The Principle Approach:
An Intriguing Method of Education from America's Past
By Rosalie Slater
November 1981 - "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6).
There is a revival bubbling up in America - a healing in our land. It is a revival of America's Christian history and a desire to learn those Biblical principles which identify America as a Christian nation with a Christian form of government.
But, in order to harvest this revival - to bring forth real fruit for the Lord - we must restore not only America's Christian history but also the Christian philosophy of education - the method of our founding fathers and mothers - which is known as the Principle Approach.
The Principle Approach to American Christian history developed as the chain of Christianity moved westward in a liberating mission, internal and external. The Biblical principles of government that appeared with the Pilgrims in America established the world's first Christian republic and enabled us to extend the gospel into all fields and to all nations.
Without the knowledge of America's Christian history, American Christians have retreated from their leadership in all fields - education, economics, government, the arts, and sciences. Without a conviction of the hand of God in our history we have allowed unrighteous men to direct the course of our nation for many, many years. It is vital, therefore, that Christians once again accept their responsibility for America: "that in all things He might have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:18). We must begin by restoring the Principle Approach to America's Christian history in our homes, churches and schools.
The Seven Principles
The Principle Approach begins with the study of those unique Biblical principles which identify America as a Christian nation. These are seven principles which are essential to the government of the individual and of the nation. What follows is a brief summary of each principle.
1. God's Principle of Individuality
The history of liberty begins with the uniqueness of individuals, continents, and nations on the chain of Christianity moving westward.
2. The Christian Principle of Self-Government
The government of our nation begins with the Christian self-government of individuals, families, churches.
3. America's Heritage of Christian Character
The Christian heritage of America began with the Pilgrims as they extended Biblical principles into church government, their relations with the Indians, and into economics.
4. Conscience as the Most Sacred of all Property
Because man is made for God's purpose, we are God's property. Our individual God-directed productivity and property is protected by America's Constitution.
5. The Christian Form of Government
Our founding fathers searched the Scriptures for our principles of government - representation, the separation of powers, our dual form of government. Such governmental action begins with INDIVIDUAL action. Pastors during that time were preachers of Biblical GOVERNMENT.
6. How the Seed of Local Self-Government is Planted
Samuel Adams, the father of the American Revolution, set the example of how we can educate a people in Christian Constitutional principles so that they might be self-governing. This principle is at the heart of American government. It needs to be restored first at home.
7. The Christian Principle of American Political Union
Despite the diversity of the thirteen colonies, there was a "UNITY OF THE SPIRIT" for they were united in Biblical principles of government.
How can we restore these principles to America?
The Principle Approach is the Scriptural alternative to progressive education. It can restore us to the literacy level of our founding fathers and mothers who gave this nation under God.
Rus Walton has developed a superior study course which can help introduce the Principle Approach. Fundamentals for American Christians is a Bible-based, teaching course with emphasis upon self- and civil-government and the Kingship of Jesus Christ.
(Rus Walton's program is available from the Plymouth Rock Foundation, The Fisk Mill, Box 577, Marlborough, NH 03455-9989.)
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The Real Jesus: Who is the Real Jesus? Ever since the dawn of modern rationalism, skeptics have sought to use textual criticism, archaeology and historical reconstructions to uncover the "historical Jesus" -- a wise teacher who said many wonderful things, but fulfilled no prophecies, performed no miracles and certainly did not rise from the dead in triumph over sin. Over the past 100 years, however, startling discoveries in biblical archaeology and scholarship have all but vanquished the faulty assumptions of these doubting modernists. Regretably, these discoveries have often been ignored by the skeptics as well as by the popular media. As a result, the liberal view still holds sway in universities and impacts the culture and even much of the church.
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