The Power of the Hidden Curriculum

I read a great article in Leadership Journal by pastor John Ortberg. He writes about the formal and the hidden curriculum:

     “Many years ago I heard a great teacher make a distinction I never forgot. Every educational institution, he said, has two kinds of subject matter. There is the formal curriculum. And there is what might be called a hidden curriculum.”

       Stuff like Algebra, geography, English lit., history–that belongs in the formal. It’s the official ‘education’ that we’re supposed to receive from our teachers. But then the stuff that we learn in the hallways, the stuff we pick up from the school cafeteria, the pecking order from jocks to chess club members that we not only see but imbibe, our observations of who gets laughed at or lauded–all these things belong to the hidden curriculum. And according to Ortberg, when the formal curriculum ends and all the final exams pass—much of the formal curriculum is forgotten. But hidden curriculum is never forgotten.  He also writes that if there’s ever a contradiction between the formal and the hidden–people always believe the hidden. Always.

   Get’s me to thinking about our church. Here’s the formal curriculum: Open Door to a LIfe Changing Grace. But what is the reality of our hidden curriculum? What do people really, see, feel, experience at Open Door? Because no matter what we have on our banners, and what we say from our pulpits, people will always walk out of our church believing the hidden curriculum.

So write me. Let me know what you think.

P.Dihan

Need More of God

Hello everyone! Sorry for the lag time. Ever since missions month and with all the guest speaker, we haven’t been updating this blog regularly. And before we completely flatline, we’ve recommitted ourselves to publishing posts—as long as there’s still interest out there in reading this stuff.

Let’s see. Last week was a straightforward gospel message from Romans 5:1-8. I guess I could take the time to rehash it–but honestly–you have the mp3 or the video to look at. So, if you can afford me the detour, I’d like to blog about something else

The other day, while talking to Amanda, my eldest daughter, about God, she interrupted me with an honest question: “Daddy, I don’t see God. How come I can’t see him?”

I wasn’t expecting to struggle with a question from a 4 yr old, but for some reason, I found myself fumbling for an answer.

 I know I believe in God.  I am convinced that he exists just as much as I know without  a shadow of a doubt that Mongolia exists–though I have never seen or touched that land. But Mongolia doesn’t affect my life. It’s just assumed knowledge, a fact I store away in a drawer full other non-essential facts.

And so I wonder…has God has become a non essential fact in my life? Is God real to me like God was real to Abraham, or Moses, or David—real enough where you’ll leave your own land and wander, or face down the most powerful ruler in the world, or sing countless love songs in the desert? Is God real to me like he’s real to the saints? 

All this flashed through my mind as I was fumbling for a response to my 4 yr old’s question. I managed to mutter something about faith and creation and Sunday School—but I went to bed with a general unease. And then, as I lay there unable to sleep, I realized the unease was actually hunger. I want to see God. Here is a pastor confessing that he needs to see more of God. Hope that doesn’t disturb you. 

Do me a favor–if God is real to you–and you’re seeing him in technicolor glory–blog about it. Let us know what your’e seeing. If he’s not, and it’s painful, blog about that too. We’d love to hear and pray for you.

Peace

PD