Epistemology
Knowledge. How can something thought to be an absolute be portrayed in so many various ways by teachers who are “committed” to giving the truth for the students to learn? Once again, the answer lies in one's philosophy of education. The teacher is in many ways similar to an editor for the news media: he must decide what is to be taught and what must be left alone. Just as important is the level of emphasis placed on the topics that are taught.
Not only is knowledge often threatened by its presentation, but also by its perception. What forms true knowledge? First of all, the Christian must place the Bible and its accounts as absolute, inerrant truth. Neither personal preference nor current theology can be allowed to determine what is Biblical truth. Bible history and prophecy can both be taught as absolute knowledge because of their ultimate author, God, Himself.
Perhaps the two areas of classroom study in which knowledge has been maligned the most are Math and English. Rules that govern these areas have been discarded by modern educators for a number of reasons, one of which proves the anti-Christian philosophy of secular education. In relation to human nature the Bible and most intellectuals disagree and this spills over into the classroom. Just as man's sinful human nature is inclined to sin, ignore God, and live in disorder and rebellion (Proverbs 17:11), so is academics, man tries to please himself and seem well off” by ignoring rules. The Pragmatist believes that truth is truth only as long as it works; therefore, as man becomes less in tune with an absolute God, many guidelines in life are eliminated because modern man cannot work within the context of “old-fashioned” rules (Mullenix 13 February 1990).
How one teaches history, especially government, also demands on his perception of truth. The highpoint of history is not American independence, but the cross of Calvary; the key figure in history is Jesus Christ.
Government and the Christian is an interesting study. I believe that the Christian must refrain from teaching the “advantages” of a democracy. In a democracy, each person does what he feels is right, as seen in Judges 2:11 and throughout the Bible; always it leads to trouble. The Bible does not necessarily condone a specific form of government (except theocracy), but the example in the personal life is that of a master and servant (Baker 1979, 38).
Science is a friend of Christianity that has in recent years been turned into a foe because many scientists try to disprove the Bible. True science and the Bible will never disagree, so the Christian educator need not be afraid of science. Evolution can be believed only if the Bible is rejected as truth. As a Christian, I firmly believe in the Biblical account of creation.
With all of the different interpretations of knowledge, how should a Christian educator decide what merits his time? He cannot rely on the title or the style of textbook, he must judge all by the Word of God.
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