"The Creative Word: Canon as a Model for Biblical Education" by Walter Brueggemann
The three-fold view of discipleship, as presented by Brueggemann in “The Creative Word,” shows how Israel utilized the Torah, the Prophets, and the Wisdom writings in their educational processes. Even more, those who toiled over the order of canon presented the books in such a way so as to be an instructional method/process itself. Combined, we can see how the OT especially is a solid method of curriculum development.
The Torah is utilized by disclosing information about God. This information is both presented confidently and received at face value. This creates identity and community. ‘This is who God is, this is who we are, and this is what we believe – period.’ There is little room for doubts or subjectivism.
When the Prophets are taught, they challenge our old ways of thinking (about God, the Torah, etc.). They are intended to deconstruct what we thought we knew in order to create a new way of thinking about God. The Prophets challenge and disrupt our status quo. They are not concerned with scope and sequence (per se); rather, they are concerned about revelation and obedience. The Prophets move us into new ways of thinking and new modes of operating.
The Wisdom writings help guide us into making our own discernments about God and faith. They take the mystery of God and life and present us with just enough truth to equip us for making moral and ethical choices on our own. They help us to see the connectedness of life, i.e., cause and effect. The Psalms, as a result, are expressive of this canonical-educational process.
So, as we look at the method of discipleship curriculum of the canon, we see that Israel was not concerned with maintaining any status quo. In fact, dissonance, critique, and challenge are a vital part of the educational process. But it is not challenge for the sake of challenge. Instead, it is challenge that leads into wisdom that helps empower the learner to discern on his/her own from an informed faith perspective. I’ve not come across any curriculum with such promise and potential.
