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The question of when did life begin or is there really a God is one that individuals ponder at some point of time in their life. As Christians it is our duty to guide and lead as many people as possible and apply the teaching of Christ to their lives. Matthew 28:19-20 states, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (New International Version). As educators in the classroom, we must remember that we are constantly under review. The students watch and mimic our actions, attitudes, and behavior. As Christian educators we must find ways to instill our values and morals in the classroom so that our Christian worldview is displayed through our actions and teaching.
Biblical Worldview
A worldview is one’s perception of reality and his or her moral beliefs and actions. “A Biblical worldview is viewing the world, the beginning of the world, people in the world, the problems in the world, governments in the world, issues in the world, solutions for the problems in the world, and the future of the world — through God’s Word” (Pope, 2000). There are six important components of a biblical worldview: God is the creator of all things, the Bible is God’s word, absolute moral truth exist, Jesus Christ is the son of God, Satan is real, and salvation is granted only through one’s faith in Christ.
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An individual with a biblical worldview believes their calling in life is to serve, worship, and love God. A biblical worldview requires us to trust God in every aspect of our lives creating a comprehensive faith that will stand against any of society’s nonbiblical ideas. Romans 12:2 states, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (New International Version). They believe that the Bible is God’s written word and they live their lives according to his teaching.
The foundation of a biblical worldview is built on the infallible Word of God. “When you believe the Bible is entirely true, then you allow it to be the foundation of everything you say and do” (Tackett, 2006). It is extremely necessary to have a biblical worldview because many of our personal worldviews are deeply affected by the world. Proverbs 3:5-6 state, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (New International Version).
Christian Philosophy of Education
According to our textbook, the word philosophy simply means the love of wisdom and education is perceived as a subset of learning (Knight. 2006). Christian philosophy of education is developed through one’s perception of Christian reality. “As Christians continue to enter the world of public education, it is imperative that they develop a philosophy of education based on the truth of the Scriptures and a complete understanding of God’s desire that man enter a relationship with him” (Bartlett, 2007).
This philosophy starts with God. It is built on a foundation of biblical metaphysical position. According to our text, the Bible is the ultimate source of knowledge and the most essential epistemological authority (Knight, 2006). In terms of truth, knowledge, and wisdom as it relates to Scripture, they are always related back to God. The Bible is the absolute truth and all sources of knowledge must be tested and verified through scripture. God’s word provides us with the foundation and context for all subjects in the curriculum of Christian education.
It is our main source of his knowledge and wisdom. The Bible also informs us that every individual has a calling or purpose for their life. Christian philosophy addresses the morality and spiritual fruits of individual students which in return will prepare them for their God-given purpose in life. “If we capture and embrace more of God’s worldview and trust it with unwavering faith, then we begin to make the right decisions and form the appropriate responses to questions on abortion, same- sex marriage, cloning, stem-cell research and even media choices” (Tackett, 2006).
Implications of Educational Practice
“What Christian educators think about human nature, about the content and goals of education, about the roles of teacher and learner, and about the evaluation of learning must begin with a biblical understanding of God’s character and plan” (Forrey, 2000). Christian educators must find a way to instill values into their students, provide awareness of Christ, and provide our students with a quality education. While this may sound like a lot, it is quite easy to do because we were called to be servants.
A Christian worldview helps us to develop and shape our identity. Christian educators are constantly teaching and reminding students about the truths of God’s through our actions, attitudes, and beliefs. We are called to provide students with values, morals, beliefs, and knowledge to connect their educational and spiritual beliefs. 1 Corinthians 12:28 states, “And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administering, and various kinds of tongues” (New International Version).
Teaching is a gift from God that goes beyond the classroom. The display of God’s love, compassion, patience, and humility will carry the students throughout their life beyond classroom instruction and curriculum. When Christian educators model their Christian worldview in the classroom, they are impacting the students for a lifetime which in return will inspire them to pass those same morals and values to others for years to come.
As a current special education teacher, working with students who have emotional disabilities, I encounter many students who are looking for their purpose and meaning in life. I believe that relationship building is the key to reaching my students. We communicate daily about morals, values, respect, and compassion for others. Communication is important for my students because some them do not have an ideal situation at home.
I understand that my students are watching my every move and action, so I make sure I am always modeling my Christian worldview. My students come into class everyday knowing they are loved, protected, and pushed to grow academically and spiritually. As a Christian educator it is my responsibility to expose them to Christ to help them develop character that will bestow many blessing upon life far beyond the classroom.
Conclusion
In closing, it is safe to say that teaching is a challenging yet rewarding job. We are more than just educators, we are Christian educators who were chosen to serve individuals and lead them to Christ through practices in biblical and philosophical ideas in education. Our biblical worldview should shine through us in the classroom because God hand picked us to bear this gift of serving individuals in a special way.
If we model the same morals as Jesus in our classrooms, we will inspire our students in all aspects of their lives. 2 Timothy 3:16 states, “All scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness” (New International Version). All students deserve the blessings of a sound education that drives them educationally, mentally, and spiritually and a classroom grounded in Christ gives them just that.
