holistic spiritual formation.
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