CHAPTER II

"OBJECT TEACHING IN THE BIBLE"=

_In this chapter we find the Bible authority and example for Object Teaching. Read this chapter before you give your first lesson_

OBJECT TEACHING IN THE BIBLE

THE Bible is the teacher's best handbook of object training. This is true because the Bible is an oriental book, and the orientals received truth through symbols and visual instruction. Their mannerisms were symbolical, their holy writings radiant with visualized truth. So the Bible weaves into its cloth of truth this gorgeous method of appeal. Hence the Bible is something to look at as well as to read through. The oriental mind grasped truth and the human mind elsewhere is cast in the same mould. The universal mind follows the same program. The perfect art of the religious teacher is to teach Bible truth in the Bible method, and that method is "through the eye-gate into the kingdom of the soul." Let us wander through the wonderland of the Bible that we may learn the perfect art of great teaching.

The prophet Ezekiel was commanded to go out and set his face toward Jerusalem, and there, in the presence of the people hold aloft his sword and drop it to the ground and say "A sword is also sharpened" meaning that war was soon to come down upon them, and the sword of battle was sharpened for the fray. God was against them, and because of their sins they were to be punished. Jeremiah also was an object teacher for God and this was one of the lessons he taught the people. He saw a potter shaping a vessel and it was marred in his hands. It was defective in substance. Too much earth, and not enough of clay. He broke the marred vessel and made another of better stuff; by this object lesson, the prophet declared, Israel was defective; it had in its composition too much earth; it was marred with idol dust and earthly parts and so God would break Israel and make it over again. Jeremiah at another time produced two baskets of figs and set them before the Lord in the temple. One basket contained good figs, and the other basket spoiled figs. The prophet explained this object lesson by saying the-basket of good figs were God's good people. God will keep them and save them. The bad figs represented the unfaithful people, and they shall be scattered over the earth. This same prophet once took a girdle and hid it from sight in a dark damp place where it finally became mouldy and worthless. Then he brought it forth before the people and holding it up said, "This girdle represents God's people who have left the true fold, and joined themselves to idols of the heathen races. They are no longer a fit girdle to wrap around His loins as His peculiar and holy peoples." The prophet explains "Cleave unto your God, as the girdle clings to the body, so shall ye be kept close to him." Once more, this same prophet took a parchment and before all the people wrote thereon the sins of the people. He then read it once to them, rolled it up and bound a stone about it and cast it into the river saying, "So shall Babylon be destroyed and pass away."

This same object teaching prophet called the order of Rechabites before him and set before them ten pots of wine and ordered them to drink thereof, which of course they refused to do, and quoted the law of their clan in defense of their act. The prophet then said--so will you obey your earthly leaders, and their laws, but will not obey God and his heavenly commandments. So we learn from these illustrations, that God taught His people in their early days to "See Truth." Objects were His text books. His first manuscript on the art of object teaching He flung out upon the heavens,--it was the beautiful rainbow which was an object to look at and when it appeared they were to remember its teachings. There should never be another Deluge to destroy the world. Ever since that day when He wants the earth to look up and see His gorgeous object lesson, He sends forth the thunder to herald its appearance. He washes out the atmosphere with His rain that they can gaze upon it, and flashes out the lightning that their eyes may be arrested to behold it. Then in glorious peace, with sunshine dancing on its arching curves, He hangs out His object lesson, and we look and remember the promises of God. Behold an object lesson in colors! But, it has been remarked, this was God's method in teaching the races back in their nursery days, but now the kindergarten days are passed, and we are living in the golden age of civilization and philosophy, and we must put away childish things. Let me remind you that Jesus and Moses are alike as to method. They both represented the Father, so both utilize the same method. They both taught by objects. Moses of the Old Testament times, and Jesus of the advanced New Testament times. Jesus knew the human heart and He knew it was best for His day so to teach, for we receive eighteen times more truth through the eyes than through the ear.

Jesus used this royal, broad and open wide road to the soul. It was the best in the days of Moses. It was the best in the days of Jesus, because it was the surest and quickest and most lasting of all methods. Jesus left us two ordinances--the baptism of the believer and the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. Both of these ordinances are built around objects--water, bread and wine. All stand for the highest things in our holy faith. These two ordinances are both holy pantomimes, which by action, and use of objects, the faith of heaven is perpetuated among men. This was the Master's method--make it yours. the Master's truth in the Master's way is the masterful way of telling forth the message of Peace on Earth Good Will Toward Men.

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