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Back to a Biblical Education - The HEART OF WISDOM TEACHING APPROACH

12:11 PM, Monday, November 27, 2006 .. Posted in Training Hearts and A Heart of Wisdom Education .. 0 comments .. Link

    Months ago I purchased my copy of The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach and skimmed over it. I knew that the main intent, to homeschool with the Bible as the base for all learning, was what was in my heart. I knew it was how the Lord wanted us to teach our children. What I failed to do was take the time to really get to know the Approach the way I wanted to. I looked over the model of teaching and skimmed ther methods, but did not really delve into the meat of it. Big mistake. Looking back, though, it was for the best at the time, because I needed to ease our children - probably mostly myself - into the change.
   We have known the Lord since before we were married (however shortly), so we have always taught the children about God and Jesus and the Word. Ok, we have failed in truly teaching them the Word as God has expected us to. Like most Christians, we took our children to church and thought that was how to train them in the Lord. We did learn Bible Memory songs at home, and we used a Christian curriculum. But, as I have grown in the Lord myself and matured -outside the American Church experience- I am convinced that we short-change our children, even as homeschoolers.
   I am by no means questioning salvation. Salvation is free. Growing in the Lord requires self-sacrifice and time - lots of time. In 'living the American Dream', there are usually too many things vying for our time to fit the WORD in there. Growing requires actually reading the Bible and learning the Word - not feeling bad that I forgot to spend time with the Lord or reading His Word again. My intentions are not what will allow me to learn the Word, my actions are. I know Pastors and Pastor's wives who do not spend time in the Word daily, let alone time praying, so this is pretty much a universal way of living for many Christians. It is cultural, and we need to get out of our own cultural ideas about a relationship with God!
   In the HOWTA Robin Sampson goes through every conceivable question one may have about why, what, where, when, and how one must take the approach to teach our children in the manner that Jesus Himself was taught. As I read each word last night, God spoke to me that we expect our children to "be like Jesus", but we train them in the manner of the Romans and Greeks - as we were trained. Another excellent resource on the difference between Hebraic Education and that of the Romans and Greeks is Tom Eldredge's Safely Home available through Vision Forum. Robin also devotes an entire section of 3 chapters recounting the history of education in America and that of the pagan style - Roman and Greek education styles- before getting into the lengthy chapter on the Hebraic Education model.
   It is truly enlightening, inspiring and engaging to immerse yourself into the pages that tell of the culture and quote Scripture references, knowing this is how God intended a child (and adults, too) to learn how to be His People. Here we have the Word as taught as Scripture to Our Savior, and we deny them because they are boring and have been 'remade' into the New Testament. Yes, we have a New Covenant in the New Testament, but that does not erase those in the Old Testament. I have friends who have made reference to the fact that the New Testament is for Christians and the Old Testament is the Law. In a very limited understanding, that is true, but that Law that we are so afraid of is the heart of Our Father God. We are set free from the condemnation of sin, but we are still responsible for doing as the Lord God commanded. And, to go one step further, we are responsible to teach these laws to our children.
   It seems we pick and choose what we use from the Old Testament. I mean, who would deny the fact that we as Christians still believe we must follow The Ten Commandments? When reading Deuteronomy, you will find all the answers to our society's great debates and atrocities - abortion, homosexuality, marriage, divorce, and on and on. And you will also find over and over the message God gives His People: Hear and Follow these commands which I have given you. This does not just reference the Ten Commandments, but it encompasses ALL of God's commands. Thank God and Jesus that we are no longer under the pains of death and hell that not following them brings, but it does not lessen our responsibility to follow God's commands in the Old Testament.
   In addition to the information on the Education differences, if you ever wanted to know more about the first century church and how it became so far removed from what it started as, there is quite a chapter devoted to all of this information. I was overwhelmed at how much I didn't know historically, though I have read and researched, listened to informational cd's and such. Heartbreaking is what it is. I could go on about our present-day 'glorious mega-churches', etc., but it would not only become heated, it would offend many, I'm sure. So, I will just say that today's church is not what it started as -or was intended to be, and it is a sad thing that our 'advanced culture' doesn't even have a clue. I think we have advanced and educated ourselves right out of true worship of a Holy God.
   So, hang the public education system and its requirements; God requires we learn His commands and His Word. This should be the foundation of all we learn in the Dixon Homeschool.
    If you would like to see this book for yourself, HOW has graciously put a 70-page excerpt onto their website for free download (along with several other free downloads) that will encourage and interest you. Well, it did me.
for His glory-

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