JackHammer

They say hindsight is 20/20. There are times, however, when hindsight drags its heels in getting to the full 20/20 status. Like Johnny staring out the back bus window, I find myself watching the scenery come into clearer focus.

When I wrote the post on updating the King James, I wrote it in the context of defending (at times vehemently) the King James Only position. It certainly was not intended as an attack, nor was it intended to undermine confidence in the KJV. I am King James Only. I am not ashamed to be numbered among those who have defended her purity. I could not find a better group of men with which to associate myself than those who take the position of King James Only. Our detractors have called us “lemmings,” along with other less than flattering titles. I’ll say for all to hear that I gladly stand with the lemmings.

That being said, I realize now that my “update” post alienated many. Read the rest of this entry →

The purpose of education, like everything else, is to glorify God (Rom. 11:33-36; Rev. 4:11; Col. 1:16).  There is one God and He is Who He says He is, so the One we must glorify is the God of the Bible.  This One God is (Deut. 4:39; 6:4) Creator (Gen. 1:1, 27), Holy (Lev. 11:44), Jealous (Ex. 20:5), Omniscient (Ps. 139), Judge (Heb. 12:23; Is. 33:22), Loving (1 John 4:8, 16), and Savior (Jonah 2:9; Ps. 18:2).  God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Three in One (1 John 5:7; Matthew 28:19, 20).  God is only glorified by what He says glorifies Him (Jn. 4:24; 17:17), so in order to glorify Him, all education must conform every standard, activity, program, policy, technique, strategy, and content to the Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16, 17; Mt. 4:4).

The mission of education is to be make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.  This is the mission of God Himself (Jn. 4:23; Lk. 19:10; Jn. 6:37-40; Gen. 6, 11, 12).  It is the mission that Jesus Christ Himself called for (Mt. 28:18-20).  Being a disciple of Jesus Christ means learning and practicing the truth.  The truth is the Word of God, the Bible, by which Jesus Himself was sanctified (Jn. 17:17).  Satan opposes the truth (Jn. 8:44) and there are terrible consequences for disobeying it (2 Thess. 2:12, 13).  The Lord Jesus Christ Himself is the source of truth (John 14:6).  Success in educating a child requires a deep, personal, and saving knowledge of the Scriptures for the teacher and the student, the child (2 Tim. 3:15).

God has ordained the church as the propagator and protector of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15; Jn. 14:15, 21, 24) of which Jesus Christ is the Head (Col. 1:18).  At the same time, parents are responsible to train their children in the truth (Deut. 6:4-9; Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:4; Prov. 7:1-3).  We can conclude from these Scriptural truths that the proper combination of parents and the local church will teach the truth to children.

To be disciplined in the truth, children need the repitition of the truth (Deut. 6:7-9; 11:19) and physical punishment is a primary means of enforcing its practice (Prov. 22:15; 23:13, 14; 13:24; 29:15; 19:18).  Disobedience must be dealt with Scripturally (Mt. 18:15-17; Eph. 5:11; Gal. 6:1).  Children require the right models of discipleship, so their teachers should be saved, Godly, serving members of the church (2 Tim. 2:2; Heb. 11:1) and their companions should not be able to influence them in sin and worldliness (1 Cor. 15:33; Prov. 22:10, 24; 2 Thess. 3:6; 1 Tim. 6:5).  There should not be worldly things (Rom. 13:14; Ps. 1; Rom. 12:2; James 4:4), lies (Ps. 40:4; 101:7), corrupt communication (Col. 3:8), or anything wicked (Ps. 101:3; 1 Peter 1:14-16) that influences.

The children or young people need the opportunity to practice truth:  hard work (1 Thess. 4:11; 2 Tim. 2:15), obedience to authority (Heb. 13:17; Tit. 3:1, 2), evangelism and discipleship (2 Cor. 5:18; Mark 16:15), God ordained roles of manhood (1 Tim. 2:8; 5:8) and womanhood (Prov. 31), and praise (Col. 3:16).

The Lord Jesus Christ must be the ultimate and supreme model of discipleship (Luke 2:52):  “Wisdom”–Intellect (Proverbs 1:7; II Timothy 3:7; I Corinthians 3:18,19), “Stature”–Physical (1 Tim. 4:8; 1 Cor. 9:27), “Favor with Man”–Social (James 2:1-12; 1 Tim. 4:12, Dan. 6:4; Prov. 17:27), and “Favor with God”–Spiritual.  Everything should have a standard of excellence in Christ (Philip. 1:10; Mk. 12:30; Eccl. 9:10).  Goals must be set that would lead to being like Christ in every way both daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, and for our whole life (Philip. 3:12-14).

We is edjicated.  We is ‘cited about edjicatin’ y’all, too.

Join us this month for an education on education.  Kent will always find a way to get theological.  He likes Church-schools.  He has something to say about Homers, too.  And Homer-Onlyism.

Jeff’s getting smart.  Smarter all the time.  He’ll have his EdD just in time to impress y’all with a smattering of polysyllabic nomenclatures and ideological ruminations.  Take off your thinking caps now, class.  They’ll just get in the way anyhow.

Dave doesn’t want to think too much.  His brain is full.  Can he be excused?  Besides, he’s tired of people thinking too much about how much he is thinking.  Pull up a chair.  Grab an empty mug.  Have some coffee, on the grounds.  We isn’t a thinker.  Thinking is bad.  Education is bad.  Stupidity rocks.  Just ask Thelma Lou.

Dave’s getting practical on us, in very pragmatic, non-thinking, non-intellectual ways.  Just think it!  (Insert swoosh here)

Enjoy da class.  Oh, and there will be an assignment.