EDUCATION 05 - Foundations - English Bible Study

EDUCATION 05 – Foundations

Based on Martin Schnyder “Corporal punishment in child raising”

Parents' worldview determines how children are raised

Child raising doesn’t happen in a vacuum, it always reflects the values held. Whether or not parents are aware of it, they have a goal based on what they think about questions like: Who and what is man? Why am I given life? What is my place and role in this world? The parents’ world view determines how they answer these questions and how they therefore raise their children.
A Biblical view of man gives both the foundation for child raising as well as the end goal of child raising. To the degree parents actually think biblically, to that degree their child raising will reflect God’s view.

A Biblical view of man

God created man in his image as the ‘crown of creation’. God wants fellowship with man. God has revealed himself in creation, his Word and ultimately in Jesus Christ.
God has made an orderly, observable universe. The principles for human relations and for child raising have been laid down by God in the Bible. Through scientific empirical observation true principles can be found. Empirical findings will not contradict the Bible.
The Bible doesn’t teach ‘the view of man’ systematically, rather it is packed into ‘every story’ and has to be gleaned from the Bible inductively. We are discovering and will keep discovering just how high God’s view of man is.
Of course every generation is also influenced by ‘the spirit of the age’. Till shortly ago there was nothing in literature pertaining to child raising that spoke of the importance of a strong sense of one’s value or individualism.
Currently these are buzz words in education, maybe in another few decades ‘consideration’ will be rediscovered. ‘Rediscovered’ means these aspects have been there in the Word of God, but maybe have not been given priority because of the current general thinking.
The basis of the Biblical view of man is Gen 1:26-27, humans are made in the image of God. What follows?

Humans are made in the image of God – What follows?

Humans are God-dependent

Humans are made in the image of God, and have been given personhood like God.
God speaks with them, blesses them, gives them a mandate, instructs them.
Humans’ dignity is in their relationship and dependence of God. The deepest fulfillment of humans is in truly being what God meant them to be.
After the fall God doesn’t abandon his humans but keeps revealing himself, intervening and redeeming throughout history; and ultimately so in Jesus’ coming.
Raising a child needs to reflect that humans are only fully human if they are in relationship with God. Yet to be in relationship with God is the choice of each person.
The hope of any Christian parent is that their child would have salvation in Christ. Yet for parents to make salvation the ultimate goal in child raising is problematic.
In Jhn 6:44 Jesus says that “No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me”. No excellence or effort on the parents’ side can ‘ensure’ salvation. But parents can share the offer of salvation with their children, and even more they can live a ‘life of salvation’ that is convincing and attractive.

Humans are made for relationships

God who is a God of relationship, a Trinity of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, living in relationship and harmony from eternity past. Humans – made in the image of God – are relationship creatures.
It was found that babies that do not get love die within a short time even if bodily needs are taken care of. Also adults in extreme isolation tend to fall sick and their immune system is weakened.

Humans are valuable and have dignity

Being in the image of God forever anchors the high value and dignity of man (Psa 8:5-9). Humans therefore deserve to be treated with respect. God himself so loved humans that he gave his only Son.
Yes, it is true that the child inherits and has a sinful nature and “the inclination of the human heart is evil from youth” (Gen 8:21). But even that very Bible verse says “I will never again curse the ground because of humankind … nor will I ever again destroy every living creature”.
Clearly Jesus taught the need for repentance because of sin, but what characterizes Jesus’ life is not a ‘judging of humans’ (which he rightly could have) but the amazing respect and grace that he treats humans with, and especially those that were looked down on by society (sinners, collaborators, unclean, women, children, foreigners etc).
Page after page in the gospels, it is the very value that Jesus gives to people that touches them and changes their lives.
Conviction of sin is not the job of parents, but of the Holy Spirit. Parents must find ways to safeguard their children’s dignity, value and honor.

Humans have Free will & Responsibility

Humans – like God – have a free will and are powerful to make decisions.
God gave humans all freedoms and only one prohibition; and they have also been given the power to break that prohibition, if they so choose. “What are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. You have given them dominion over the works of your hands, you have put all things under their feet” (Psa 8:5-6).
As creatures they are to respect God as the Giver of life and true Authority over them. In breaking the one command they refuse God that place in their hearts, in effect declaring themselves above God.
God had said before that death will be the result of such a choice. Yet death is not immediate, humans are given time to live out their choices.
When God sends Jesus to redeem humans the offer comes as exactly that: an offer, that can be rejected.
As Paul says “God is making his appeal through us: we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Cor 5:20).
The decisions made by humans have consequences that cannot be denied or escaped “for you reap whatever you sow” (Gal 6:7).
This is not a threat, it is part of that dignity and power that God has given to man: man’s decisions are real, their choices have weight, even God won’t ‘undo’ them … and with choice comes responsibility. Winston Churchill said: “The price of greatness is responsibility”.
In child raising parents need to understand and respect the free choice children have
They need to show them consequences and encourage them to make wise choices.

Humans have self-determination

Humans, being in the image of God, have a desire for self-determination.
Though human self-determination has limits, God did not ‘run after Adam and Eve’ all day, nor controls their every movement, but he meets them in the evening (Gen 3:8).
God gave them the mandate to take charge of the world, which presupposes a degree of self-initiative, self-determination, self-government, self-awareness and self-control.
Many Scriptures highlight this self-determination: “’Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom 12:2). “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down of your anger” (Eph 4:26).

Humans are communicators

Humans – like God – are communicators.
The moment Adam sees Eve, he speaks (Gen 2:23). Disruption in communication are of great effect as the tower of Babel story shows (Gen 11:1-9). Appropriate communication has to be learned and is essential to a fruitful life.
Communication presupposes personhood, self-awareness, self-determination, an objective reality about which something can be said, and free will. For more detail see the teaching unit COM 12 – Foundations of communication.
In child rearing communication is essential, and children need to be increasingly involved in discussion and decision making as they grow older.

Humans have calling and creativity

Humans – like God – have a mandate, a calling given by God. They are given authority and are equipped by God to fulfill their calling.
With skills and talents come responsibilities and the ability to be creative and active – like God. In doing so humans experience joy and satisfaction and dignity.
All throughout history God involves humans in significant and worthy work.
Jesus calls disciples to carry on the spreading of the gospel and the building of the church. Education must foster and encourage human talents, abilities, creativity, initiative and work.
Parents need to help the child discover its talents and encourage it to use them to contribute positively – and find joy in doing so.

Humans are equally valuable

There is a Biblical command to love oneself and to love the neighbor.
This is a dynamic tension and in education: a child needs to be encouraged to love and respect both, self and others. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev 19:18) presupposes the equal value of all humans.
Even when a person has special talents and is endowed with leadership skill, it is to be used for the service of others “whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant” (Mth 20:26).
The definition of ‘social competence’ is appropriate relationships with others, which means both consideration of others’ and their needs but in tension with appropriately sharing my needs also, and ask for help. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others” (Php 2:3-4).
To focus on my wants and needs only, is to be selfish and to end up in unhealthiness and isolation. To focus on others’ wants and needs only, is to loose myself and my personality and to end up in unhealthiness also. All humans being equally important asks for a dynamic consideration for both sides and for mutuality.

Humans are enjoyed by God

Finally God’s comment when creating humans “God saw everything that he had made and indeed, it was very good” (Gen 31:1) expresses something of the joy and satisfaction of God and his enjoyment of what he made. “May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works” (Psa 104:31).
This counteracts the century old typical Christian understanding of God as ‘enduring humans’ and of pleasure as being sinful. Though maybe pleasure has been over stressed in current Western culture, we should not let believers be robbed of a healthy understanding of God’s joy and generosity.
Jesus says “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (Jhn 10:10).
In the midst of all the misery of the world that Jesus suffers with, he lives an affirmation of life: He does his ‘water to wine’ miracle to ensure a wedding is not being shamed, he is known for feasting with collaborators and sinners, he enjoys personal friendships (for example with Lazarus, Martha and Mary), he lets the sinful woman lavish a very pricey gift on him, he has breakfast ready for the tired night-fishers (Jhn 21:9).
Nehemiah and Ezra say to the repentant Jews “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to tour LORD and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Neh 8:10).
With God salvation = ‘shalom’ = peace is a well-being extending to all areas of life.
In raising children parents need to include celebration, fun and pleasure with measure, and occasionally even beyond measure.
Children that have been loved, appreciated, encouraged, enjoyed and taught to love self and others have higher social competence.
Parents that have a personal, living and attractive relationship with God will be most successful in passing on Biblical values to their children.

Modern education's way to describe what is needed

parental appreciation > relationship, love, honor, dignity
parental demands and limits > responsibility, self-determination
encourage self-government > free choice, calling, talents, creative work