|
Christian Education? What's That ? — Print it !!  |
  |
Return to Love
to Learn Place
Return to General
Homeschooling Message Board
Return to Bible
|
Christian Education? What's That ? — Print it !! |
|
|
The fear of the LORD
is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they
that do His commandments: His praise endureth for ever. — Psalm 111:10 |
Casting down imaginations,
and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge
of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience
of Christ. — 2 Corinthians 10:5 |
Christian Education: What is it?
|
The end ... of learning
is to repair the ruins of our first parents [i.e., Adam and Eve]
by regaining to know God aright, and out of that knowledge to
love Him, to imitate Him, and to be like Him. — John Milton |
A Christian education is one that...
(a) A Christian education
trains a child along in each academic discipline, building upon
skills learned and mastered ... "precept upon precept; line
upon line" Isaiah 28:10.
(b) A Christian education aides the covenant child to understand the relationship between what they are learning in academics, the "real" world, and their duties as Christians; specifically, the Dominion Mandate or Cultural Mandate (in the older testament) and the Great Commission (in the newer testament) as Christians are called to disciple and govern the world thinking their thoughts after God.
|
Casting down imaginations,
and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge
of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience
of Christ. For it is written,
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing
the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is
the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God
made foolish the wisdom of this world?
|
(c) A Christian education
trains up warriors for the Faith preparing them to take dominion
as we have been commanded in all areas of life; e.g., history,
math, science, language arts, civics, business, economics, etc.
This learning and training prepares covenant children to transmit
the power of the Christian worldview into a lifetime of practical
Christian action (faith without works is dead). Each covenant
child has a mission to fulfill.
|
But whoso looketh into
the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being
not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall
be blessed in his deed. — James 1:25 |
(d) A Christian education is vital in the continuity of transferring God's covenant from generation to generation (Deuteronomy 31:1 to 34:12). Christian parents rear their children with the knowledge and expectation that they will hold fast to what they have been taught and continue to work for God's covenantal people for His glory.
(e) A Christian education provides a covenant witness for parents (Deuteronomy 4:9 "to teach them all this law thy sons, and thy sons' sons"), raising up a new generation with knowledge of and a commitment to God's Law-Word.
(f) A Christian education helps parents to fulfil their covenantal duty to their children (Deuteronomy 6:7) as they are commanded to teach the Word of God in formal and informal settings with the goal of relating all knowledge to God's authority --- all spheres of thought are under God's authority.
(g)
A Christian education operates under God's covenantal sanctions
(Deuteronomy 11:19). God's commands concerning the training of
our covenantal children are not idle suggestions.
Dr. R. J. Rushdoony cited Julius B. Maller writing, "Since
holiness is not a self-generating act but requires a conformity
to God's law and righteousness, an ignorant man cannot be saintly
.... Knowledge is not self-generating, and the meaning of factuality
comes not from the facts but from the Creator." (Institute
of Biblical Law, p. 185). Dr. Rushdoony continues later
with, "Education in the law is basic to and inseparable both
from obedience to the law and from worship. Anything other than
a Biblically grounded schooling is thus an act of apostasy for
the believer."
|
I am much afraid that
the schools will prove to be wide gates to hell unless they diligently
labour in explaining the Holy Scriptures, engraving them in the
hearts of youth. I advise no one to place his child where
the Scriptures do not reign paramount. Every institution
in which men are not constantly occupied with the Word of God
must become corrupt. — Martin Luther |
|
I. Education A. Peformed by B. Method C. Examples |
II. Instruction A. Teachers B. Means |
|
III. Knowledge A. Kinds of B. Sources C. Believer's attitude D. Attitude of sinful men |
IV. Teaching,
teachers| A. Those capable B. Teaching Significance C. Teaching Objects D. Perversion of teaching |
|
V. Test A. Kinds of Tests B. Purpose of Tests |
I. Education — instruction in knowledge
A.
Education peformed by ...
1. Parents ... Ephesians 6:4b ... but bring them up in the
nurture and admonition of the Lord
2. Tutors
... Galatians 4:2,3 ... But is under tutors and governors until
the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were
children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.
3. Teachers
... 2 Chronicles 17:8,9 ... And with them he sent Levites, even
Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth,
and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobiajah, and Tobadonijah, Levites;
and with them Elisama and Jehoram, priests. And they taught
in Judah, and had the book of the law of the LORD with them, and
went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the
people.
4. Learned men
... Acts 22:3 ... I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus,
a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of
Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law
of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this
day.
B. Method of Education
1. Sharing ... Galatians 6:6 ... Let him that is taught
in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
2. Recalling God's works ... Psalm 78:1-8 ... Give ear, O my people, to
My law: incline your ears to the words of My mouth. I will
open My mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told
us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to
the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength,
and His wonderful works that He hath done. For He established
a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He
commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their
children: That the generation to come might know them, even
the children which should be born; who should arise and declare
them to their children: That they might set their hope in
God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments:
And might not be as their fathers, a stuborn and rebellious
generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and
whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
3. Learning from nature ... Proverbs 6:6-11 ... Go to the ant, thou sluggard;
consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer,
or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her
food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard
? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep,
a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So
shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as
an armed man.
4. Step by step
... Isaiah 28:10 ... For precept must be upon precept, precept
upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and
there a little.
5. Asking questions ... Luke 2:46 ... And it came to pass, that after
three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst
of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
C.
Examples of Education
1.
Moses ... Acts 7:22 ... And Moses was learned in all
the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
2. Daniel
... Daniel 1:17 ... As for these four children, God gave them
knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel
had understanding in all visions and dreams.
3. Paul
... Acts 22:3 ... I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus,
a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of
Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law
of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this
day.
4. Timothy
... 2 Timothy 3:15, 16 ... And that from a child thou has known
the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation
through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
II. Instruction
— imparting knowledge to others
A. Teachers of Instruction
1. Parents ... Deuteronomy 6:6-25 ... And these words, which
I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou
shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk
of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest
by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and
they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou
shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee
into the land which He sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to
Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which
thou buildedst not, And houses full of all good things, which
thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not,
vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou
shalt have eaten and be full; Then beware lest thou forget the
LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from
the house of bondage. Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God,
and serve Him, and shalt swear by His Name. Ye shall not
go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round
about you; (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest
the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy
thee from off the face of the earth. Ye shall not tempt
the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah. Ye shall
diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and His
testimonies, and His statutes, which He hath commanded thee. And
thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the
LORD: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in
and possess the good land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers,
To cast out all thine enemies from before thee, as the LORD hath
spoken. And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying,
What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments,
which the LORD our God hath commanded you? Then thou shalt
say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt, with a mighty
hand; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand:
And the LORD shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt,
upon Paraoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes. And
He brought us out from thence, that He might bright us in, to
give us the land which He sware unto our fathers. And the
LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our
God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as
it is at this day. And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe
to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as He hath
commanded us.
2. Priests
... Deuteronomy 24:8 ... Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that
thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests
the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye
shall observe to do.
3. Prophets
... Jeremiah 32:33 ... And they have turned unto Me the back,
and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early
and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.
4. Preachers
... Ephesians 4:11 ... And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets;
and some, evalgelists; and some, pastors and teachers.
5. Pedagogues
... Neh. 8:7,8 ... Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin,
Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Keliata, Azariah, Jozabad,
Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand
the law: and the people stood in their place. So they read in
the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and
caused them to understand the reading.
6. the Holy Spirit ... John 14:26 ... But the Comforter, which is
the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My Name, He shall
teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you.
B.
Means of Instruction
1. Nature ... Job 12:7-10 ... But ask now the beasts, and
they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall
tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee:
and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth
not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath
of all mankind.
2. Human nature
... Proverbs 24:30-34 ... So I went by the field of the slothful,
and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo,
it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the
face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then
I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received
instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little
folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come
as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
3. Law
... Romans 2:18 ... And knowest His will, and approvest the things
that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law.
4. Proverbs
... Proverbs 1:1-30
5. Songs
... Deuteronomy 32:1-44
6. History
... 1 Corinthians 10:1-11 ... Moreover, brethren, I would not
that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under
the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized
unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same
spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual Rock that
followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with
many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown
in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to
the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also
lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them, as
it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose
up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of
them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted,
and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some
of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now
all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they
are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world
are come.
7. God's Word
... 2 Timothy 3:15, 16 ... And that from a child thou hast known
the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation
through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
III. Knowledge
A. Kinds of Knowledge
1. Natural .... Matthew 24:32 ... Now learn a parable of
the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth
leaves, ye know that summer is nigh.
2. Deceptive
... Genesis 3:5 ... For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof,
then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing
good and evil.
3. Sinful
... Genesis 3:7 ... And the eyes of them both were opened, and
they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together,
and made themselves aprons.
4. Personal ...
Joshua 24:31 ... And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua,
and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which
had known all the works of the LORD, that He had done for Israel.
5. Practical
... Exodus 36:1 ... Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every
wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding
to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the
sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded.
6. Experimental
... Exodus 14:4,18 ... And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that
he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh,
and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the
LORD. And they did so ... And the Egyptians shall know that
I am the LORD, when I have gotten Me honour upon Pharaoh, upon
his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
7. Unfriendly
... Exodus 1:8 ... Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which
knew not Joseph.
8. Intiutive
... 1 Samuel 22:22 ... And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it
that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely
tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all persons of
thy father's house.
9. Intellectual
... John 7:15,28 ... And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth
this man letters, having never learned? ... Then cried Jesus in
the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know Me, and ye know
whence I am: and I am not come of Myself, but He that sent Me
is true, whom ye know not.
10. Saving
... John 17:3 ... And this is life eternal, that they might know
Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.
11. Spiritual
... 1 Corinthians 2:14 ... But the natural man receiveth not the
things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto
him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
12. Revealed
... Luke 10:22 ... All things are delivered to Me of My Father:
and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the
Father is, but the Son, and He to whom the Son will reveal Him.
B. Sources of Knowledge
1. God
... Psalm 94:10 ... He that chastiseth
the heathen, shall not He correct? He that teacheth man
knowledge, shall not He know?
2. Nature
... Psalm 19:2 ... Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto
night sheweth knowledge.
3. Scriptures
... 2 Timothy 3:15 ... And that from a child thou hast known the
holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation
through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
4. Experimentation ... John 7:17 ... If any man will do His will,
he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether
I speak of Myself.
C. Believer's attitude toward knowledge
1. Not
to be puffed up ... 1 Corinthians
8:1 ... Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that
we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity
edifieth.
2. Should grow in ... 2 Peter 3:18 ... But grow in grace, and in
the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him
be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
3. Should add to ... 2 Peter 1:5 ... And beside this, giving all
diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge.
4. Not to be forgetful of ... 2 Peter 3:17 ... Ye therefore, beloved, seeing
ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away
with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.
5. Accept our limitations of knowledge ... 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 ... Charity never faileth:
but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there
be tongues, they shall cease; whether there shall be knowledge,
it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy
in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which
is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake
as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but
when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now
we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now
I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
And now abideth faith, hope, and charity, these three; but
the greatest of these is charity.
6. Be filled with ... Philippians 1:9 ... And this I pray, that
your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all
judgment.
7. Make it practical ... James 3:13 ... Who is a wise man and endued
with knowledge among you ? let him shew out of a good conversation
his works with meekness of wisdom.
D. Attitude of sinful men toward knowledge
1. Turn
from ... Romans 1:21 ... Because
that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither
were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their
foolish heart was darkened.
2. Ignorant
... 1 Corinthians 1:21 ... For after that in the wisdom of God
the world by widom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness
of preaching to save them that believe.
3. Exalt against ... 2 Corinthians 10:5 ... Casting down imaginations,
and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge
of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience
of Christ.
4. Reject the light of ... Romans 1:28 ... And even as they did not
like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a
reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.
5. Never able to come to ... 2 Timothy 3:7 ... Ever learning, and never
able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
IV. Teaching,
teachers
A. Those capable of teaching
1. parents ... Deuteronomy 11:19 ... And ye shall teach
them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine
house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down,
and when thou risest up.
2. Levites
... Leviticus 10:11 ... And that ye may teach the children of
Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by
the hand of Moses.
3. Ancestors
... Jeremiah 9:14 ... But have walked after the imagination of
their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught
them.
4. Disciples
... Matthew 28:19 ... Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost.
5. Matrons
... Titus 2:3 ... The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour
as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine,
teachers of good things.
6. Nature
.... 1 Corinthians 11:14 ... Doth not even nature itself teach
you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
B. Significance of teaching
1. Combined
with preaching ... Matthew 4:23
... And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues,
and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner
of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
2. Divine calling ... Ephesians 4:11 ... And he gave some, apostles;
and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and
teachers.
3. Necessary for officers ... 1 Timothy 3:2 ... A bishop then must be blameless,
the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given
to hospitality, apt to teach.
4. Necessary for ministers ... 2 Timothy 2:24-26 ... And the servant of
the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach,
patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves;
if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging
of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the
snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
5. From house to house ... Acts 20:20 ... And how I kept back nothing
that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught
you publickly, and from house to house.
6. By catechizing ... Galatians 6:6 ... Let him that is taught
in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
C. Objects of teaching
1. God's
way ... Psalm 27:11 ... Teach
me Thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine
enemies.
2. God's path
... Psalm 25:4,5 ... Shew me Thy ways, O LORD; and teach me Thy
paths. Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God
of my salvation; on Thee do I wait all day.
3. God's law
... Psalm 119:12, 26, 66 ... Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach
me Thy statutes ... I have declared my ways and Thou heardest
me: teach me Thy statutes ... Teach me good judgment and
knowledge: for I have believed Thy commandments.
4. God's will
... Psalm 143:10 ... Teach me to do Thy will; for thou art my
God; Thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
5. Holiness
... Titus 2:12 ... Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and wordly
lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this
present world.
6. Spiritual truths ... Hebrews 8:12 ... For I will be merciful to
their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will
I remember no more.
D. Perversion of teaching
1.
False prophets ... Isaiah 9:15-17 ... The ancient and honourable,
he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the
tail. For the leaders of this people cause them to err;
and they that are led of them are destroyed. Therefore the
Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have
mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an
hypocrite and an evil-doer, and every mouth speaketh folly.
For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched
out still.
2. False priests ... Micah 3:11 ... The heads thereof judge for
reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets
thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD,
and say, Is not the LORD among us ? none evil can come upon us.
3. Traditionalists ... Matthew 15:9 ... But in vain they do worhship
Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
4. Judaizers
... Acts 15:1 ... And certain men which came down from Judaea
taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after
the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
5. False teachers ... 1 Timothy 4:1-3 ... Now the Spirit speaketh
expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the
faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with
a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from
meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving
of them which believe and know the truth.
6. False believers ... 2 Timothy 4:3,4 ... For the time will come
when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own
lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall
be turned unto fables.
7. False "schools" ... 2 Timothy 3:7 ... Ever learning, and never
able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
V. Test — something that challenges a person's real character
A. Kinds of Tests
1. Given to Solomon
... 1 Kings 10:1-3 ... And when the queen of Sheba heard of the
fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove
him with hard questions. And she came to Jerusalem with
a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much
gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon,
she communed with him all that was in her heart. And Solomon told
her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king,
which he told her not.
2. Physical ... 1
Samuel 17:38,39 ... And Saul armed David with his armour, and
he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with
a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and
he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto
Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And
David put them off him.
3. National ... Exodus
32:1-35
B.
Purpose of Tests
1. Test obedience
... Genesis 3:1-8 ... Now the serpent was more subtil than any
beast of the field, which the LORD God had made. And he said unto
the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree
of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may
eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the
fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath
said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest
ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman. Ye shall
not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat
thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods,
knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree
was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a
tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof,
and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did
eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew
that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and
made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the
LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and
Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD
God amongst the trees of the garden.
2. Conform faith
... Genesis 22:1-18
3. Learn God's will
... Judges 6:36-40 ... And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt
save Israel by mine hand, as Thou hast said, Behold, I will put
a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece
only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know
that Thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as Thou hast said. And
it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and
thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece,
a bowl full of water.
4. Refute Satan's claims
... Job 1:6-22
5. Destroy idolatry
... 1 Kings 18:22-24 ... Then said Elijah unto the people, I,
even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets
are four hundred and fifty men. Let them therefore give
us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves,
and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:
and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood,
and put no fire under: And call ye on the name of your gods,
and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that
answereth by fire, let Him be God. And all the people answered
and said, It is well spoken.
The purpose of testing from a Christian worldview presupposition.
1) God tests us (see above Scripture references)
2) Testing is an experience where the child is actively involved. Character traits and qualities IMMEDIATELY come to the forefront --- some good and some bad.
|
That the trial of your
faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth,
though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and
honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. — 1 Peter 1:7 |
3) Testing helps a child see his need of our Sovereign King and Redeemer, weaknesses, need for work with respect to some character traits, and his need for education.
|
Knowing this, that the
trying of your faith worketh patience.
— James 1:3 |
4) Some parents remind their covenant children how VERY fortunate that their tests are merely paper/pencil and/or oral tests! As an adult, this situation will be changed. These simple paper/pencil and oral tests will prepare them in the future when our King pulls a pop quiz, exam or final !
|
Search me, O God, and
know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there
is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. — Psalm 139:23-24 |
Cultural Mandate (what God said to Adam and Eve) ... And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. (Genesis 1:28)
Dominion Mandate (what God said to Noah after the Flood) ... And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. (Genesis 9:1)
Great Commission (Jesus' command that reaffirmed the Cultural and Dominion Mandates) ... And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 18:18-20)
Most people know PrestonSpeed Publications brought the classic writings of G.A. Henty back into print. Entire families are once again enjoying Mr. Henty's work in books, audiobooks, and in The Captain. Demand the best by demanding PrestonSpeed Publications. Accept no substitutes!!