Good Cop/Bad Cop, Education, & It’s Too Late Baby
Proverbs 1:28-31
“Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, would have none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices.”
“Good Cop/Bad Cop” was the game I played as a Junior High substitute teacher. (I did some substitute teaching in the raucous inner-city schools of Lima, Ohio while I was on Sabbatical.)
When a student “acted out” I was determined that I would not allow one or two students to ruin the rest of class from learning “verb and subject agreement.” So I would march the worst offender down to the Principal’s office and engage in a “bad cop/good cop” banter with the office administrative assistants. The dialogue would go like this…
AA (Administrative Assistant)–”So Mr. Jackson I see that you have brought Courtney down to the office. I am so sorry she has given you such trouble.”
John (ME)– “Yes, but what it is truly sad is that Courtney will be missing out on a vital day of her education. Her sitting down here in the office is what is such a waste.”
AA –”Courtney, it sounds like Mr. Jackson is giving you a second chance. Is that so Mr Jackson?”
John–”Well only if Courtney stays in her seat, does not bother the other students, and actively participants in the lesson – then I will give her a second chance.”
AA –”Courtney, what do you want to do? Mr Jackson is giving you a generous offer here”
Believe it or not, this routine, routinely worked! There is nothing that settles a Jr. High Class down more then having the “class pest” sheepishly walk back into the class and positively participate in the lesson.
Today’s scripture seems harsh because Sophia (Wisdom) is saying that by the time the “simple” realize the errors of their ways that she will not listen to pleas for help. Sophia, teaches us that God’s ultimate punishment is to let us suffer from the consequences of our own actions.
What makes this understandable is that every minute, of every day God is calling out to us to seek wisdom, to learn what the good life is all about, and yet not only do we not listen – we despise God’s overtures.
God gives us multiple second chances, (like I did for Courtney), but there comes a time when we will suffer the consequences. Think about it, there are many who waste their education, they never really get serious about learning. Then these students, who never took their educational opporunities seriously, find themselves after high school with little or no skills. They suffer the consequcnes of their own actions.
Yet it is God’s desire that none should ever perish, that is why God is constantly, persistently pursuing you, and wishes every good thing for you. You know, for you, right now, It’s NOT too late for you baby.
Peace,
Pastor John