Everyone has a worldview and a way they see life. Christian teachers should be willing to use their own biblical worldview to help the students in class develop a strong set of beliefs by integrating biblical truths into their lessons daily and encouraging their students to apply what they learn in class to not only their biblical worldview, but to their life.
A worldview can be defined as a set of beliefs by which you live your life. This means that everything you say and do is defined by your worldview or set of beliefs. A biblical worldview is a God centered belief system, one where everything that you do is filtered through your belief in God and the Bible. MacCullough (2012) says, “These beliefs are the answers we hold to the basic questions
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According to MacCullough (2012), knowing key worldview questions and biblical answers, a teacher is more prepared to integrate biblical worldview activities into their lessons. Moreover, this can be accomplished with ease in Christian schools by integrating the Bible and lessons from the Bible into the lessons being taught. For example, MacCullough (2012) talks about student processing activities and how one story opened up a whole discussion on God and how as humans we can talk to God and that He talks to us through the Bible. Additionally, Dr. Sam Smith talks about those in public schools and how they can integrate biblical principles. He affirms, “We believe you can integrate biblical principles in the public school best by living your life as a model of Jesus Christ and by doing what you do well” (Smith, 2012). This is encouraging for those who choose to work in a public school because, although they are restricted in what they can say, they are still able to integrate a worldview. This can be done by letting Christ shine through them to their students. Similarly, this approach can and should be done in both public, private, and Christian schools. Letting Christ shine through should not just be for those times teachers are in a Christian environment, but in every situation that teachers encounter in their daily lives.
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
Christian education is for this project. Christian education is the training of special agents of the kingdom of God and the consummation of creation.” (pg.139) I found it fascinating that Plantinga describes ‘us’ within the Christian education system are called or elected to help God regain and restore His earth here with Christ. We have to remember, “no matter what our primary occupation we cannot let it become a preoccupation.” Plantinga helped me to reflect on my current life, my current job, and my current Christian education. I found that when we let these other aspects of our lives, whether it be bills, work or exams, we often allow reality to fade into the background. Or perhaps we could look at it this way: Our lives get so busy and hectic that we tend to put God on the back burner. Christian education whether in a university or biblical studies at home will give us guidance through our hectic lives, renewing our minds and keep us in close connection with our Creator and the rest of His Creation. Plantinga sums up Christian education as “for the kingdom of God. It equips us to be agents of the kingdom, models of the kingdom in our own lives and communities, witnesses to the kingdom wherever we go in the world.” (pg.143) When we ‘put on the full armor of God’ we not only protect ourselves from this fallen world but we are also able to project God’s glory to all those who we encounter.
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.
The goal of every teacher no matter their background should always be to teach all students to the best of their ability. Just as Ackerman (2012) states, teachers must believe that ALL students deserve a chance at success regardless of their backgrounds, learning styles, and/or disabilities. Teachers are to teach and exemplify an abundance of knowledge, love, core values, and life skills to their students in such a way that they will not only be able to apply their knowledge and skills in the classroom, but also in their daily endeavors. Even though all teacher’s ultimate goal is usually the same, the teacher’s approach, whether biblical or secular, will have many differences.
A Christian worldview leads us to believe in moral absolutes, miracles, human dignity, and the possibility of redemption. True Christianity is more than a set of ideas used at church. Christianity, as taught in the Bible, is itself a worldview. The Bible never dis...
My own definition of worldview is set of beliefs about the most important issues in life and my reaction to it. While in agreement with Jeff Baldwin’s eyeglass concept, I choose to compare my Christian worldview to an internal navigational system. When I am lost and need to be found, Christ is omnipresent. He knows my location and guides me into another direction. “It’s a roadmap, a guide for getting around in life, for interpreting reality, and for making choices” (The Importance of Worldview, 2011, p.11). Hopefully my final destination will be in the “city of gold, as clear as glass” (NLT, Revelation, 21:18).
All people have a worldview that is based on personal beliefs forming their reality and what they feel is meaningful in life. I am a Christian of faith that has a biblical worldview, which is based on the word of God. The Book of Romans 1-8 provides the word of God and answers for how Christians can live a righteous life for our savior Jesus Christ.
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.
I began this course thinking my worldview was that of a Christian Theist, as I had come to discover, as the course progressed, my worldview was a mixed bag of beliefs outside the elementary belief of Christian Theism. I was not disheartened by this finding, but surprised. The realization then set in that I was uneducated or did not know God like I thought. In fact my beliefs appeared to be more influenced by society than the deity of God. Fortunately, this is a learning experience intended to bring me closer to the truths of Christianity and an understanding of the beliefs of others.
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.
First and foremost, I will always be focused on the fact that it is my responsibility as a teacher to “cause my students to learn”. I cannot teach my students content unless I have prayed and asked God for illumination and for an “appliers heart”. It is important that I understand the content and application before I teach this to my students which should result in a life change for them. Application is the main reason for God’s revelation and it is my responsibility to share this with my students. My ultimate goal is to illustrate how scripture can be used in daily
(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
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...
Shortt. (1997, June). Christian Education Does Mean Something. Retrieved January 20, 2012, from Transforming Teachers: www.transformingteachers.org
My personal philosophy is founded on many different ideas from very well-known theorist as well as my own personal beliefs. My philosophy of education represents a very simple frame of mind. My biblical worldview influences my philosophy because if you put Christ first everything you do then you reap the fruits of the spirit.Students are taught values, respect, responsibility, self-control, honesty, integrity, kindness, thankfulness, patience, and commitment. These qualities then lead to children having their spiritual gifts uplifted and used to promote academic achievement and healthy relationships with the teacher and peers. Skinner, Maslow, and Vygotsky and their research influences this philosophy as well as analyzing each students’ learning style and understanding that each child comes with its own blueprint. As far as teaching, the main goal of this philosophy is to consider differentiation and applying different concepts to promote a