Posted in The Principle Approach: Self-Directed Study

Welcome to God's Principle of Individuality {Principle 1}... 

Week 8—Assignment

• Lesson 6
  • God’s Principle of Individuality—1^st Principle Section only
• Supplemental Resources:  
  • T&L pgs. 63-68; 111-117—Outlining God’s Principle of Individuality
  • T&L pgs. 141-183—Key to Expanding the Principles
  • C&P pgs. 46-54—The Hand of God in American History
• Assignments:  None

Lesson 6 has been broken down into 8 weeks; one week discussing Gaining a Providential View of History and 7 weeks discussing the seven principles individually.  This week we are discussing the first principle—God’s Principle of Individuality.  You may want to review this principle in Week 4 of our “PA Summary”.

Lesson 6—God’s Principle of Individuality

v     Everything in God’s universe is revelational of God’s infinity, God’s diversity, God’s individuality.  God creates distinct individualities.  God maintains the identity and individuality of everything He created.

            Why is God’s Principle of Individuality so important?  Well, sometimes in figuring out why something is so important, it may be easier to see when it is taken away.  The opposite of individuality is collectivism. 

            Individuality is defined as having a “separate or distinct existence; a state of oneness.”  While collective is defined as being “formed by gathering; gathered into a mass, sum, or body; congregated, or aggregated.”  Countries devoid of individuality are the socialist or communist countries.  Collectivism is a political philosophy which teaches that to achieve one world we must eliminate differences of individuality. 

            The examples that God gave us of his design of individuality are multiplied over and over again in His Creation.   Every snowflake is different, every thumb print, etc.  Each of our personalities, likes, and dislikes are different.  He never intended for us to be the same.  The examples are unending.

            In addition to God’s Creation described in Genesis 1 and John 1:3; in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, we see God’s Principle of Individuality.

     Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.   And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.   There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.   For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.    But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

            Now this Biblical principle, like all Biblical principles, is taught as they become a part of us.  When you start seeing God’s Principle of Individuality as you view all things, it will come forth in your teaching as do multiple Biblical principles and we can, with God’s guidance, fulfill Deuteronomy 6:6-7, so that “…these words…shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”

Also, as I stated earlier, examples of how the principles can be taught academically are set forth in the Guides.  As referred to in Week 4 of the “PA Summary”, the principles are broken down into layers to present to our students.  The most helpful chart in setting this out is in T&L, page 112.

God’s Principle of Individuality

Grade Level	Layer	T&L
Primary	Christian Individuality	Pgs. 155-156
Elementary	Geographic Individuality	Pgs. 142-154; 156-157
Junior High	Individual Links on Christianity’s Chain	Pgs. 158-178
Senior High	America Declares Herself an Individual Nation	Pgs. 179-183

 Note:  These are suggestions only and not necessarily the way you need to approach this and not necessarily the way I have approached these areas of learning.  We have freedom in education!

            Now if your kids are older, it is still best to go through all the layers as foundational.  However, because they’re older, they will understand the concepts much quicker.  The Guides are very effective in showing how each layer of the Principles can be taught across the curriculum.  However, how you want to teach the principles is up to you.  The goal here is to teach the principle exploring it Biblically and hopefully through history, science, language, mathematics, etc.

 C&P pgs. 46-54—The Hand of God in American History 

            Although I have broken up Lesson 6’s assignments into 8 weeks, this section on The Hand of God in American History, more properly would be grouped with Week 7—Lesson 6—Gaining a Providential Hand in History.

            Although it requires a patient read, it sets out many facts in our history that relates how God’s hand providentially moved throughout our history.  A must read!!

Karen