Cultural callings 3

Structure & direction

Nature & Grace

How do grace and nature relate?

Grace opposes nature

Grace = Nature

Grace perfects nature

Grace flanks (stands alongside) nature

Grace restores nature

1. Stay away – it is from the devil!

2. If it is a good performance, no problem – go for it, enjoy yourself!

3. You may attend – but remember to pray prior to or after attending the film to confess your sin! 4. Please go – but I want to see you in church on Sunday!

5. Be careful! First ask yourself whether it will be possible to serve God – not before or after the event, but in your attendance.

Should I go and see a dodgy 18 rated film?

Grace opposes nature

Grace = Nature

Grace perfects nature

Grace flanks (stands alongside) nature

Grace restores nature

Education Towards a Christian approach

Living at the Crossroads: a clash of stories

Westernstory

Modernity

collapsing into

postmodernity

Biblical

story

Creation, fa

ll

redemption

that economics is the key to lifethat technology can control the futurethat people matter chiefly in so far as they workthat arts, humanities and religion are to be seen largely as pleasant extras, to be accommodated if there is time;that there is either no spiritual side to life or if there is it is unimportant and secondary;that in the end there is only matter, money and the industrial machine.

(Brenda Watson)

Western story

that each person has a standing before God - all are image bearers of Godthat all reality, “natural” and human, is created realitythat education involves growth into wisdom, responsibility, right living and service to Godthat sin is the central problem in educationthat Christ is Lord and King is central to education

Christian story

Key questions:

What is the purpose of education?What do we need to facilitate this?Who is responsible for the education of children?What are the creational norms for education?What idolatries are at work?How can the idolatries be subverted?

Who is responsible for education?

Church

Law

PoliticsArts

Business

Education

Science

Who is responsible for education?

State

Law

ChurchArts

Business

Education

Science

Who is responsible for education?

God

Law

StateArts

Business

Education

Science

Three models:

State schooling (public/ private)

Christian schools

Home schooling

Teacher

Student Subject/ curriculum

Western story

Teacher

Student Subject/ curriculum

What does it mean to be human?

How do we learn?Pedagogy

Textbooks – what are the idolatries? What is the implicit message in the textbook?How can these be subverted for the kingdom?

GOD

Christian story

Resources:

Association of Christian TeachersStapleford Centre

All of life redeemed website:www.allofliferedeemed.co.uk

Books:

DeJong, Norman (ed). Christian approaches to learning theory. Lanham, Md: University Press of America, 1984.Fennema, Jack. Nurturing children in the Lord: a study guide for teachers on developing a biblical approach to discipline. Philipsburg: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1978. Reprinted: Sioux Center: Dordt Press, 1994.Fowler, S. Christian educational distinctives. Potchefstroom: Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 1987.

Fowler, S. et al. Christian Schooling: Education for Freedom. Potchefstroom: Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 1990.MacKenzie, P. et al. Entry points for Christian education. Care for Education, 1997.

Roques, Mark. Curriculum Unmasked: Towards a Christian understanding of education. Monarch, 1989.Van Brummelen, Harro W. Walking with God in the Classroom. Burlington, Ont: Welch, 1992.Van Dyk, John. Letters to Lisa. Sioux Center: Dordt Press, 1997

Van Dyk, John. The Maplewood Story: Fostering a Reflective Culture in the Christian School. Dordt College Press, 2007.

Van Dyk, John The Craft of Christian Teaching: A Classroom Journey Dordt College Press, 2000.

Football & the kingdom