Have you ever said or heard these kinds of phrases in the classroom…?
We believe that God sent Jesus into the world to save us.
We trust Jesus, and He has forgiven us for all our sins.
We love Jesus and want to do what He commands.
When we die, we will go to heaven and live with Jesus forever.
True statements, correct? Well, each statement is true for those who have come to true saving faith. But in most classrooms, it is highly likely that there are also unbelieving children and youth present. So using the term “we” may be inappropriate and even dangerous. “We” may serve to communicate a false sense of assurance to unbelieving students. Therefore, be careful in using inclusive language in the classroom. By being careful about the way in which we say the above statements we not only affirm and encourage true believers in our classrooms, but we also challenge those who haven’t yet come to saving faith. For example, a teacher could say…God sent Jesus into the world to save sinners like us.
If you put your trust in Jesus, He will forgive all your sins.
If you love Jesus, you will want to do what He commands.
If you are trusting in Jesus, you will go to heaven and live with Him forever.
(Image courtesy of Gualberto107 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.)
