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Why is it important for the Christian educator to know his/her answers to the questions asked by metaphysics, epistemology, and axiology?
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Knowing the answers to the questions of metaphysics, epistemology, and axiology is important so that educators can point their students to the truth and help them recognize the lies that the world teaches. Today’s media is filled with earthly truth that is often presenting in very appealing ways. The drive of advertisers to earn money often leads them to convince their audience that they are in need of certain things in order to be fulfilled. If we do not know the truth and where to find answers to our questions, we become very susceptible to being deceived by our enemy.
Children are naturally filled with curiosity and have questions about how our world works and why. If we are not able to give them sound answers or point them in the right direction, they may seek answers from the wrong sources and have a misunderstanding of God’s character and purpose for their life.
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It is important to know about your existence, your ability to know things, and your values so that we can pass those onto our students and help them to understand why we know these things. It is also important to understand that the students may not know and will need help and guidance to find their answers and so being secure in ours helps them to see that it is possible and how to get to a place of knowing and understanding that helps them get through life and all the uncertainty to come.
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These are difficult concepts for both students and teachers. My answers to these questions were in flux in high school. Now, my answers to these questions are still challenged by events in my life. I still find that certain books challenge my stances on metaphysics more so than movies or tv shows. My students are likely challenged through other media. My answers to the questions asked by metaphysics, epistemology, and axiology (if I am honest with myself) influence every word I speak.
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It is important to know the answers to these questions, because our students will ask. It will also come out in the way we treat them and teach them.
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I have a seminary degree and have studied these topics in depth, but my brain is not really wired to embrace these kinds of questions. They are fun for a season, but when I talk to people who are very philosophical, I really cringe. But I do know that it is important that I not be totally taken by surprise or crushed by philosophical arguments. I also think that it is good to have a basic understanding so that I can help my students know that there are some people to believe totally different and explain why. I have seen many students strong in their faith, walk away from God in their college years because of philosophies that gripped their minds and gave them doubts. For me it is important to know that God is the source of life and truth, that he is good, and that he is worthy of trust and my devotion.
