The Spirituality of Christian Religious Education Teachers in Teaching Forgiveness to Students at SMP Negeri 5 Lahewa Timur: An Inspiration from Ephesians 4:32

Abstract

This study explores the spirituality of Christian Religious Education (CRE) teachers in teaching forgiveness to students at SMP Negeri 5 Lahewa Timur, inspired by Ephesians 4:32, which calls believers to “be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” The research aims to describe how teachers internalize and model forgiveness as a central Christian virtue and how their spiritual life influences students’ moral and emotional development. Using a qualitative descriptive method, data were collected through interviews, classroom observations, and documentation. The findings reveal that teachers who cultivate spiritual maturity through prayer, reflection on Scripture, and empathy are more effective in guiding students to understand and practice forgiveness in daily relationships. Theologically, this study highlights that forgiveness is not merely a moral principle but an expression of divine grace embodied in Christian pedagogy. The study concludes that spiritually grounded CRE teachers serve as transformative agents, shaping students’ character to reflect Christ-like forgiveness in both school and community contexts.