Biblical Worldview and Christian Philosophy Impact on Education
Liberty University Robin Hilton
Biblical Worldview and Christian Philosophy of Education
Education is a cornerstone in the development of individuals and an avenue to obtain knowledge that can determine the course of one’s life. Education is the process in which the development of not only an individual but also a community, government, and country begins. It is the responsibility of educators to determine their worldview and philosophy of education that will be their driving focus throughout their career in. Knowing the importance of education, it becomes imperative that a biblical worldview and Christian philosophy be incorporated into the educational
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One approach teachers may adopt is a Christian philosophy of education. To apply a Christian philosophy to education requires that first there be an understanding of Christian philosophy. A Christian philosophy is developing a viewpoint “that will help us learn to think Christianly and live out the truth of Christian faith” (Capps, 2013, para. 3). To accomplish such an expectation, it requires the knowledge of God’s nature and character. According to Graham (2009) the elements of an educational Christian philosophy, are learning how to act like God, do His work, worship God, and be reconciled to Him (Graham, 2009). To act like God, one must first know and understand the character and nature of God. For educators to know and understand the character of God they must be willing to study His word. Through consistent study, the expectations of God’s work can be identified and provide guidance for beliefs to follow in carrying out God’s will. This requires that teachers believe the Bible is the absolute truth and that Christians are called by God to share their faith in Christ with others. Everything that we do as believers in Christ should demonstrate our worship of God. To be reconciled to God requires being in right relationship with God. Once these elements are understood then a teacher can apply them to the everyday educational …show more content…
Every individual has the opportunity to attend school and develop their intellect. Being able to provide an education that integrates a biblical worldview and Christian philosophy as a foundation should be the desire of every Christian educator in America. According to Buehrer in the online module of Faith, Freedom, and Public Schools near three fourths of all Americans identify as Christian. If there are that many people who believe in Christianity then it should be the foundation of the educational system in this country. Bartlett stated in his writing on a Christian philosophy of education that “students are searching for something to believe in, and Christians have the answer” (Bartlett, 2007, para.18). Therefore, educators need to understand a biblical worldview and Christian philosophy so when the situation arises they will be prepared to give an answer for the hope that they have in Christ
If as believers we fail to completely trust the Word of God and form our life under its direction then our witness will become misleading and even confusing. Believer’s effort in diligently understanding, applying and holding full trust to the word of God in all aspects of our life will be instrumental in building our faith. Such a faith will elevate us to enable us rise above the unrelenting wave of our culture’s non-biblical ideologies. Biblical worldview is very important in order to develop a life, which can be emulated by others in diligence, integrity and honesty in the modern society (Tackett, 2014).
Schultz also stressed the importance of a biblical worldview in the teacher. As the leader in each classroom the students will adapt their teacher’s beliefs, values and finally actions. If they are taught by a teacher who holds a dualistic view of dividing the sacred and the secular, or a postmodern or modern worldview, it will adversely affect the ability of that child to develop Christ centered wisdom based upon the Word of God. Schultz, in referring to the education of children, stated “anything that hinders their moral and spiritual development is the epitome of child abuse.” (2006, p. 163). As such, our curriculum, teaching methods, and moral example, must all reflect a biblical worldview that will evangelize and discipline each student to know and love Jesus Christ.
The foundation of a Christian worldview is the belief in a personal God, creator and ruler of the universe. The Christian worldview views the world through God’s word, providing the framework for humanity to live by giving meaning and purpose to life. It defines who Jesus is, human nature, and how salvation is achieved. In essence it is the basis of which Christians behave, interact, interpret life and comprehend reality. A Christian worldview imparts confidence, answers to life’s problems, and hope for the future. In this paper I will discuss the essentials of a Christian worldview and an analysis of the influences, benefits, and difficulties sustaining the Christian faith.
In Charles Colson and Nancy Pearcy's essay, "Worldviews in Conflict," the authors evaluate the shifting cultural context of today's society and how Christianity fits into this situation. The essay compares the differing views between Christianity and today's worldview, and informs the reader on how to engage in today's culture. The "Worldviews in Conflict" is a reliable source because its authors, audience, publication, and purpose make it credible.
In conclusion, teachers who share their worldview with their students and encourage them to also expand and develop their own biblical worldview are giving their students a whole integrated education. The hope of a teacher should be that what their students learn will carry them through life by always seeing everything through the lens of God’s
Jeff Passe and Lara Willox of Religion as Disruption mentioned that the teaching of religion is now a necessity as an influx of “cultures that do not conform to the Judeo-Christian religious tradition” grows in the United States. What they suggest is that some form of world religions is taught in schools but before that happens teachers must go through comprehensive training that relies on high-quality curriculum for teacher training and for use in the classroom. One major point that stood out was the fact that teachers are highly untrained and lack knowledge about other religions themselves so without a sensitivity course and extensive instruction on the religions to be covered the process would be nothing but a mess. They also noted that
The United Church of Christ (2017) claims that Christians’ faith may be developed through the path of faith education which includes the participation in the practices of individuals’ day-to-day lives and the formalities of the Church – this is achieved through devotion, evangelism, study and love. Through the Religion Survey it displayed 58% of the participants acknowledging that youth groups have been significant in formation of Christian principles (Refer to figure 3; 457321G, 2017). This is further supported by Dr. Fredrica Harris Thompsett, Professor of Historical Theology at EDS (2017) who recognizes that faith formation is an enduring evolution of understanding, service and love of God. St. Joseph Catholic Church (2017) claims that within the teaching which God has revealed to individuals out of love, their way through life is illuminated by reality. In fact, As Pope Benedict XVI (2009) states: “the truth is essential for the true growth of individuals and we must have the truth to be able to know how to live”.
As stated in the Vatican document The religious Dimension of Education in a Catholic School “Future teachers should be helped to realize that any genuine educational philosophy has to be based on the nature of the human person, and therefore must take into account all of the physical and spiritual powers of each individual, along with the call of each one to be an active and creative agent in service to society.” (Baum, 2017). A teacher should not shy away from the difficult lessons, or from students who may struggle with their faith as it is part of an adolescent’s development, it is also these struggles that promote intellectual and personal development as supported with the following: “Intellectual development and growth as a Christian go forward hand in hand. As students move up from one class into the next it becomes increasingly imperative that a Catholic school help them become aware that a relationship exists between faith and human culture.” (Baum, 2017)
The Catholic school “is convincing only if carried out by people who are deeply motivated, because they witness to a living encounter with Christ” (Congregation for Catholic Education, 2007). If we are to evangelise our students and families then we also need to evangelise our teachers. We can’t ask teachers to pass on what they don’t have themselves. The Catholic school is now faced with students who lack authentic models to guide them (Congregation for Catholic Education, 1997). The Congregation for Catholic Education (1997, p. 3) states that “the Catholic school should be able to offer young people the means
In Glen Shultz’s (2003) book Kingdom Education: God’s Plan for Educating Future Generations he addresses the importance of education in coordination with the family and church in developing and training future generations within a biblical worldview. He describes moral decline, increased crime rates, the disintegration of the family and the church’s inability to be the salt of the earth as examples of the increased secularization because of the removal of God and His word from our schools. The author’s answer for these dilemmas is biblical principles that are consistently taught in the home, church and school. Shultz (2003) compared kingdom education to the three legs of a milk stool “on which an individual can safely rest, regardless of the roughness of the ground (Shultz, 2003, p. 12). Kingdom education is defined through the lens of the kingdom of God where God reigns and is active in all areas in and around our lives. The focus of kingdom education is on biblical principles and is the incorporation of these principles into a child’s home, church and schooling. The purpose of kingdom education is twofold, the acceptance of Christ as a personal savior and the development of the mind for God’s use and glory. The three foundations of home, church and school are discussed in regards to the role each has in relation to kingdom education.
The statement “philosophy of Christian education” contains much information to be unwrapped. The term philosophy literally means, in the Greek, “love of wisdom.” In this case, the study of philosophy involves a “critical study of the basic principles and concepts of a particular branch of knowledge” (Philosophy). My understanding of Christian education is what I hope to unveil in this brief document. A high-quality education of children must embrace a student’s intellect, spiritual nature, social life, emotional growth, and physical health. I see evidence for this in scripture as Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52). The goal of education should be the training of children, in every area of their life, for adulthood. What makes my philosophy of education different from the secular world is the distinctively Christian biblical worldview. It is this biblical worldview that sets apart Christian education from the public schools in our culture because we address the spiritual dimension of children that the secular humanistic education denies.
It is important through Christian education to be aware of the impact that occurs in the heart of a child as well. Christian education must go further than giving the child knowledge and facts. It must include a vision for the impact their educational experience has on the heart of a child by seeking to educate their emotions and the influence of their actions in their lives. The worldview of a child is influenced greatly in their school experience. It is the responsibility of the educator to provide a learning environment that will make this impact appropriate and pleasing to
(Larry and Sue Richaards, 2011)” With this verse I think that everyone is created unique by God and had different learning capabilities and styles. For if we were created equal there would not be diverse spiritual gifts or even different eye colors. I also think that to truly incorporate a Christian worldview a teacher must be strive to be like Jesus in possess the Fruits of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit are “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23. (Larry and Sue Richaards, 2011) For children learn from their environment around them and in order to understand and gain knowledge fully they mimic the
You can not put a value on a Christian education because it creates a setting of respect for God, His Word and His authority. It gives students a foundation of discipline, morality and a proper work ethic that can also be applied in other areas of life. Christians were actually the first to advocate universal education. The term university confirms this as it breaks down to “uni veritas” which literally means “one truth”. It was Christians in Europe who launched the first universities in France and the United Kingdom. It is ironic that so many scholars today are so hostile towards Christianity. Perhaps they do not know about the Christian roots of universal education for all classes and both genders or about the contribution of Christianity toward worldwide literacy, and higher education.
In the context of Christian education, the teacher performs his role by using lessons culled from the Bible and communicating them through lectures, seminars, or discussions. However, in order to be an effective teacher, I should expand on these lessons by providing real-life examples and hypothetical illustrations in order for the student to find relevance in the lessons taught. I should provide good models for the student to imitate, and in fact, I should also make sure that I am a good model myself by knowing and taking to heart all the lessons I teach. In other words, the instruction must be thorough. To ensure that I am fulfilling my role as teacher, I must provide an opportunity for the students to respond to the lesson. According to the Richards and Bredfeldt, when a student discovers a relationship between himself and the lesson, the “pathway to personal response stands open.” By making the lessons individually applied, decentralized and student-centered, but teacher-oriente...