The Spirituality of Christian Religious Education Teachers in Teaching Salvation: A Study of Exodus 11:3 at SMPN 2 Banama Tingang

Abstract

This study investigates the spirituality of Christian Religious Education (CRE) teachers in teaching the doctrine of salvation at SMPN 2 Banama Tingang, Pulang Pisau, using Exodus 11:3 as the theological foundation. The research is grounded in the understanding that the effectiveness of salvation teaching in schools is closely related to the teacher’s lived spirituality, which shapes both instructional delivery and relational influence. Employing a quantitative descriptive design, the study involved 83 Christian students as respondents selected through total sampling. Data were collected using a validated Likert-scale questionnaire measuring four key dimensions: spiritual authenticity, Christ-centered instructional orientation, relational pastoral care, and motivational encouragement toward faith commitment. Instrument reliability testing indicated satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.70). Descriptive statistical analysis showed that the overall spirituality of the CRE teacher was perceived by students to be in the high category. Among the dimensions, relational pastoral care and spiritual authenticity received the highest mean scores, indicating that students strongly experience the teacher as a credible spiritual model. However, the dimension related to instructional depth in salvation teaching showed relatively lower, though still positive, results, suggesting opportunities for pedagogical enrichment. The findings affirm that teacher spirituality significantly contributes to meaningful faith formation in school contexts. The study concludes that strengthening reflective spirituality, theological clarity, and contextual pedagogy will further enhance the effectiveness of CRE teachers in teaching salvation in Indonesian secondary schools.