Running head: BIBLICAL WORLVIEW 1

Biblical Worldview and Christian Education

Dona Thanushi N Hettipathirara

Liberty University

EDUC 604 – Foundations of Education

Dr. James Fyock

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Biblical Worldview and Christian Education

Introduction

Education is the process by which a human being grows in wisdom, gaining knowledge

on the eternal truth of God, while striving to become a reflection of the image of God. The Holy

Scriptures have been the most influential source of truth and wisdom in the development of

Christian thought for over two millennia. Thus, it is paramount for the Christian educator to have

sound and solid understanding of what Biblical worldview and Christian philosophy of education

are and their implications for educational practices.

Biblical Worldview

A worldview is formed based on the specific lens through which one is viewing the

world. The Bible, the sacred text revered by billions of Christians around the world as the written

Word of God is the epicenter, the foundation and basis of Christian worldview, philosophy and

theology. Thus, it is imperative that a Christian have a solid understanding of the worldview

according to the Bible. The Biblical worldview in the simplest terms could be expounded as the

view of the world through the lens of the Holy Scriptures. All Biblical doctrines are founded on

the framework of the Creation, the Fall and Redemption of humankind (Graham, 2009). A

Biblical worldview is different from any other world view in the sense, that it is founded on the

Bible and inspired by God, that it is culturally relevant and applicable to every aspect of life, and

that it is based in faith and hope in Christ, the Redeemer (Stonestreet, 2010). According to the

Bible, God is the creator of the heaven and earth (Genesis 1:1, KJV). God created man in his

own image to have dominion all over the earth, but man committed sin, disobeying God and

breaking his trust thus, bringing pain, suffering, sickness and death into the perfect Creation

(Genesis 3: 3-22, KJV). Yet, God loved man so much, He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus
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Christ, to this world to reconcile between man and God (John 3:16, KJV). Jesus died on the cross

for man's sins and rose from the dead on the third day bringing hopes of salvation to all mankind

(Mathew 28 1-15, KJV). Salvation could only be achieved through fulfilling the Great

Commission, solidifying the faith in Christ (Mathew 28: 16-20, KJV). One-day Jesus Christ will

come again to restore the world back to its original perfection, ranting salvation to all mankind

(Revelation 19: 1-21, KJV).

Christian Philosophy of Education

Education in the simplest sense is the engagement in the process of learning. At the

center of Christian worldview is the Holy Bible, the written Word of God. Hence, Christian

education in the simplest sense is an education that is structured upon the Christian beliefs based

on the teachings of the Bible. The most imperative of all Christian beliefs is that, all things,

heavenly and earthly, visible and invisible are created by God and sustained by God (Colossians

1:16-17, KJV) and all creation reflects the creativity and might of God (Genesis 1:21, KJV)

According to the Bible, God is the origin of wisdom, knowledge and understanding (Proverbs

9:10, KJV). Thus, the framework of Christian education, must be all inspired by the Word of

God, for the purposes of imparting knowledge and skills and cultivating values, beliefs and

habits that are of essence in nurturing and empowering the mind, the body and the spirit of the

learner with the might to fulfill the Great commandment. Christians believe that man was created

in the image of God (Genesis 1:26, KJV), and thus, the purpose of life according to Christian

understanding is to reflect God’s character and perform God’s work with God (Graham, 2009,

p.50). The Christian educators and learners, as disciples of Christ should be reflecting Christian

values such as faith in God, love of God, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control

humility and forgiveness (Galatians 5:22-23), through words as well as deeds. The establishment
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of a solid Christian educational foundation based on Biblical worldview, instilling faith in God is

of essence in the development of a Christian Philosophy of education. The goal of Christian

philosophy of education is to establish ways and means of accomplishing the purpose of

Christian education: form and foster a bond with God and train every learner to realize their

purpose of life as demarcated by God (Bartlet, 2007). It is profoundly important for the Christian

educator, to impart not only academic knowledge but also religious and moral education,

empowering the Christian learner with a sound and solid learning experience on the truth and

wisdom of God by means of Biblical worldview and Christian philosophy.

Implications for Educational Practice

The Christian Philosophy based on the Biblical world view founded on the framework of

Creation, the Fall and Redemption, has deep-seated implications towards the field of education

influencing a broad spectrum of educational practices: curriculum development, the teaching-

learning process, the character of educators, and the character of learners and classroom and

behavior management. The most significant of all implications of a Christian education based in

Biblical worldview is the revelation of the immaculate Biblical truth to the learners, connecting

them with God through faith and commitment, conveying a sense of significance and purpose to

all attributes of life (Capps, 2013). A Christian curriculum based in Biblical truth instills faith in

God and ministers the children to live life according to god’s expectations (Graham, 2009). The

Christian instructional process enhances the development of the image of God in the learner,

reflecting the attributes of God, such as purposefulness, rationality, creativity, righteousness,

mercy and love in every aspect of life (Graham, 2009). According to the Gospel of Luke, the

learner is not greater than the educator: but a learner could become an equal the educator through

diligent preparation and training (Luke 6:40, KJV). Thus, a Christian educator personifies the
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virtues of Christian living through one’s actions as well as words, always reflecting the image of

God (Graham, 2009). The Christian educator, in other words plays the role of a shepherd who

guides the flock in the right direction – a reflection of the image of Christ – the master teacher

(Graham, 2009, p. 117). The Christian educator elucidates God’s expectations to the learner,

facilitating the learners become enriched and empowered through experiencing the reality of

Biblical truth. The Christian learner strives to become a disciple of Christ and a steward of God

reflecting the image of God and fulfilling God’s expectations through application of Biblical

truth and Christian principles to one’s own life at all times (Graham, 2009, p. 84). In applying

Biblical worldview to classroom management, it is vital that Christian education addresses and

respects the beauty of diversity in God’s Creation. Even though all humans are part of one body

in Christ, every individual has a unique function, one different from another (1 Corinthians12:

12-14, KJV). In the same way, learners too, have different individualities with different learning

as well as emotional needs, and it is vital that the educator identifies and respects the individual

differences among the body of learners, addressing individual needs of diverse learners through

differentiated instruction, fulfilling the Great Commission (Ackerman, 2012). It is appropriate to

hold the learners accountable to their own behavior, just as God hold individuals rather than the

environment accountable for the actions of an individual (Graham, 2009). However, it is

important that the Christian educator acts with love, understanding, forgiveness and

purposefulness in addressing student behavior. A resourceful educator should strive to apply the

attributes of God, to broader educational practices and strive to reflect the image of God in

practice while encouraging and facilitating the learners to realize their calling in life, fulfilling

the Great Commission, irrespective of the nature of the setting, whether it be Christian or secular.
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Conclusions

Bible has been the most important source of truth and wisdom influencing Christian

thought and philosophy for over two millennia. Biblical worldview grounded on the framework

of the Creation, the fall and redemption of humankind is the basis and structure for Christian

education. The purpose of Christian education is to enable and empower the Christian learner in

realizing their calling in life through instilling Faith in God and fulfilling the Great Commission.

The Biblical worldview and Christian education philosophy have implications influencing a

broad range of educational practices such as curriculum development, the teaching-learning

process, the character of educators, and the character of learners and classroom and behavior

management. It is paramount that Christian education and educators base their educational

practices on nothing but the immaculate Biblical truth as the most imperative of implications of

such a God inspired educational foundation will be the conservation of the impeccable truth of

God for the generations of future Christians.

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References

Ackerman, B. (2012). G.U.I.D.E.: Differentiated education for Christian educators. Lynchburg

VA: Liberty University Press.

Bartlett, J. C. (2007). A Christian philosophy of education of a public-school educator. Christian

Perspectives in Education, 1(1). Retrieved from

http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cpe/vol1/iss1/7

Capps, M. (2013). The importance of a Christian worldview [Blog post]. Retrieved from

https://www.gospelproject.com/2013/10/21/the-importance-of-a-christian-worldview/

Graham, D.L. (2009). Teaching redemptively: Bringing grace and truth into your classroom.

(2nd ed). Colorado Springs CO: Purposeful Design Publications.

Stonestreet, J. (2010). Biblical worldvie: what it is and what it is not. Christian Worldview

Journal. Retrived from http://archive.breakpoint.org/the-center/columns/call-

response/14732-perspectives-biblical-worldview-what-it-is-and-what-it-is-not