Pedagogical Competence of Christian Religious Education Teachers in Teaching through Spiritual Symbolism: A Reflection on Exodus 35:10 at UPT SPT SDN 107438 Gunung Manumpak
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Abstract
This study explores the pedagogical competence of Christian Religious Education (CRE) teachers in utilizing spiritual symbolism as a learning approach, inspired by Exodus 35:10, at UPT SPT SDN 107438 Gunung Manumpak, Deli Serdang. The research is grounded in the understanding that symbolic pedagogy plays a significant role in helping elementary students grasp abstract theological concepts in meaningful and developmentally appropriate ways. The school context includes 22 Christian students and eight Christian teachers, including the CRE teacher, which provides a focused environment for examining faith-based instructional practices. This study employed a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) design to synthesize scholarly perspectives on pedagogical competence, symbolic learning, and Christian education practices. The findings indicate that effective use of spiritual symbolism by CRE teachers is closely linked to three core competencies: theological clarity, pedagogical creativity, and contextual sensitivity. Symbol-based instruction, such as the use of biblical objects, narratives, and visual metaphors, was found in the literature to enhance students’ engagement, deepen conceptual understanding, and support internalization of spiritual values. The review also highlights potential challenges, including the risk of superficial symbolism and the need for guided reflection to ensure theological accuracy. Within the local school context, the relatively small number of Christian students allows for more personalized instruction but requires intentional pedagogical planning. The study concludes that pedagogical competence in symbolic teaching is most effective when teachers integrate sound biblical interpretation with developmentally appropriate learning strategies. Strengthening teachers’ reflective practice and resource development is recommended to optimize symbol-based Christian Religious Education in elementary settings.
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