The Heart of Learning

Previously:
What is Education?
The Heart which Loves Virtue
Teaching the Heart to Love Virtue

I had written, on the Nothing New Press Facebook page:

“I believe in teaching foundations thoroughly: spending maximum time on a few necessary subjects that are designed to instill a love of learning, and create life-long independent learners, by unlocking the power of the child’s mind. This is what classical educators call the lost tools of learning of grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric, but what the Bible terms knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.”

So what is the foundation, the few necessary subjects?

The Scripture is our first guide:

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deu 6:6-9

I have more understanding than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the ancients,
Because I keep Your precepts. Psa 119:99-100

Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” Mat 4:3-4

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luk 10:38-42

The Word of God is the first subject of first importance, and there are several important principles packed into these few verses, which we will unpack. But do not let the peer pressure of modern society dissuade you. Learning the Bible is of greater importance than learning mathematics, science, or any other thing that the modern world has put on a pedestal. This includes even what classical educators have put on a pedestal. Meditating in God’s Word will do more for your children than meditating in Homer, Socrates, even Calvin or Jefferson, or any other sacred cow!

You do not add a Bible class to your already full schedule; you strip your schedule of everything but the Bible, and then you build your new schedule around it, with the Bible at the heart. So learning the Word of God never loses its place at the heart of your studies, and every study is then informed by its truth as you move forward.

“And these words I command you today shall be in your heart.”

Moms, believe me, I know how much work and how time consuming it is to homeschool your children, and to manage your household. But if you have to cut corners, do not cut your personal time with YHVH and your own Bible study. Never forget, that though there are many things to be worried and troubled over, one thing only is needful. Choose the good part, that is not temporary, that is not wood, hay, and stubble. The words which you are to impart to your children, need to be in your heart as well! How do we get them in our hearts, us and our children?

“You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

That is how. You teach them (more on that coming), you talk of them at all times and in all places – all throughout the day, not just in “Bible class” or in Sunday school. I did a study a few years back on what it means to bind God’s Word on your hand and forehead (between your eyes). Do you know that the same concept is repeated in Revelation, to be marked on the hand and forehead?

Marked on the hand and forehead, part one, part two, part three, part four

You establish, you post this Law on your doorposts, which is at the entrance to your house, and on your gates, which is at the entrance to your city (I am not saying this will be easy, and it might not happen before the Lord’s return. But may that not stop us from trying). By so doing, you are affirming that this Law applies to all who enter here, and who dwell herein. And then you apply it, you live by it. You find out what it means to do these things. You take your instruction from the Word of God and not the word of man or some crazy TV preacher. You forsake idolatry, and rest on Sabbath, and honor your parents and God-ordained authority. You keep the love in your heart alive for your spouse. You steal not, lie not, and covet not. This is a radical change of life from most Americans, and even, most Christians. But this is deep wisdom. Your children will grow up to be, not educated fools, who walk away from God and even say in their hearts, “There is no God,” with a million other highly educated fools out there, but full of wisdom and of the Spirit of God.

Continued in:
Unlocking the Power of the Mind
The Biblical Tools of Learning
Acquire, Analyze, Apply