Founded Upon a Rock:
The Philosophy of Education from a
Distinctively Baptist Perspective
Dr. Scott Hanks (Heritage Baptist Church in Lawrence, KS) has endorsed my book: "I highly recommend the reading of "Founded Upon a Rock," written by Josh Rivers. This exposition on education from a Baptist perspective is needed desperately. This book is not only good for pastors and teachers, but for students as well, that they might clearly understand the proper roots of their own education."
"Josh Rivers has done a thorough job on our perspective of education from a Baptist viewpoint. He has been on target on addressing the problems of much of our Christian school curriculum based on Reformed and Covenant Theology. I heartily recommend his book on Founded Upon a Rock."
- Ron Comfort, Chancellor of Ambassador Baptist College
I have written this book, to examine the foundation of Christian Education. The Reformed have given us Baptists their theology and philosophy regarding education, and we have taken it and built upon it. Their foundation, however, is not upon the Solid Rock. This book takes us to the true foundation and brings a philosophy that is truly Biblical and Baptist.
For many years, our country has been screaming toward hell with a blindfold on, and most do not even realize the danger that is ahead. Most people have been blinded and deceived into believing lies, desensitizing and numbing them to the reality that has been created for them. Our homes have been destroyed by selfishness, rebellion, disrespect, and divorce - and we seem to be okay with it. Our streets have been flooded with crime, violence, and drugs. Our enemy has infiltrated and corrupted our government through subtle, yet deadly, changes. Our churches, even Baptist churches, have been stripped of the very armor of protection that is necessary to defend them, and their weapons have been dulled down, destroyed, or dismantled behind a false sense of peace and safety.
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He rightly identifies the fact that Baptists are banefully ignorant about their heritage, and were apparently clueless in the beginning of the Christian school movement. Since 1965 or thereabouts, the Christian school movement has produced textbooks, curriculum and workbooks from a more or less ecumenical standpoint. Nearly all of the material has been tainted with a catholic Reformed perspective, neutralizing the distinctive nature of Baptist theology, ordinances and models of ministry.
This short work introduces a better way of thinking for Baptist people, of whom the vast majority of Christian school and home school students are comprised. We hope this discussion will continue.
Our Baptist churches, schools, and colleges need books covering many doctrinal issues, solidly stating the doctrines which set us apart as Baptists. There is a great need for Baptist books on educational methodology, teaching styles and techniques, but the purpose of this book is to lay out the underlying philosophy of education. We must first understand the "why" of education before we can tackle the "how" and "what" of education. By understanding the "why", we lay the solid foundation necessary before the building can be erected, and this building must be founded upon a rock.
Our Baptist churches have unfortunately failed to define sure, distinct goals regarding education. Throughout the years, this negligence has darkened the vision of our Baptist churches, and we were subtly given goals by those that did not share our theology. These foreign goals and theologies that are now taught through our Baptist churches have been embraced by our families, and their hearts have been lured away. James Beller says that "we have abdicated our pulpits and classrooms to our enemies without knowing the full background of the so-called culture war."
About Baptist Christian Education
(Colossians 2:8) "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."
When one army defeats another army, the victors claim the possessions and valuables of the defeated - these are the spoils of war. Paul warns us to beware "lest any man spoil you." He warns specifically against three things:
1. Philosophy and vain deceit
2. After the tradition of men
3. After the rudiments of the world
Let's examine them in reverse order: "After the rudiments of the world" is obviously telling us not to pattern ourselves after the things in the world. Most Baptists do not have a problem in this area.
"After the tradition of men" refers to following the traditions that have been passed down to us. Not all traditions are bad, as long as we know why we do it and can prove it with Scripture (notice that I did not say to twist Scripture to prove our point). Baptists have the stigma of resisting change and sticking to traditions (i.e. "that's what we've always done"). We must be careful about traditions.
"Philosophy and vain deceit" are used by those that try to use (false) logic to prove their philosophy or worldview, even if they have to use deceit. The mainstream Christian educational resources and curricula is saturated with Protestant/Reformed theology stemming back to the Reformation, especially John Calvin. Reformed theology is basically a resurrection of the teachings of Augustine.
Reformed theology has been an undercurrent for centuries, but it especially became prominent in the educational materials in the sixties and seventies, which was the time of the early stages of the Christian school movement. This movement started as a primarily Baptist movement, but several prominent Reformed theologians and educators took part during it's formation.
The problem we now face today is two-fold: the "philosophy and vain deceit" had crept in years ago, and many Baptists today are stuck in the traditions that have been passed down from it.
This now brings us to the valley of decision. Do we continue in the traditions brought on through deceit, or do we get back to the Bible and see what it really says? The later decision is the truly Baptist decision, and the decision that this author has chosen. I have turned from a position of supporting Christian education to promoting Baptist Christian education. This decision had led, thus far, to the writing of a book (soon to be published),a blog, and this website.
It is time that we, as Baptists, stop following the Protestant/Reformed philosophies. We must establish principles and goals that are truly Biblical (Baptist).
"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." (Romans 13:11)