How do we learn?

Encouraging growth and development is one of the core tasks of the church (Ephesians 4:11-16). There are communities or groups where predominantly a
teaching culture
is cultivated. With a teaching culture, “teaching” is done – the focus is on the teaching and the teacher. In rare cases, this can tip to the other extreme and lead to an absence of teaching. This happens when directives come from above – for example, from church leadership – that there is no need for biblical teaching at all.

In contrast to this is a
learning culture
. In a learning culture, there is “learning” – the focus is on Christ and the Scriptures speak of Him. One learns together and sees the Bible not only as a doctrinal edifice but also as a tool for a differentiated discussion (Heb 4:12). Here, the examination of writing is encouraged, as is the many-sided exchange of ideas about what is being learned. Growth and maturity then spring from positive engagement.

Although “teaching” and “learning” do not seem to get along without each other, the difference is expressed in the handling of “truth“. When a teaching culture prevails, cognition is quickly “explained,” if not “dictated.” In a learning culture, knowledge is sought and people are encouraged to engage with God and His Word. In the common recognition there is then an openness that is directed toward Christ and that neither gets tangled up in quibbling over words nor revels in rigid doctrines. This wants to be learned in cooperation.

In this sense, I was recently made aware of how the VBG (United Bible Groups) in Switzerland formulate this. They strive to be reflective Christians:

Just as VBG has thought deeply about how to build a good faith community and what it takes to do so, there are certainly other approaches. Do you know of any other such approaches? Then I like to hear about it.

Open-ended

Reflecting against my own background, I am struck by the phrase “open-ended” when it comes to the “meeting place Bible.” This stands out to me because it is often what I would most like to have seen in the various communities where I have been active. However, such a learning culture was lacking. I have experienced how dogmatically stubborn and unfree people think about the Bible, as if they had to protect believers from God’s own statements. What would happen if you implemented a different culture, encouraging one another to take God’s Word seriously and think critically about your own assumptions and alternatives?

Places where dogmatically stubborn and unfree thinking about the Bible, as if believers must be protected from God’s own statements.

Open-ended doesn’t mean I want you to believe what I think, but we think together. In doing so, we do not want to be focused on a specific outcome from the outset. However, one wants to set out together. Thinking together actually wants to weigh different points of view. One tries to formulate the questions openly, to examine the arguments in detail, to listen to different points of view and, if possible, to integrate them and thus come to a better understanding. And if one does not know something, then the question may remain unanswered. After all, you can still learn something later.

Think visionary

We do not have to take for granted the culture in which we stand. It is familiar to us and perhaps we do not know any other culture. But that does not mean that there is no alternative. It is we ourselves who help shape our culture. Culture can be shaped, formed and may also be questioned. Are there visionary thinkers in your own community, church or congregation who can imagine and promote a more diverse culture? If we could freely form our idea of a culture once, what kind of culture would we imagine? What would be the characteristics? What tasks should such a culture have?

• If we form a culture, it is about a core and origin, for example, the common calling in Christ and the gospel of grace.
• If we shape a culture, then it is a matter of developing the origin in a certain direction. Imprinting goes through many small and practical steps.
• If we fulfill a culture, then growth, maturity and vitality are promoted, with which again new people are invited, motivated and moved. This can be seen in the prophets, in Jesus and later in the Twelve Apostles, and very clearly in Paul. They had goals in mind, saw the current status, and pointed to something bigger. People are invited to live and learn in community.

A learning culture creates the prerequisite for people to become responsible. It is the prerequisite for a healthy community culture and the precondition for spiritual growth. Maturity and maturity are not by-products of spiritual life, but goals (1 Cor. 3:1-2; Heb. 5:12-14; Heb. 6:1; Eph. 4:11-16).

A measure of success?

Spiritual growth is not a program to be completed, nor a course to be gone through in six evenings. It is not an issue that you “anchor” in 40 days, nor is it an annual goal for a community. Such things cannot work, even if they have the appearance of success and measurability. They don’t work (or work poorly) because it takes time to form a culture.

Marketing-wise, it’s very tempting to just want to complete a 5-point plan. What could be the reason for playing with such recipes?

Some of the programs I’ve witnessed in churches and communities are kind of “run of the mill.” They try to motivate people through an activity. Not a culture, an attitude, but an activity is central here. Although one has the hope that this will move something, but as it goes with an instantaneous water heater: The water is warm for a short time, and then cools down again.

A culture can only be achieved through personal decision and imitation. Paul models this when he writes to the Philippians:

“Brothers, I do not yet consider myself to have grasped it. But I do one thing: I forget what is behind me and reach out to what is before me. Thus I chase after the goal, after the prize of the calling of God in Christ Jesus. All of us now who have matured may be mindful of this; and if you are otherwise minded in anything, God will reveal this also to you. Meanwhile, in what we overtake others, we should be of the same mind, to follow the basic rules according to the same guideline. Become my fellow imitators, brothers, and pay attention to those who walk as you have us for an example.”
Phil 3:13-17

And a chapter further on he writes:

“For the rest, brethren, all that is true, all that is honorable, all that is just, all that is noisy, all that is kind, all that is melodious, if there is any praise, consider these. What you have also learned and received from me, heard and observed in me, put into practice; then the God of peace will be with you.”
Phil 4:8-9

A learning culture is therefore not based on events, but on imitation, in which the attitude towards life and the willingness to learn are mutually promoted. Fostering a culture of learning is perhaps the most important prerequisite for sustainable community development.