Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader...

...I have an elementary aged son. He loves science! If he is a "chip off the old block", then I guess I'm "the old block!" He asks wonderful science related questions, he comes up with interesting ways to solve problems, he loves watching The Science Channel, The Learning Channel, The Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel, Discovery Times, and others. When library time at school comes around he's been known, on multiple occasions, to check out field guides! He is definitely a science minded individual! He actually "invented" the hybrid engine 2 years ago, in 3rd grade, while mulling over how to decrease our dependence on foreign oil. Pretty smart kid, pretty science/technology oriented.

The only problem with having a science oriented son who loves watching the aforementioned channels is the worldview that is portrayed on those channels! Millions of years, humans as animals, evolution, naturalistic/materialistic explanations for the design we see in living organisms, death and destruction as the means for "creating" the living things we see today...All of this permeates the popular science programming on television. It is a very difficult, daily, struggle with my son. He is a good kid with a Godly spirit...but he is a child, and as such it is my duty to train him up in the way he should go. This involves daily instruction in God's Word, and His views of the world and universe!

The neat thing about my having to continually teach Biblical worldview to my son is that it allows me to reaffirm the Biblical account to my child on a daily basis. We talk about the "millions of years" comments made on these programs and discuss where they get these dates. We talk about how secular evolutionists view humans as animals. We talk about how if humans are viewed as animals then abortions are really ok. Yes, I speak of these things with my 5th grader! He takes it all so well. He knows that abortion is wrong...at any point in gestation. He knows this because he has both a proper view of the Biblical sanctity of life as well as a proper view of definitions of science!

We are taught the cell theory of life from early on in our science education...that in order for something to be considered "alive," it must be composed of cells. We also learn that as soon as the sperm (23 chromosomes from Dad) unites with the egg (23 chromosomes from Mom), the resulting zygote (46 human chromosomes) will develop into a viable human (barring any abmormalities). This fits the scientific definition of life (composed of one or more cells), and therefore also falls under the jurisdiction of the Biblical sanctity of life. My 5th grader understands this.

He also seems to have a proper understanding of the Dominion Mandate from the Genesis account. The Dominion Mandate does not give us free reign to do with the Earth as we will, but to be good stewards of the Earth as God has given it to us to use for His will! Yes, this means that plants and animals may be cultivated for our use...but what it does not mean is that we should squander our God-given resources. Trees are crops for our use. Corn is a crop for our use. Cows and chickens are crops for our use. We don't allow these to simply run out, do we?

So again, if we come to view this Earth as (1) not belonging to us, but to God, and (2) that we are to be good stewards of God's belongings, then we will have a proper perspective. That proper perspective will lead us toward conservation, efficiency, technological discoveries, etc. The ultimate goal of all of this is to allow the pinnacle of Creation, humans, to multiply and fill the Earth.

I suggest we all look at how we spend God's money, how we conserve God's resources given to us, and how we use technological advances allowed us by the grace of God to further His will. I suggest we get back to a 5th grader's mentality; the Universe and everything in it belongs to God, He has given us resources to use such that we can do His will. Let us keep our focus upon God as the Creator of the universe, the Giver of life, the Owner of everything, our Lord, and our Savior. Then we will have proper perspective on all issues.