As Christian teachers, one of our goals is to help each student to view all of life and the world from a Biblical perspective. We want to teach them to think from a Christian mind, one shaped by a personal revelation of Christ and founded on the timeless truth of the Scriptures.
Central to our teaching effort is the process of integration. That is, we are committed to bring together various aspects of truth into a complete whole. Therefore, we compare subject with subject, subject with Scripture, and all truth with the One who embodies the truth, Jesus Christ (John 14:6).
The Holy Spirit teaches by leading us to Christ (John 14:26; 16:13) and by comparing one truth with another (l Corinthians 2:12-13).
Integration, the understanding of one truth in relation to other truths and in terms of the whole purposes of God, is a lifelong pursuit–for the teacher and the learner.
As we teach students to think and learn in an integrated way, they also can apply the related skills and attitudes to the challenges of their generation. It is our hope that they in turn will be faithful in passing this approach to life onto the next generation.
INTEGRATION OF THE LIVING WORD
In brief, we can summarize the process of integration in these steps.
- We compare and contrast one subject with another (science and social studies)
- We test our conclusions and compare them with Scriptural principles (Psalm 119:142, 169; John 17:17)
- Furthermore, we compare our insights with the example and character of Jesus Christ, the Living Word (Colossians 2:2-3; John 14:6)
- We remain alert to the guidance of the Holy Spirit who speaks and reminds of Christ as He guides us into all the truth
- We look to Christ for revelation of the truth and listen to the Spirit for ways to apply the truth to our personal lives, seeking to be doers of the Word (James 1:22, 25)
SUGGESTIONS FOR TEACHERS
- When planning the lesson, ask, “What scriptural truth, example, or concept clarifies, broadens, or corrects the concept I am teaching?”
- During the development of the lesson start with Biblical truth or introduce it. Secondly, yet be alert to understandings that the students may have that are religious but not Scriptural or truly Christ-like.
- While developing the lesson, ask students for examples in related subjects or Biblical passages.
- Pause during the lesson to listen for what the Holy Spirit may be saying about the concept at hand.
- In tests, ask for Biblical truth as well as related subject matter about the concept. Emphasize application of truth and ask students to give evidence of personalization of concepts.
