This is an area where it is easy to go really deep and where doctrinal difference can come into play. Therefore, I try to keep it simple, and keep it to what I have learned through the Bible. I do believe the Bible the inerrant Word of God on all matters that it speaks on. I also believe that God’s knowledge, understanding, and wisdom is like an endless ocean. I can swim in it and learn about it, but there is always more to discover and there will always be aspects I miss. I try my best to remain open to instruction and gaining greater levels of insight and understanding. Thank you for learning along with me.
According to where I am in my understanding today, I know, according to 1 Thessalonians 5:23 that the spirit is one of the three parts of man. I also know according to Ephesians 2 and John 3 that the spirit is what became dead after the fall and is made alive again after one has accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. I also know, according to Hebrews 4:12 that the human spirit and soul are tightly interconnected. This view of the interconnectedness of things is beautifully consistent with how the classical teacher views all arts and sciences. In Scripture, the soul is referred to by a handful of names, like heart, inner part, spirit, etc.. It is always referred to as the immaterial part of man, his mind, will, and emotions. The spirit is referred to in scripture as the part that can perceive the things of God. Based on these scripture references there are a couple things I have noticed about training the spirit.
First, we need Jesus. Without Christ, we cannot perceive the things of God (1 Cor 2-3).
Second, there is a mysterious connection between the spirit and the soul.
Therefore, the best thing I can do to train my children’s spirits, if I can do anything at all in this, is to help them gaze on Christ, in everything we do. I know this is the premise for all of Christian classical education, so this is no surprise. Christ is the only one who can make us alive and make us complete. It is only by abiding in Him that we will produce much fruit. (John 5) Even the things listed below are forms of gazing on Christ. It really all comes back to Him, is about Him, and leads us to Him. There really is no other name than the name of Jesus.
I also really like how Jain and Clark discuss this in The Liberal Arts tradition: A Philosophy of Christian Classical Education. They say that all of learning must grounded in piety, meaning divine worship. A fear of God in other words. The fear of God that Proverbs discuss as the beginning wisdom. With out a fear of God we will be stunted in our ability to cultivate wisdom and virtue. I sometimes have a hard time understanding what this really means. I have heard some talk about it meaning something like an utmost respect, I don’t know, I am still learning about what this looks like in the life of the Christian.
The other thing we do is intentionally engage in activities that make the mind, will, and emotions be brought under the Lordship of Christ. We find these activities to be very useful for training wills and minds to be disciplined and faithful. Things like Bible study, worship, prayer, and repentance. In fact, we have found that these disciplines have become woven throughout our curriculum and life without realizing it. All of this is integrated and I do not have the ability to separate it all out, nor would I want to. All I know is, as I grow closer to Christ more and more of my life and being are working together for the glory of God. I believe that is what Romans 8:28 means when it says “All things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purposes.” All things, our whole body, soul, and spirit, in all our circumstances and seasons, working together for our good and God’s glory. Amen to that!
Expanding Wisdom articles related to Training the Spirit
God & the Trivium Part IGod & the Trivium Part II: The Provision of the Grammar Stage
Resources for further reading
I’ve just been meandering through your posts tonight. I’m thrilled with all the lovely thoughts and ideas. I’m planning our year this week, and your comments about learning the fear of God have me thinking. I have decided to do a year of myths vs. saints for our theme of study. We’ll be studying ancient history/civilizations with Classical Conversations, so I think those will fit together nicely. The kids are enjoying learning about the Greek and Egyptian myths this summer through the Rick Riordan books, and through the rest of the year I want to give them a glimpse of what happens when God meets a civilization. For example the Egyptians. When God met them through Moses, he sent the 10 plagues proving the their gods were weak and incomplete. I think this will be a good way to teach them the fear of God. When God meets a civilization, it is changed. Maybe not in such a dramatic way, but the Roman civilization was brought low when it met God, just over a time. Hm, some things to think about. Thanks for these posts, I enjoyed them all!
Neat idea! Don’t forget much of the fear of the Lord can be found by standing at the edge of the ocean as well! 🙂 P.s. I apologize for taking so long to respond! I hope you year is going well!