CHRISTIANISM

Introduction:

            Christianity is a religious belief system based on the teachings revealed by ‘Jesus Christ’. The central tenet of Christianity is the belief in Jesus as the Son of God and the Messiah (Christ). The title "Messiah" comes from the Hebrew word מָשִׁיחַ (māšiáħ) meaning anointed one. The Greek translation Χριστός (Christos) is the source of the English word "Christ".

Definition:

According to Webster dictionary

Christian- following the teachings or manifesting the qualities or spirit of Jesus Christ.

A Christian Philosophy of Education

From a Christian philosophy of education, thoughts and actions can be derived, implemented, and defended. The elements to be considered in developing a Christian philosophy of education range from theological and doctrinal to social and educational. The first step is the development of a Biblical base. The Bible becomes the skeleton on which the practical application of our philosophy can be arranged.

The Biblical Base

A God-centered pattern of education demands that the Christian educator spell out clearly the processes involved in the total structure of the curriculum. This means all procedures and processes must be based on a definite theory of knowledge.

Since education deals primarily with the communication of knowledge, the defining of knowledge of truth becomes important. Knowledge may be defined as an understanding or a clear perception of truth. The Biblical view of knowledge presupposes a source of all knowledge, for knowledge is dependent on truth; and truth, in turn, is dependent on God. All avenues of knowledge stem from God. God, Himself, is truth, and has chosen to reveal Himself through natural revelation and special revelation.

The implications of having a God-centered theory of knowledge as a base for the philosophy of education are clear. Since god is the source of all truth, then all truth is God's truth.

Since God is central in the universe and is the source of all truth, it follows that all subject matter is related to God. Thus, the revelation of God must become the heart of the subject matter curriculum. The Bible itself becomes the central subject in the school' curriculum. It, as God's primary revelation to man, must become the integrating and correlating factor in all that is thought and taught at the school. It is the basis by which all other channels of knowledge are evaluated and used. Through the bible the inter-relatedness of all other subjects and truths is made possible.

We may conclude therefore that the function of the bible in the subject matter curriculum is two-fold. First, it provides content of its own. Second, it provides a service function to the other subjects. The principles of Biblical truth should be applied to and in all other subjects. Claim to truth from other areas should be tested and evaluated by the philosophical and theological truths of the Word of God.

In summary some of the advantages of having a Biblical philosophy of education are as follows:

1. It co-ordinates the various spheres of life as a whole.
2. It relates knowledge systematically.
3. It examines the presuppositions, methods, and basic concepts of each discipline and group of disciplines.
4. It strives for coherence, the formulation of a worldview.
5. Its method is to consult data from the total experience.

Christian Philosophy and Metaphysics

The Christian philosophy view of metaphysics—of ultimate reality (ontology and cosmology)—is part of what C.S. Lewis termed “Mere Christianity.” There are certain things virtually all Christians believe, and one is that God is the supreme source of all being and reality. He is the ultimate reality. Because of this, we and the entire space-time creation, says Carl F.H. Henry, depend on the Creator-God “for its actuality, its meaning and its purpose.”¹ This creation is intelligible because God is intelligent and we can understand the creation and Creator because He made us in His image with the capacity to understand Him and His intelligent order. 

The Epistemology of Christianity

Epistemology is the branch of philosophy which deals with knowledge. Epistemology is the analysis of the certainty of what we claim as truth. Christians often tell us that they have a special kind of epistemology which gives them a conduit to some divine truth, to which we mere mortals are not privy. These kinds are usually one of three: Biblical infallibility, “divine intervention” (miracles) and divine revelation.

Axiology

Axiology is the task of assigning value to beauty. As such it is a broad category that encompasses many different philosophical disciplines. To assign a value-judgment to a work of art as being either “good” or “bad” is, in essence, a judgment from an ethical viewpoint. Consequently, one’s views on ethical matters will greatly determine what one accepts as artistic or beautiful.

WHAT IS CHRISTIAN EDUCATION?

Ideally there should be a healthy triangular relationship between three role-players - the parents, the church and the school. While the parents are the pivotal role-players (Deut. 6:7-9), this triangular relationship sets up an accountability structure as follows:

1.	The Church preaches Biblical doctrine and truth, which forms the theological foundation of the school and the family. They encourage and guide parents, from Scripture, to take up their Biblical responsibility to educate and raise their children in the fear of the LORD. At its heart Christianity is a teaching religion - Jesus Christ is referred to as "Teacher" (John 3:2), the Holy Spirit's ministry includes teaching (John 14:26) and the Great Commission includes "teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you" (Math. 28:20). Christianity and the Church have always supported education.
2.	The parents are the primary role-players in the child's education, discipline and rearing in the fear of the LORD. They support their child going to Church, heeding the Word of the LORD as well as in receiving an education.
3.	The school expounds on the Biblical Worldview, looking at all areas of life, including from mathematics, to the sciences, to the languages and the arts from a Biblical Christian perspective. This is to equip the Christian child to take dominion for Christ and His Kingdom. It really is an extension of the parent's mandate to "train up a child in the way he should go (according to his character, calling and God-given talents), and when he is old he will not depart from it" (Prov. 22:6) and the Church's mandate to "make disciples of all nations" (Math. 28:19). All three key role-players re-enforce one another and eradicate the mixed-messages between the values of the Church and home been put against the secular humanist values of the public school. They mutually support godly discipline and therefore reduce delinquency and increase Christ-like character. Godly discipline allows for greater learning, hence greater academic achievements. It is important that parents be the main governors of schools to keep accountability to a maximum. All three are subject to Word of God.

The Role of the Educator

The Christian educator or teacher is to be a guide or resource person in the wonderful experience of learning. He is to be neither a drill sergeant nor a manipulator, but rather, a facilitator of learning. His learners must know that he cares about them. The educator must have experienced the reality of what his is attempting to teach or else he is just a blind man leading blind men.

This is why the school or college that would develop a Christ-centered and Biblically grounded program must fly from its masthead this standard: 'No Christian education without Christian teachers', and must never, under any condition, pull its colors down. Compromise of this issue, always results in the progressive de-Christianizing of an institution.

The nature of the teaching process gives us some clues as to the function of the teacher. As a Christian educator the teacher must be both a Christian and an educator. As a Christian he has experienced the reality of God's truth, and he has god's Spirit to empower him and his teaching. As an educator he functions in accordance with the mandate of God to teach in accord with the educational principles contained in the Word of God. Educate means to change one's behavior.

In the book of 1 Corinthians, Paul exhorts his readers to be followers of him as he is of Christ. This must be true of the teachers too, for as leaders they must exemplify what they are trying to teach. They must be sprit-filled men of God.

Six Qualifications for a Spirit-filled Teacher are:

1. The teacher is the communicator of truth, he must be openly and boldly a Christian.
2. Every teacher must know the bible. Because the Word of God is relevant to all subjects.
3. The Christian teacher must be committed in every aspect of his life and work, in all his being, to the truth.
4. The teacher must seek excellence. This is a seeking after intellectual excellence to the glory of God, and a Christian teacher should be content with nothing less than superiority in this area.
5. The Christian teacher must truly love his students, seeking their highest good even when at times the way may be hard. Not only should he love his students, he should genuinely like and understand them.
6. Finally, the Christian teacher should exercise complete submission to the one great teacher. Every teacher must listen to the Lord, and the Holy Spirit, for his lessons and never should he think that he does not need to be taught of Him.

A very helpful summary concerning the teaching role is give by Dr. Roy Zuck. His five points fairly well sum up what the Bible expects of its educators:

1. Remember that Christian education is a supernatural task.-The presence of God's Holy Spirit in teaching takes Christian education beyond mere programming, methodology, and techniques.
2. A teacher is to rely on the Holy spirit.-Seen in light of the Spirit's teaching ministry, Christian education demands you be submissive to the guidance and direction of the Spirit. Teachers must work with God, not against Him.
3. Teachers are to relate God's Word to the pupil's experiences.-A proper understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit provides Christian teachers with a balanced, blended approach to the question of content and experience.
4. Teachers are to rest satisfied with nothing less than spiritual results.-A teacher must constantly test his teaching to see if it's resulting in spiritual growth on the part of his pupils.
5. Teachers must recognize that, in the final sense, God, the Holy Spirit, is the teacher.-It is God who does the teaching, a teacher is merely a channel of His grace, an instrument doing the planting and watering. The spiritual effectiveness of a teacher's work rests ultimately with the Holy Spirit.¹

The Role of the Learner

The learner represents the challenge to the Christian educational process. Each believer brings to class a personal set of needs, wants, and goals. Each is looking for fulfillment and growth in his own personal and spiritual life. Every learner starts with his own basic needs, thus the educator must seek to motivate the learner to discover and apply God's provisions to his life. In Christian education true learning comes as the learner experiences the wonder of God's truth applied to his life.

The pupil is to be considered as an individual, a person of worth, as god sees us as individuals. His personal experiences and knowledge have value. He is a responsible member of a learning group, having something to contribute and something to learn.

"A pupil's growth is determined not by what he hears, but by what he does about what he hears. The important thing is what is happening inside the pupil. He may accept or he may reject whatever is going on outside. Learning is what the pupil does and what the outer forces do to him. Teachers can influence the inner factors only by properly using the outer factors. If a teacher will work with the Spirit of God, He can use him to effect the desired inner changes."²

Biblical Foundations for Christian Education

1. God's revelation is the basis for all truth (Luke 11:52; Proverbs 1:7)
2. Parental responsibility is the priority control (Deut. 6; Ephesians 6; Genesis 18:17-19)
3. The example of early Christians (Acts)
4. Significance of the Holy Spirit in the life of the teacher (John 16:13; 1 John 5:19-21)
5. Christian Education is education for the whole man (Proverbs 22:6)
6. God's education is always in contrast to man's education (Colossians 2:8)
7. Biblical Education requires a submission of all intellect and will to the Lordship of Christ (1 Cor. 1:18-31; 2 Cor. 10:5)

1. What is Christian Education? (Acts 8:31:31; Jn. 16:13; 1 Tim. 4:6; Eph. 6:4; Prov. 22:6; Jn. 1:18; 2 Peter 3:18)
1. Pattern of teaching involves:
1. Introduction: intrigues interest in investigation (Jn. 4-7).
2. Interpretation: defines in framework of known to unknown (Jn. 4:10-14)
3. Interaction: encourages participation deepening impressions (Jn. 4:15)
4. Integration: assimilates new truth into enlarged life (Jn. 4:29)
2. Manner of instruction is:
1. More than telling or showing; engaging in participation (Matt. 22:19)
2. Many times unconscious in effort as well conscious (Matt. 22:16)
3. Multiplied in various activities as worship, camp, play, etc. (Matt. 5:1; 21, 28)
4. Manifested by imparting, counseling, discussing, living! (Matt. 22;16)
2. The Student...
1. Personality with attitudes, desires, knowledge, skills, etc (Jn. 2:23-25)
1. Created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27)
2. Marred by sin (Rom. 3:23)
3. Adorned with mental, physical, spiritual, social interests.
2. Learner, follower, disciple, endowed with: (Matt. 5:1-2)
1. Mind to discover, understand, perceive truth confronted (Rom. 1:14)
2. Heart to appreciate, desire truth made attractive (Phil. 1:8-10)
3. Will to appreciate, respond to truth and opportunity (Jn. 7:17)
3. Through Experiences...Will to do His Will (Eph. 1:17)
1. Education involves a teacher-pupil-subject-relationship
1. Teacher introduces, interests, explains, encourages (Jn. 4:7, 14)
2. Pupil investigates, appreciates, assimilates, acts (Jn. 4-15)
3. Subject is truth around which this interaction revolves (Jn. 4:26)
2. Education takes place only when truth is:
1. Understood in the mind, not mere mental assent or repetition (Acts 8:30-35)
1. Related to previous experience or fragmentary (Matt. 4:19)
2. Related to life situation or artificial (Matt. 4:20)
2. Believed in the heart (the entire being) (Acts. 8:37; Roman 10:9-10)
3. Actualized into life (adopted by will) (Acts 8:38; Prov. 3:6)
4. Of Truth...(Jn. 14:6; 17:17)
1. All truth is God's truth, but received in portions (Col. 2:3; Heb. 1:1-2)
1. Expressed in nature, providence, Scriptures, Christ (Rom. 1:20; 2:15)
2. Received by intuition, experience, authority, reason, faith (Heb. 11:3)
2. Holy Spirit illuminates, providing super-rational truth (Jn. 16:13)
5. Into a Life... (Jn. 20:31)
1. Purpose of grace and truth is conformity (Jas. 1:22f; 2 Cor. 3:18)
2. Christ is not only truth but life (Jn. 10:10; 14:6)
3. Provision of truth is complete (Rom. 8;32)
1. Standard of measurement of maturity is Christ (Eph. 4:13)
2. Instructions are adequate in Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
3. Power is provided in Gospel (Rom. 1:16)
4. Completed only when see Him and become like Him (1 Jn. 3:2)
6. Of Service... (Rom. 12:1-2)
1. Meanwhile, God provides an outlet for love (2 Cor. 5:14)
2. And the world awaits its demonstration (Jn. 13:35)
7. To the Glory of God! (1 Cor. 10:31)
1. That in all things He might have the preeminence (Col. 1:18)

Roles and Responsibilities

Every profession has its “bottom line.” For the Christian teacher, that bottom line is to apply a biblical philosophy of education to the following seven classroom roles and responsibilities:

1. Knowledge of the students one is teaching

2. Knowledge of the course content

3. Knowledge and use of instructional skills

4. An ability to organize and manage the classroom

5. Knowledge and skill in using media and materials

6. Knowledge and skills in planning

7. Interpersonal skills

ROLE OF THE PARENTS

1. Christian parents need to reorient their values and attitudes, for the sake of their children

2.  Aggressively teach your children Christian doctrine, for we do not know how long we will continue to have custody of them.  Do not put off any longer key teachings of doctrine and of salvation.  Pray daily for your children, praying a "hedge of protection" [Job 1:10], even a "Wall of Fire" [Zechariah 2:5] around them.  Parents must hold their precious children up to the Lord daily in prayer.

3.  Teach your children that they are not to divulge anything about what happens inside the home.  They are not to assume that an adult is their friend in whom they can confide. 

Role of  Father

1. Spend time with your children. They grow up fast in this busy life. Interact with homework, share work and projects around the house and go to church as a family. This builds unity and mutual love for God and you.

2. Build up your children's self-esteem. Give confidence to your sons and daughters in what they do.

3. Pray together. Not only for special requests, mealtimes or holidays but for each other's needs. This shows your concerns and teaches how God interacts with our lives.

4. Read the Bible as a family. A verse read by the children before meals then discussing application insures God is in their life. A special day, perhaps Sunday when a little time spent in God's word nurtures their faith and understanding builds character. Truth is contained in Scripture and is gained by study.

5. Know that your children are observing you through times of stress and times of happiness. They learn from your actions. Ask for forgiveness if a situation warrants it. Be a Christian father that places his faith at the core of what he does.

6. Take inventory of your leadership skills.

7. Discipline with care and grace. To be a Christian father means placing boundaries around your children for their own welfare. Overreacting produces alienation.

Role of Mother

1. A good mother has been historically expected to contribute her whole life to her family. Mothers have been the glue that holds a family together because it is up to them to provide the loving care and support needed by growing children.

2. The mother spends the most time with the children.

3. Mothers have great influence over the character children develop because they see her the   most.

4. Fulfill your role before God with diligence, love, honor, and wisdom.

ROLE OF THE STUDENTS

1. Children are to the best of their understanding love the LORD God with all their heart and with all their soul and with all their might.
2. Children are to grow in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. This is accomplished through learning the Word of God and eating and exercising and sleeping and obeying according to the wisdom of the Word of God.
3. Children are to honor their parents and be submissive to their will as long as it does not violate the Word of God.
4. Children are to love their neighbors, those around them, as themselves.
5. The roll of children is to go to school and respect their elders for if children don't do that the future society will be corrupt.