The Role of Theology in Digital Learning: The JNDA Perspective

When it comes to your child’s education, the choices available are vast, ranging from secular to Christian-based learning platforms. We understand that even within the sphere of Christian education, variances in theological viewpoints can considerably influence the shaping of a curriculum.

At John Nelson Darby Academy, our foundational approach to teaching scripture is based on dispensational theology, and we proudly uphold its principles. Here’s what it essentially means for our educational approach:

• We are firm believers in the literal interpretation of the Bible’s words, viewing all the Scripture’s words as the ultimate truth.
• We acknowledge figurative speech in the Bible as such, and we interpret it in its intended figurative context.
• We teach students to examine the audience of Biblical promises and obligations. Not every promise or obligation in the Scriptures applies to every believer today. We guide students to discern whom the promise or obligation was intended for.
• We promote the understanding that God’s will has been gradually unveiled over time, with the Apostle Paul’s era revealing the Body of Christ – the church, consisting of believers from all nations, irrespective of gender, who trust in Jesus Christ for salvation.
• We oppose Calvinism and Reformed theology, standing by the belief that anyone can accept salvation anywhere and anytime the gospel is preached.
• We dismiss sign gifts as applicable to today’s Christians, thereby rejecting speaking in tongues, faith healing, the Word of Faith movement, the New Apostolic Reformation, and the concept of continued revelation or new prophecy.
• We believe in the future millennial earthly reign of Jesus Christ as the Kingdom of God.

We maintain that such theological positions have profound implications on numerous practical applications throughout a child’s education journey. Thus, we diligently scrutinize our curriculum to ensure its alignment with our theological stance. (Please alert us if you find any aspect of a lesson seemingly not aligning with our dispensational theology!)

So, why is our theological approach so crucial?

In our opinion, we currently live in a post-Christian society where Judeo-Christian values that once formed the bedrock of our culture have significantly eroded. This shift has left our children exposed to more faith-based scrutiny than any prior generation. It’s our firm belief that we, as Christians, must cultivate a spirit of constructive skepticism to effectively respond to the skeptics amongst us. Our skepticism is fueled by faith and open-mindedness, steering clear of sour and closed-minded attitudes. It propels us to challenge the often oversimplified and commonly accepted “Sunday School answers”. Our primary goal is to equip your child with a robust understanding of how to read and apply Scripture, so they are unswayed by the skepticism prevalent in today’s society.