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Thursday, July 17, 2008

Developing a Biblical Philosophy of Reading

While I'm on the topic of simplifying...for those of you who are Christian home educators...what are some guidelines you have used to decide what your children will read? Here are some thoughts that I have come up with so far:

1 - Good reading material will be hated by the world because it will testify with Christ that the worlds' works are evil. (Jn 7:7) What does the reading matter that I am considering say about humanity? Does it say that it is basically good or evil? Good books will agree with Scripture that humanity is totally depraved, and they will point readers to the cross.

2 - On what authority does the author of the book back his assertions? On himself? On someone else? On Scripture? "The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory..." (Jn 7:18) Whose glory does the author seek?

3 - Psalm 101:3 "I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless..." The Hebrew word for worthless means anything that is without profit or wicked. What does Scripture consider worthwhile and profitable?

- Scripture is profitable. 2 Timothy 3:16
- Engaging in good deeds is profitable. Titus 3:8
- Foolish controversies are worthless. TItus 3:9
- Which controversies are foolish? At what level are we to prepare ourselves for apologetics? We are to be prepared to give the reason for the hope that we have. But how far should be prepare ourselves to engage in things like the Creation debate?
- Worldly fables, myths, fiction are worthless as compared to the words of faith and sound doctrine. 1 Timothy 4: 7-8
- Bodily discipline is of little profit as compared with godliness. 1 Timothy 4:8

4 - Philippians 4:8 Checklist...Think on:
Whatever is: true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, worthy of praise

That's what I have so far. What do you think?

Also, how far in advance do you begin gathering resources for your kids? What do you collect? Etc.

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