Spiritual Competence of Christian Religious Education Teachers in Living Out Forgiveness: Insights from Genesis 42:18 at UPT SD Inpres Kalang Simbara
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Abstract
This study explores the spiritual competence of Christian Religious Education (CRE) teachers in living out and teaching forgiveness, drawing theological and pedagogical insights from Genesis 42:18 in the context of UPT SD Inpres Kalang Simbara. Grounded in a qualitative research design, this study investigates how a CRE teacher understands, embodies, and integrates the value of forgiveness into daily educational practice. The research involved in-depth interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis, focusing on one CRE teacher and 22 Christian students. These methods enabled a rich exploration of the lived experiences and pedagogical strategies through which forgiveness is internalized as a spiritual and relational value in the elementary school setting. The findings reveal that the teacher’s spiritual competence is strongly reflected in a God-centered understanding of forgiveness rooted in the fear of God, as exemplified in Genesis 42:18. Forgiveness is not merely taught as a biblical concept but is consistently modeled through empathetic interaction, dialogical discipline, and restorative approaches to conflict resolution. The study demonstrates that forgiveness-oriented pedagogy contributes to students’ holistic development, including spiritual growth, emotional maturity, and social awareness. Students begin to internalize forgiveness as both a Christian virtue and a practical life skill, influencing their interpersonal relationships and emotional regulation. This study concludes that strengthening the spiritual competence of CRE teachers is essential for fostering spiritually transformative education. It recommends that teacher development programs integrate sustained spiritual formation alongside pedagogical training to enhance the authenticity and effectiveness of Christian Religious Education in shaping Christ-centered character among students.
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