The RenewaNation Review 2019 Volume 11 Issue 2 | Page 29

Plant the Seeds of a Biblical Worldview and Watch Them Grow By Carole Adams Biblical Worldview Rests on Foundational Biblical Principles: Part One in a Series TO GROW AN apple tree, we plant a seed, not a cup of applesauce. The seed has within it a new tree; applesauce is the derivative product from the fruit of the mature tree. To grow a worldview, we plant the correct biblical princi- ples: the seed of the idea, not the product of the mature idea. We err in our ‘orchards’ when we believe that teaching our children what they should think permanently impacts their worldview. We must train them how to think by equipping them with the tools with which to reason for themselves— the seed thoughts of all thoughts—the principles. The sad fact is, the secular culture around us displaces our heritage of Christian principles with secular principles. It’s time to re-sow the eternal, absolute, unchanging biblical principles of natural and moral law in the education of our children, every day, in every subject, in every way. WHAT IS A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW? A biblical worldview is simply learning to see by the light of God’s Word in order to reason from biblical principles morally, politically, economically, socially, and governmen- tally about all of life. How do we build a biblical worldview into the hearts and minds of our children? God tells us to do so through daily education. We are to impart our individual whole-hearted love of God to our children through His Word continually, every moment of the day, every day of the year, “when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deut 6:5-7). We are to give our children a thoroughly Christian educa- tion. Is this even possible? Yes, it is! But not if we give the secular state the role of ‘educating’ our children apart from the light of God’s Word. If the state is allowed to “train up a child,” we will, and we have, experienced the dark conse- quences. Even in our Christian homes and schools, we allow much alignment of worldview with secular curriculum and methods. SUCCESSFUL MODEL OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION One of the most successful models of Christian educa- tion on record is the biblical-classical model of Ameri- can education that built the original American culture by applying biblical principles morally, politically, economically, socially, and governmentally. This Principle Approach 1 birthed our constitutional Republic, by God’s grace and purpose, as a refuge from tyranny for humanity. It achieved high levels of literacy and learning and set the stage for the greatest period of liberty, invention, industry, and prosperity in recorded history. Can biblical-classical education methods be replanted by Christians today? It is mandatory that we teach every Chris- tian child foundational biblical principles (Deut 6:4-9; Prov 22:6). If we neglect this sacred duty, the secular culture will certainly inoculate our children against absolute truth, breed in them a deadly apathy, and instill an opposing world- view hostile to God. 29