Mr. Jeremiah VanAcker on Training Up 7th Grade Apologists
If you were to sit in on a class at Liberty Classical Academy, our dearest hope is that you would leave having witnessed something exceptionally different. You would see students taught how to think. Not what to think. Education, when done this way, is transformative.
One of our Bible classes recently discussed some of the most thought-provoking theological questions a person can ask. You might assume those discussions took place in junior or senior classes due to the deep and soul-searching quality of the conversation. The twist—this was a class of 7th graders.
MEET MR. JEREMIAH VANACKER
Meet Mr. Jeremiah VanAcker, Middle School Bible and History Teacher at Liberty Classical Academy. "We tackled some theological questions that many Christians of any age haven't even thought how to answer themselves. Especially Christians only 12 or 13 years old," says Mr. VanAcker. "A couple of the questions we discussed included, 'If a person never has access to the Bible, can they be saved?' (special revelation) and, 'Are babies evil?’ (sinful nature).
The students practiced discussing their ideas and learned to exegete God's word to support their opinions properly. Liberty believes the skill of accurately using Scripture to defend positions well prepares students for life both as Christians and as scholars.
WRESTLING WITH APOLOGETICS QUESTIONS
Near the end of the quarter, the class culminated in an apologetics discussion, starting with the question, "Can non-Christians do good things? (chief end of man). "For nearly the entire class period, both sections of 7th graders wrestled with the implications of that question," says Mr. VanAcker. "The question itself demanded other questions answered first. What does it mean to do 'good things?' What is our standard for 'good' and 'bad?' Are there any actions that are objectively and universally 'good?'"
The 7th-grade students engaged in thoughtful debate, only to be halted by the bell signaling class was over. Several students approached Mr. VanAcker after class, still wrestling with how to answer the question. He encouraged them to look to Scripture, bring up the conversation with their parents, and promised them he would find a way to keep the discussion going in class.
The next day, his students asked to continue the apologetic discussion. Mr. VanAcker welcomed the students to his room during study hall once their homework was complete.
"I wasn't sure how many students would show up. I mean, these students would be voluntarily discussing theology. To my surprise and excitement, almost thirty 7th graders showed up in my room to continue the conversation."
ESTABLISHING RULES FOR CONVERSATION
The class set some ground rules: be respectful, don't interrupt, and be open to having your mind changed. They defined their key term, "good," as something that honors/glorifies God, namely in his two greatest commands: "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" and "love your neighbor as yourself."
The students took turns entering Bible verses "into the record" and explaining how the verses helped their case. "They did a wonderful job bringing in Scripture that they and their parents had found in their free time the evening before," says Mr. VanAcker.
Once again, the class only stopped because of the bell. The fruitful conversations that took place are a perfect example of a classical Christian education. "Liberty students really care about God's word and glorifying Him. They care so much that they give up free time to continue discussing these important questions. The conversations encouraged me about our students' skills, love for the Lord, and their ability to have respectful and constructive debates," says Mr. VanAcker.