Character Education and God

¶ … Biblical principles that are related to our intellectual and spiritual education. They have a basis in the Bible (both the New and the Old Testament) and can be applied to our lives in many ways. Often times, as is shown in this paper, our own experiences bear out what these principles teach us. In this paper, a discussion of 10 Biblical principles and their relation to Scripture is provided. How these principles have applied to the writer's own life is also described. Following these discussions are plans for how the ideas developed may be practically applied in life so as to give glory to God and better our own lives.

The education of young students takes place not just on an intellectual level but also on a spiritual level. It is part of what character education consists of -- the formation of the mind and soul in terms of the principles that orient one towards the good (Lickona, 1993; Smith, 2013). Biblical principles related to education serve as those foundations that can best help anyone -- not just students in a school but also students of life -- to orient themselves towards the path to knowledge, sanctity, and goodness. This paper will examine 10 Biblical principles, discuss how they connect to Scripture and show how to apply to my own life experiences.

Recovery of Knowledge

The recovery of knowledge is a two-fold concept: on the one hand, knowledge of the good is already within us: "Each person has God's laws written on his/her heart" (#9). Just as the classical philosophers such as Socrates and Plato stated, our understanding of truth is based on the innate ideas that God has written on our soul. We know what is good and true because inside of us is the code that our creator has given us. It is the knowledge of Himself that God has placed within us and that drives us to seek Him and to know the laws that He Himself wants us to obey. As is written in the New Testament, one of God's promises to man was that He would not leave him in total ignorance: "I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts" (Heb 8:10). Therefore, the recovery of knowledge in one way is like the act of recollection that Plato describes as being the basis of all true knowledge: the act of simply recalling what God has placed within us and remembering that which is true. I have experienced this in my own life, especially as I came to formulate a concept of truth by finding the level between what was in my mind and what I experienced in reality. I found this same experience to be reflected in the writings of Plato, especially when he says about knowledge: "This is recollection of the things which our souls once saw during their journey as companions to a god, when they saw beyond the things we now say 'exist' and poked their heads up into true reality" (Plato, 2002, p. 32). As a pagan, Plato is reflecting on natural law and the fact that God's laws are written in the mind and hearts of all -- even those who have not even heard of His Son. I learned from Plato, that God has not denied any of His creatures the ability to come home to Him through reflection on the nature of their own life. Recovery of knowledge in this sense is like the recovery of our relationship with God.

The recovery of knowledge, however, also points to another type of knowledge-building. As Moreland (2007) points out, there are three kinds of knowledge aside from innate ideas: "knowledge by acquaintance, propositional knowledge, and know-how" (p 139). These types of knowledge have to do with ideas that are learned (which can help us to better understand what God has placed within our souls), ideas that serve as first principles (which are connected to natural law), and technical knowledge (which can help us to better ourselves through art and practice). These three types of knowledge recovery correspond with Biblical principle #11: "Each person has a conscience that responds both to God and to the world." This means that while God has written on our soul to help inform our conscience that we may be guided back to Him, our conscience is also informed by what we learn in our day to day lives. Through my own studies in school and through my own relationships with friends and at work, I have learned these other types of knowledge and have shaped my own conscience accordingly.

The recovery of knowledge also is a process that is related to our divinely ordained purpose in this life. Every person is given special gifts and talents that are to be implemented so as to give glory to God. This fact is echoed in Biblical principle #1: "Each person is created with a divinely ordained destiny and life purpose." This principle is found in the Old Testament: "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'" (Jer. 29:11). What this means is that God's divine plan is, ultimately, for us to be united with Him in Heaven -- our "hope and future." To get there, we must tune in to what He is saying to us and guiding us to do with our lives, with our special gifts He has given us. By using what He Himself wants us to use, we can more align our life and our intentions with His and be sure of fulfilling our ultimate destiny -- companionship with God in Heaven for all eternity. I have felt this guiding spirit of God in my own life as I decided on my own vocation to follow. I knew from an early age that I was gifted in certain ways and that God had a plan for me as a result of these gifts. By using them, I feel most connected to God and take joy in this relationship.

My specific plan for growth in this area is to apply the recommendations of Lickona (1993) and Smith (2013) regarding the growth of character education: it is important to form our own characters so that they can better reflect the truths that God teaches us. Gutek (2011) points this out as well in his assessment of the historical and philosophical foundations of education. By examining these foundations and applying them to our own education, I aim to improve my mind, character, soul and relationship with God. I can then serve to better reflect God's light and truth. In this way those around me will be better informed as well because they will enjoy the light that shines through me from God. I want to act as a conduit of God's teachings, so first I must purify the source -- i.e., better myself. Another way I plan to do that is through acquisition of Scriptural knowledge, which can lead us to Him. I will regularly read both the Old and the New Testament every night, at least one chapter. I will supplement this study with literature that can also help to inform my conscience -- such as the works by Plato.

Renovation of the Soul

Moreland (2007) notes that the "empty self is now an epidemic in America" (p. 141). This means that there is now life of grace in the souls of many Americans. Instead of renovating houses and chasing after materialistic dreams of happiness through financial gain, they should be focused on renovating their souls and renewing them with grace through reconnection with Christ. This is the essence of Biblical principle #3: "All that animates a person (e.g., thinking, emotions) is spiritual in nature." As Proverbs 13:24 states, "The one who loves their children is careful to discipline them." As a father of 4 young children, I desire to pray with them for wisdom and to actively teach them who God is. Proverbs 27:19 tells us that "As water reflects the face, so one's life reflects the heart" -- the idea being that our heart is what we should be focusing on in life -- not materialistic pleasures that do not lift up our heart and mind to God Who created us. I see this in my own life. I feel miserable and depressed when I neglect my spiritual life and pursue only vain, selfish pleasures. When I turn towards the things of God, I sense that my soul is being rejuvenated and that is something I need to pay more attention to so that I do not suffer from the "empty self" epidemic described by Moreland (2007).

However, as Biblical principle #2 reminds us, "Each person has two aspects of being -- material and immaterial." This means that one should not neglect the material in pursuit of the spiritual. God has given us our bodies to take care of them -- so we need to find shelter, we need to work to provide for ourselves and our families, and we may take pleasure in God's creations. That partaking should be in accordance with natural law and with God's laws so that we enjoy what He has given us in a way that also gives glory to Him. As we are told in Gen 2:7: "Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." We cannot deny that we have a spirit and a body -- so we must neither try to be too much like animals nor too much like angels. We are a mix of both. I have experienced this myself in that awareness of my senses and how my own body can impact my mind and vice versa. Also with prayer I have seen how it is possible to rise up only to crash later on if I am not paying attention to certain physical needs. Therefore, one should renovate the soul but also be mindful of the body that houses the soul and take care of it, too.

Still, it is important to remember that even though we are body and soul, God is still above us and, as Biblical principle #21 tells us, "The natural mind cannot understand the things of the Spirit." We must accept on faith that which God has revealed to us. Reason can lead us to God, as Plato (2002) and Moreland (2007) show, but faith is the final bridge that takes us across the abyss to our Creator. He wants to see our faith in Him because it is an act of the intellect and the will: we show our faith in our actions and in our thoughts. This faith likewise informs our sense of religion and how we should conform ourselves to God's law and will: "The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit" (I Cor 2:14). I know this to be true through my own experience of inviting the Holy Spirit into my soul and praying to Him for guidance and wisdom. God listens when we ask for His guidance and the Holy Spirit has guided me on countless occasions.

Calling on the Holy Spirit is essential in combating the selfishness of the flesh. Yes, we have a body and a soul -- and both should be cared for -- but sometimes the body makes unreasonable demands and we seek to gratify it beyond what God wishes us to do. Thus, Biblical principle #6 applies here: "The selfishness of flesh refuses to surrender to God and His ways."

My specific plan for growth in the renovation of my soul is to pray more -- every day, in the morning and in the night. When I wake up, my first thoughts will be of God and I will ask for guidance from the Holy Ghost that day to help me strengthen the interior of my soul. I will ask God also for guidance in applying my talents to provide for my body and its needs. I will also pray so that I may be filled with God's light and truth and grace so that I am not an "empty self" like so many poor souls in our country who have not received the life of Christ.

Restoration of the Kingdom's Miraculous Power

Moreland (2007) describes how Christianity is growing around the world because people are realizing its miraculous power to heal. God has given to people the signs of His love through healing. We in turn are motivated to turn towards Him when we are in need, when our earthly solutions have failed to achieve our objectives. This is the case in many instances when we are sick or in danger: we turn to God for help and miracles do happen. This aligns with Biblical principle #7: "Motivations operate from inside outward." God gives us the motivation to seek Him for assistance because He wants us to want Him. That is why we should make sure our motivations are always pure. If we let the Devil into our minds and hearts, he will try to turn us away from God: "but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed" (James 1:14). Making sure we allow God to motivate us can make all the difference in the extent to which the restoration of the Kingdom's miraculous power takes effect. I have seen this in my own life, for instance, in times where I tempt myself to want to be selfish for a day and neglect my duties. It never leads to anything positive. Or in cases when I feel overwhelmed and see no way of making a deadline, I have prayed for assistance and, in some cases, either the deadline has been extended or I find the energy I need to finish it on time.

God's love for us is the basis of His miracles and the regeneration of the Kingdom's miraculous power will be as a result of this divine love. We too can reflect this love, as Biblical principle #16 tells us, as a way to combat evil in the world: "Love and kindness function to destroy the basis of anger, resentment, and other negative dispositions." If we think on Romans 2:4, we see that God wants us to show this kind of love so as to restore the world to the glory of His kingdom: "Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearanceand patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?" (Rom 2:4). By asking us what we do to further God's designs -- which is the salvation of our souls through repentance -- God places the impetus to action on us. I have felt in my life that in order to truly glorify God and spread the Kingdom of His Word, I must repent of my sins and be a better person. When I show love to others I feel that God's Word is being spread in action.