Archive for July, 2006
step 7: purpose for, and fruit of, American Christian education
Author: principledmom
Well most of the reading and discussion for this step I already covered in steps 5 and six, including defining American, Christian and education. Please refer back to those posts again.
I will add here that we need Christian home schooling because we know best how to teach our own children, with the help of the Holy Spirit. The principles are first applied personally, and the home is the sphere that directly influences our daily lives. God's original educational mandate was for parents and He intended us to teach our children His principles and Word, so that they will bear the fruit of Christian self-government.
American Christian education shapes my home education in the six ways I listed in step 5. It teaches us to think governmentally:
1) who or what is in control
2) cause to effect (internal to external)
3) Christian idea of God, man and government
4) idea that philosophy of government is a philosophy of education
5) every form of government has a philosophy of education (GACE p. 13)
It affects everything in all of life. Because it affects my thinking and philosophy, it affects the way I move in the world. When I teach my children I am doing the same for them.
When I faithfully apply the Biblical Principle Approach I affect the nation in several ways. I develop children who become good citizens. I am an active member of society, involved in political activities like voting and praying for leaders. I develop children with the character to sustain a Christian republic. I am aware of the problems in the three spheres of life and am able to pray for God's intervention. If you can think of more, please leave a note and let's add it to this list.
read comments (0)step 6: need for an American Christian philosophy of education
Author: principledmom
Why do we need an American Christian philosophy of education? What makes it unique? Why is it important?
Even though this book was written about 20 years ago, Ms. Dang's words are truer than ever.
In ignorance, Christians are aiding and abetting anit-Christianity in America. More than any other factor, it is the weaknessof CHristian character and scholarship thatis responsible for this country's apostacy from its founding Christian principles of education, government and economics. The pagan remains true to paganism. Spiritual backsliding is a believer's trait, not a pagan's. The dissolution of Christian character has resulted from generations of unbiblical education among Christian institutions of teaching and learning...It was the Biblical reasoning of the founding father generation that produced the only historical alternative to tyrrany and oppression of the individual, which promoted the fullest expression of Christian liberty, rather than pagan license. The Biblical principles that founded America provided for unhindered propagation of the Gospel. Wisdom thus encourages Christians today to identify Biblical principles of civil government as a foundation of their warfare against secular humanistic reasoning. (p. 10, 11)
Vocabulary of American Christian Education
Education
Mr. Webster's definition in his 1828 dictionary is as follows:
The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations.
Christian Education
What makes it dinstinct from other forms of education? It simply is a descriptive term, meaning "of or pertaining to Christ." It is education from and about Christ, whose philosophy, curriculum and methodolgy come from and point to Christ. Let's view Mr. Webster's definition of education in light of scriputre.
| Webster The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. | God's Word All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Tim 3:16-17 |
| 1. “enlighten the understanding” | 1. “Doctrine” |
| 2. “correct the temper” | 2. “Reproof” |
| 3. “form the manners and habits of youth” | 3. “Instruction in righteousness” |
| 4. “fit them for usefulness in their future station” | 4. “That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” |
A philosophy of Christian education should have a distinctly Biblical and theological basis which separates it and its product from progressive, secular philosophies. Such a philosophy of education, if truly Biblical, has a universal application to all nations and peoples. It can be an instrument to evangelize and govern or disciple Christians in any nation. (p. 13)
How exciting! It is for all nations and all peoples because the principles are distinctly Christian. And can you see how Biblical it is to teach our children from His Word?
Mr. Rose cautions however that is there is only internal change with no change in the other spheres, it is not the fullest expression of God's idea of government externally. We are to move from the internal to the external, shaping our civil government with our philsopohy of education/government.
American Christian Education
What is unique about our country's original Christian education? Mr. Rose lists 6 distinctions. It teaches:
- students to think governmentally
- Providential history and the correlation between Christianity and America
- Biblical principles that produced our Christian form of civil government
- what it means to be an American Christian
- why this nation is unique in the history of Christianity, to the credit of Christ and His church.
- how to perpetuate America's Gospel purpose: to extend the Gospel, inclusive of Biblical liberty with law, and Christian self and civil goverment.
There is a lot of food for thought in this step. God, help me to understand this in a deeper way. And help me to reform my philosophy of education to mirror Yours.