Norma Garnica

It is evident that the philosophy of Christian education is based on the following principles: the centrality of the Bible, a Biblical worldview, the importance of parents, the significance of teachers, nurture in the Christian school, and responsive discipleship. However, every person has own vision and perception of the Christian education. They are determined by personal beliefs and values, nurture, families’ and teachers’ impact, and the community. Relying on the studies of the prominent authors, this paper aims to prove that the understanding of the philosophy of Christian education is based on love for God, truth, and willpower. My philosophy of education is the unity of all values with the educational experience and effective as well as meaningful patterns of behavior that allow to live in harmony with God and oneself.

The Essence of Christian Education

Every philosophy of Education must be based on the following principles: the selection of subject matter, the nurture of the learning process, the nature of the learner, the role of the teacher, and the purpose of education. It is evident that all these components are interrelated as they build the essence of Christian education. My personal philosophy of Christian education presupposes the reliance on these principles, as they are true and relevant. Moreover, it is based on the Biblical studies as well as the impact of parents and instructors on the development of personality with personal marketing plan.

The Purpose of Christian Education

There are four major goals of Christian education: first of all, to influence other people with the knowledge of God and His values; secondly, to learn the knowledge of God; thirdly, to live in harmony with God and His values, and, lastly, to respond to God and His truth. Consequently, my philosophy of Christian education presupposes orientation towards these aims. However, I believe that the outcomes of the Christian education cannot be evaluated theoretically, but only practically. Moreover, the person should always strive to align with the truth of God. Christian education should not be merely the process of acquiring knowledge, but the one of looking for the absolute and universal truth, understanding good and evil, and becoming better.

One can influence other people with the knowledge of God and His values if he/she is conscious of Christian education that emphasizes the Bible as its central study. It means that such person motivates other people to acquire new knowledge, become better, and promote ethical and moral principles. Another step of Christian education is acquiring the knowledge of God. The person can achieve this aim again with the help of the Bible as the authoritative source for instructions and truths. However, it is recommended not to regard the Bible as the source of factual information, but as the driving force of Christian education. Living in harmony with God and His values means following proper guidelines and principles of the educational and intellectual life. Responding to God and His truth presupposes being thankful for what you have and being committed to the Christian values.

Moreover, it is crucial to understand the goals of the Christian school of education, as it is the basis for further learning. First, a Christian teacher should be knowledgeable and have a clear understanding of Christianity. Not without reason, Christian schools should educate young people who are conscious in their beliefs, have a godly direction, and possess Christian minds. Moreover, the purpose of Christian education is to teach to live in obedience, grasp eternal priorities, display virtues, and live in conflict with evil.

The Nature of the Learner

It is evident that the success of the implementation of Christian education will be not the same in every learner due to the diversity of human nature. First, the soul and heart of the learner should strive for new knowledge. Sins and immorality can prevent successful learning and integration into the Christian philosophy. It is obvious that people tend to sin and they can be affected by their wrongdoings. However, the proper Christian education can show what is right and what is wrong. Moreover, Christian education allows to learn to distinguish the good and the evil. People are dependent on God, as they have been created and are loved by Him. Therefore, the perception of life and personal salvation depends on the understanding of a Biblical worldview.

Consequently, learners should understand that they need an ethical and moral foundation for life, which can be found in the Bible. Furthermore, a teacher cannot impose Christian values if they are not close to the learner’s heart and soul. Every person has his/her understanding of the Biblical texts and they can vary significantly.

The Role of the Teacher

The role of the teacher is enormous when it comes to Christian education. First, the instructor should inspire students to become moral and ethical. Only then they will be able to absorb his lessons. Teachers are the pinnacle of Christian schools. Consequently, they are responsible for every word and activity within the learning process. It is a must for a teacher to be gifted, have a passion for teaching and learning, and demonstrate the love for God. However, one cannot find a perfect teacher, as all humans are sinners. Consequently, the teacher should always try to improve himself and become an example for following.

Teachers, as well as students, need time and effort in order to learn and develop. As a result, Christian education is a way of growth for both these groups, and the Bible is the source of this growth. The intentional development of Biblical worldview is possible with the help of the teachers’ commitment and their personal as well as professional progress. It means that the interaction between the teacher and learner is vital when it comes to the Christian education. Moreover, it is crucial for teachers and learners to have similar philosophies of Christian education, as any differences can lead to contradictions and low value of learning.

A Christian teacher should not only be a spiritual guide for his students, but also an academic leader. As an academic chief, he should provide a safe environment and a favorable atmosphere for learning. Students should feel stability, the sense of security, and discipline within the class. Moreover, they should feel respect and understanding from the teacher. A Christian teacher should highlight the eternal worth and potential of every student. Thus, the atmosphere should inspire and express the excitement of learning about God and His truth. As a spiritual leader, a Christian teacher should believe that the Bible is the key source of God’s authoritative, infallible, and inerrant word. Moreover, a spiritual teacher should love, understand, and respect his student demonstrating the ethical model of behavior. It means that a Christian teacher should be the representative of truth to every student.

The Nurture of the Learning Process

The learning process of Christian education presupposes acting upon the truth of God, making the heart-level commitment to Him, and making Him the key priority. Another function of school teachers is to nurture students by helping them to benefit the community and develop their God-given talents and gifts. A nurturing Christian school should take into consideration discipline, physical development, and Biblical instructions. Moreover, this environment should instill motivation to act in good faith. A nurturing educational setting of the Christian school should take into consideration the differences in the intelligence of students and a wide variety of learning styles that can benefit them. The teachers can address the methodology of Jesus’ effective teachings, as He was the ultimate Teacher. Jesus varied His approaches to teaching. It means that the Christian teacher should be flexible, creative and ready to adapt his way of teaching depending on the audience, concept, and situation.

Christian educators can nurture their students by practicing grace and hospitality in order to make them more disciplined and polite. The cultivation of grace benefits the students’ mental and emotional development. It is crucial to promote an open environment where students are not afraid to take risks or fail. Moreover, learners should understand the consequences of their negative behavior and avoid it in future. However, the punishment for sake of punishment is not the solution to misbehavior in the classroom. Everything should result in a useful lesson. It is a must for teachers to demonstrate charity and love despite mood and situation. The learning experience should be designed and generated for the students. As the goal of Christian education is to alter students’ lives, teachers should pay more attention to life-changing and long-term benefits. Moreover, all tasks should be related to glorifying God as the ultimate intrinsic motivation. God is the author of truth. Consequently, His truth is the groundwork for Christian education.

The Selection of Subject Matter

The selection of subject is another tool of Christian education that is preconditioned by the teacher and his approach to the learning process. For curriculum planning and delivery, it is recommended to apply Biblical truths, as they cover the scope of Christian education. Moreover, it is crucial to unify the Truth and Knowledge to avoid contradictions and misunderstandings. The Bible will be the most relevant source for the selection of the subject matter, as it is the God’s word which shows the real state of affair as God sees them. In addition, the Bible helps to tie all subject areas related to Christian education together. Each educational subject area in some way glorifies God and reveals His attributes. Different instructors recommend teaching art, Bible, foreign languages, language arts, mathematics, music, physical education, science, or social studies. I believe that all of these subject areas confirm God and His truth and benefit Christian education. For instance, art develops the original expression, as all human beings are creative. Bible helps to promote personal relationships according to the moral principles. Foreign languages are necessary for communicating cross-culturally and uniting Christians worldwide. Language arts help to communicate truthfully and powerfully with God and develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Mathematics reflects precision, sovereignty, and infinity of God and His truths. As to music, it is way of glorifying God and providing a deeper understanding of His word. Physical education is a way of not only developing mental, but also physical health. Science helps to understand the structure of the universe. Social studies reveal the interaction of people with God.

In conclusion, the philosophy of Christian education presented in this paper is based on the following aspects: the subject matters that is related to God’s truth, the nurture of the learning process, the role of the teacher, the nature of the learner, and the purpose of Christian learning. To my mind, every Christian school has its conception and understanding of Christian education. The main aim is to conduct it according to God’s truth and students’ needs. Subject matters related to God’s truths, the nurture of the learning process, the role of the teacher, the nature of the learner, and the purpose of Christian learning demonstrate the unity of all values with the educational experience. Hence, they are effective and meaningful patterns of behavior that allow to live in harmony with God.