Self Education: The Way to High Culture | Doug Wilson

In this talk, originally given to the Association of Classical Christian Schools, Pastor Doug Wilson discusses self-education as the way to high culture.
Enjoying this video? Check out Doug's book "Why Christian Kids Need a Christian Education"
canonpress.com/products/why-c...
This video is presented by Canon Press.

[@CanonPress]

Enjoying this video? Check out Doug's book "Why Christian Kids Need a Christian Education" canonpress.com/products/why-christian-kids-need-a-christian-education/

[@PSUIVERSON]

Case for Classical Education is also excellent. My kids (4th and 6th) have spent everyday of their education to date in Classical Christian and much thanks to Pastor Doug.

[@vulpespersona]

I never let my schooling interfere with my education. -Mark Twain

[@Andreas1138]

I live in Germany with my young family and I'd say the situation is a bit more difficult considering the lack of educational freedom (which is why we want to move back to the Netherlands where the situation is a little bit better). Either way, there's a good chance that my wife and I will be on our own, which is why I started to educate myself on subjects that seemed important several years ago. The situation seems hopeless but I can't help but love to pursue a godly education for my kids. So thanks to everyone from Canon Press for the role you play in that 🙂

[@sutdhinanchaowonglert9312]

Sir, what do you mean by no educational freedom, I would like to know more about that. I live in Thailand.

[@philippaul3170]

I also live in Germany with my young family and agree on the education. It’s a challenge, and does seem somewhat hopeless, but you’re not alone in the struggle! 😄

[@journeythruwords4619]

@@sutdhinanchaowonglert9312 I believe that home education is illegal in Germany. It has passed to also become illegal in France in the autumn of 2022. I’m not sure about the rest of Europe. I’m an American in Canada, and like each state is different, so are the provinces in Canada. We recently moved to a province that changed its law that if you can be on your own if you receive zero government funding. All we have to do is to send in paperwork that we’re home educating and proof we are legally here. If you accept government funding, you have to have someone look over your progress 2x a year.

[@bustsmann9591]

Hey brother, where do you live in Germany?

[@bustsmann9591]

@@philippaul3170 Where do you live in Germany? I also live in Germany. May be we can build a small community?

[@chipseal9403]

"The mainstream is what goes over the falls." -Doug Wilson

[@aliencasinobartender8735]

I am in the process of a divorce. One of the fights, is Homeschool vs. Public. Asking for prayers. We were a homeschooling family for 15yrs. The last 3, I capitulated. I have regretted it ever since. This message was like a hug to me, thanks.

[@kensmith1813]

Pastor Wilson, we are blessed to have you fighting the good fight.

[@foghornleghorn262]

Train up a child in the way they should go, and when they are older, they will not depart from it. How this verse translates into sending your kids to a public school or university is beyond me.

[@sayloltothetroll6806]

Amen

[@Stareingattheson]

Christ saved me and set me free! Two weeks late I started a mentoring relationship with an elderly British man named Leonard Ravenhill. Leonard never gave me answers instead he told me where to look. My first book sent to me by Leonard was “Looking unto Jesus” 1653 by Isaac Ambrose. As a new believer he sent me a book by a Puritan over 651 pages from roughly 300+!years ago! Thank God that he did as I laid on my living room floor and wept as I read about Hebrews 12:1-2 expounded by a man saturated in the Bible. Since then I built a library of roughly 9000 volumes and often reading over two dozen books at a time. I have one year of college that was a waste but after years of reading and learning I was recruited to teach at both Masters’s and Doctoral level for over 19 years for United States joint military training. I was taught to think as a Christian, to study the Bible and read it devotionally.

[@terryeckman58]

What an honor and privilege to be tutored by Leonard Ravenhill.

[@conantheseptuagenarian3824]

interesting path.

[@kyletruman8790]

I am so thankful for Mr. Wilson's work in this area

[@BenjaminBowmanlive]

This is the exact process that God is taking me through right now. I have been consuming Canon press and Christchurch and Doug Wilson content on a level that I never thought possible. I’ve always been a fan of dug in the past but I didn’t really ever understand the things that he was saying I just thought it was cool that he was a contrarian because I like contrarians. But now I see that my attraction to his teaching was something much deeper that I could not even fully comprehend. It was the seed of faith that God had planted long ago and that Doug was watering but now I feel that it sprouted and I want to become re-educated in Christ

[@OhioCoastie94]

Thanks for helping me think more clearly about my love of learning, and about the possibility that God gave it to me to make me a metaphorical baker.

[@ryantandy307]

Thank you Pastor Doug and the whole ministry producing this, very timely for we Christian homeschoolers preparing for a new year.

[@Herostatus1991]

I had to pause the video to say I have never heard the "boiling a goat in mother's milk passage" taught with an ACTUAL timely application. Thank you brother Doug ✍️💪

[@haraldwolte3745]

Can you paraphrase what he meant?

[@garrettgagliardi2947]

@@haraldwolte3745 Do not use something that is meant to give life and health, as an instrument of death and destruction.

[@haraldwolte3745]

@@garrettgagliardi2947 thanks!

[@iohannesfactotum]

I'm so thankful we're education our children ourselves. My wife isn't a Christian but she sees the cesspit the Canadian school system has become: can't do math, can't read, can't think or communicate in anything but monosyllabic slogans.

[@jenniferherb5212]

Are you born again?

[@sellmorehomesnow]

Thank you so much for your dedication and kindness with these videos. They help encourage me a lot!

[@SSanto22]

Brilliant! Thankful for this. Greetings from Brazil.

[@calebneff5777]

A couple years later, still an excellent sermon, Doug.

[@darrelluruski1728]

Excellent! I very much enjoyed this message about Classical Christian Education, and how we as believers and followers of Christ are to overcome the secular world.

[@robertmorris9807]

You've just changed my worldview as a Christian. It's not hold on until the torture ends in Christ comes it's billed the kingdom! That sure would produce better results. God bless and thank you sir, you're the only elder I have and I don't even know where you live God bless.

[@steve19811]

Love, the gospel in a word is LOVE. Love thy neighborhood as thy brother.... Practice gratitude as well.... Simple folks....

[@geneadams9017]

Thanks Doug, I'm inspired.

[@jsmproductions1197]

I was public schooled, and in many ways I still look back with thanksgiving on my years in school. I had many great teachers, I had many great friends, had many opportunities that some of my homeschool friends etc. Some things that I wish I did have however was education in logic, polemics, debate, and more in depth grammar, to name a few. It is a long hill to climb to get where I want to be, and I thank God and Canon Press for helping me understand how and why it is important. Doug speaks not from an ivory tower to a bubble of only homeschoolers on how to be better homeschoolers, but to all Christians everywhere on how to reach the culture at large by creating a healthy one in place of a sick one. I love Doug's preparation, his passion, and humility. Many thanks.

[@troysgt]

This is a fantastic reminder to major on the majors. Christ is king, learn and teach the whole council of God.

[@JP_21M]

I found this robustly encouraging.

[@michaelalejandro6056]

Thank you for this.

[@sralinkethiopia]

Truth in deep voice.

[@Speakingintothevoid700]

I was just hoping I could find something to learn this as an adult. 💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@JenBLibertyImages]

Same here. Perhaps if others have resources, they would be willing to share? It's that or I'll be sneaking into classes with my friends' homeschooled children. ;)

[@JenBLibertyImages]

This is excellent (especially the somewhat more conversational style). Will be passing it on to a few people. Thank you for pointing out that these things matter deeply.

[@Josh-he7ty]

The reformed theological seminary app has hundreds of lectures available for free

[@georgeluke6382]

Kepler, and Anxient Language Institute, and Roman Roads are all good next steps! The New Humanists Podcast, and the Albertus Magnus Institute May help!

[@tinajacobs8068]

I’m so thankful for this encouragement!

[@PastorEdwinTheProverbiallife]

I needed to this great reminder. Thank you

[@robertdages5392]

Doug, Exactly what I needed to hear !

[@JesseStevenPollom]

SO helpful Pastor Wilson, thank you!!!

[@kmensa5301]

In the process writing a dissertation and this message had helped to realize that it is not in vain.Sometimes i feel like giving up and asking my self: Is the Master degree not enough? But hey, “ploductively” moving on . God bless

[@simonbelmont1986]

I hated education in school, Now that I'm free to pursue any book I love to read.

[@TheIronmangabriel]

Love it

[@SAOProductions1955]

I think this must be what Mr. Wilson references at 3:00 - Paideia: The Ideals of Greek Culture, Volume I: Archaic Greece; The Mind of Athens; Volume II: In Search of the Divine Centre; Volume III: The Conflict of Cultural Ideals in the Age of Plato (THREE VOLUME FIRST EDITION SET)

[@cindidennis3258]

Yes. By Werner Jaeger, translated from German by Highet. They were written in the 1940s and not the easiest reads but certainly doable.

[@SAOProductions1955]

@@cindidennis3258 Thanks for the confirmation.

[@grantarmbruster6591]

Amen

[@pcgaminghelp]

Spectacular

[@timothygudz8756]

More of these kind of video please!!!

[@Yesica1993]

Random, but it would be nice to see his library! I haven't been to a library or bookstore in over a year & I feel like I'm dying over here. I love my books!

[@studiobencivengamarcusbenc5272]

History and Music i acquired through self study - the Bible too - it helps if you love to read and write 🤗

[@kingandpriest4637]

Has anyone ever read about the Comforter Christ sent to [teach us all things]? Or have those words been retranslated in modern English Bible translations to read “I will send you bible theologians to sell you more books that you’re always learning, never able to come to the knowledge of truth”.

[@IronCavalier]

Good point.

[@Bane_questionmark]

The Holy Spirit works through faithful theologians and all other believers to accomplish things in your life, not just within you alone. We have been grafted onto Christ and also onto the full Body of Christ, His church. Every part of the body needs every other part, by God's will the scholar teacher and theologian have just as important of a roll as anyone else in the Body.

[@doctrinalwatchdog6268]

Nice tie

[@treybarnes5549]

I believe this very much and me and my wife were practicing this together, we homeschooled, we worked hard together to start a new culture with faith. But my wife got talked out of it by her friends and convinced I was a reckless weird and dangerous….. we are now on the verge of divorce and our house is completely dysfunctional. Faith is dangerous

[@PanhandleFrank]

Taking your story at face value: If your wife was really persuaded against home schooling by her friends, and you’re now on the verge of divorce, it’s not faith that is dangerous, but rather the ungodly counsel of her “friends’” that your wife is following (when she should be “yoked” to you instead). “Can two walk together unless they are agreed?” It is lies, not faith, that is dangerous.

[@treybarnes5549]

@@PanhandleFrank Faith is dangerous because the hope is not worldly but Godly. When I say faith is dangerous, it’s because to walk by faith causes us to hope for things unseen and not others or money. To trust in God is hard, when it’s not just lip service. I read Lamitations today and asked myself, how on earth do you give God the glory while in a ditch and everyone is spitting on you? Yet to say “The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him” Lam 3:24. I think we would all rather continual blessings and give thanks

[@PanhandleFrank]

@@treybarnes5549 So, "dangerous," not *dangerous?*

[@treybarnes5549]

@@PanhandleFrank right. The just shall live by faith. But that’s live and not live. haha.

[@AnHebrewChild]

@@treybarnes5549 Trey - hang in there. I get you. "Strait is the gate." Jesus means that. Much love (even tho I don't know you)

[@CyberCommander1990]

Thanks to this education, I can think like a free man. Unfortunately I still labor like a slave and I have little idea how to break free...

[@chipseal9403]

But now you have rejected and humbled us; you no longer go out with our armies. You made us retreat before the enemy, and our adversaries have plundered us. (Psalm chapter forty-four)

[@michaelkelleypoetry]

"I am as sure as I am of Christ's reign that a comprehensive and centralized system of national education, separated from religion, as is now commonly proposed, will prove the most appalling engineer for the propagation of anti-Christian and atheistic unbelief, and of antisocial nihilistic ethics, individual, social and political, which this sin-rent world has ever seen." -A.A. Hodge, 3rd President of Princeton Seminary.

[@danpilgrim1785]

Self educating is important for Christians too, namely Bible history and Hebrew. Thanks for slowing down so that I can understand your points better, not everyone disseminates spoken word so quickly 👍 Do you think there’s a balance between children witnessing their faith in public schools though?

[@jsmproductions1197]

I’ve always thought the same thing. I’m a product of public school, and am following Christ, as are my siblings. We all had the chance to witness in public school, and endure losing friendships for our faith. I’m sure our faculty mocked us behind our backs. It was honestly the forge to strengthen our faith. Maybe a balance of homeschool K-8, and then public high school?

[@maryannstroven]

No. You do not determine your child's calling to ministry, when they are adults & better equipped, they will follow God's call. Your job is to form them, not send them to be formed by a heathen government. Your child is....a child. Most adults struggle to be a light in the darkness. Today's public school classroom is much darker than it was for you. Today's culture is dangerously seductive and an immature, non-adult will be influenced. Do not send your child to Caesar unless you intend him to become a Roman.

[@The12thSeahorse]

The hard part is concentration and sharp FOCUS. Books are old school……we have smart tablets that can hold hundreds of books, the very same tablet can log into KZbin and view hundreds of sermons online. The tablets can also act as a ‘Word’ document type writer and document storer. We have 100x more power then what was available in written materials to the Apostle Paul. What we lack……..is that burning (focused) desire to build a great Cathedral, or to save 5,000 souls or to plant some new Churches.

[@berglen100]

It is in you as a person that the nature of God is revealed, for a scriptural episode is not a record of an historical event, but a parabolic revelation of truth. To see Jesus or David as an historical character is to see truth tempered to the weakness of your soul. You must see what the characters represent, rather than the characters themselves. This is true for every story in scripture, for every episode will unfold within you.

[@dj9savy]

Yes!! Imagination aka Faith! 2 corinthians 10:5 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; Psalm 2:1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? Meaning the faithful thing to do would be imagine Christ.

[@sam_the_davidson]

Brooo book me on the Christian Ed train already.

[@TWoodard]

I’m not sure if my comment will be read or not, but I think there is an underlying assumption here that the non-Jewish believers had nothing to do with the Jewish community of their day simply because they believed that Jesus was the Messiah and a majority of the Jewish community did not. This is not so. These believers did not exist in a vacuum. In fact, Paul, in the book of Ephesians (the book in which you have referenced), Paul says to these gentiles that they were once estranged from the *commonwealth of Israel* and the covenants of promise (notice the plural form here). The gentiles of the First Century, Second Temple era (whether they were around Jerusalem or not) had an orientation to culture that was Jewish by nature (though they were not called to become Jews, we cannot avoid the fact that the ethos of their new culture was in fact Jewish). We see this very clearly in other Epistles (Such as Colossians 2 and the “observing of Sabbaths, Festivals and New Moons; Acts 15 - if Jewish law was not continuing to be observed by Jewish believers, there would have been no reason to make a distinction when Gentiles came on the scene). I would encourage you to pick up a book by Mark Kinzer or Mark Nanos. These two men are engaged in the academic discussions surrounding the idea that Paul (and all of his ideas) existed within the Jewish culture of his day (and his ideas were all *within* Judaism) and Mark Kinzer is a Messianic Jew who has turned the corner from supersessionist/replacement theology with regards to ecclesiology. I hope this didn’t come across as a “yeah, well you’re wrong and I’m right!” There is far too much of that in our culture.. I would like to see this discussion continue. I enjoy your videos and think it would be amazing for you to eventually engage with someone such as Mark Kinzer on topics surrounding ecclesiology from a post-supersessionist point of view. All the best!

[@mchristr]

Roll up your sleeves and attempt to consume something similar to Mortimer Adler's Great Books of the Western World. You can take the $250K that didn't go to a job-training center (read: University) and buy a house.

[@ratedrreformed8452]

See you tomorrow!

[@GideonWallace]

If my educators like liked teaching, would have liked studying as a child. Instead I was throwing paper planes on fire.

[@justinm4497]

sloth and apathy are some of my greatest enemies.... apathy first probably.. ah pray for me.

[@Jared199503]

I need to try God’s paella!

[@samuelcason0000]

Mr. Wilson it’s important to remember that Christ always spoke of his kingdom because after all Christ is a king.yes Paul says there is such a thing as pure religion but with humanity you are bound to run in to religion because since the fall of man humans made religion to try to be right with god but Christ has obtained salvation and forgiveness what we do in response to that is repent and believe in the gospel.

[@AristotleOnlineYT]

I feel seen

[@thomasarmstrong1686]

Joyce Meyer app ad before this vid…. 😂

[@kingandpriest4637]

Here’s some [nurture]. The unforeseen temptation of building on words is directed to build upon the inspired word of God, to put words in God’s mouth while claiming “I’d never gag God”. Which is why we have over 900 English Bible translations today. Someone’s putting [words] in God’s mouth! the word defines [trillions] and the KJV has all those mistranslated words [that you cannot understand] so they must be corrected by word genies'.

[@fbee6844]

Where do they have imaginations for sale? :(...

[@kvelez]

18:17 What's the greatest problem with YT?

[@philippbrogli779]

In my case it's the addictiveness. I've learned a bunch but I also spent a lot of time which could have been spent on other things.

[@kvelez]

@@philippbrogli779 True for me as well.

[@Robb-jf7vg]

If I won the Lottery? I would totally withdraw from today's putrid Society! I'd isolate and try to live a better life. Fully disconnected from modern problems!

[@nealh5117]

Doesn’t he have many degrees?

[@kingandpriest4637]

How about, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the [rudiments] of the world, and not after Christ.”

[@kieranmurphy14]

Why would teaching your kids Latin be such a priority?

[@darioferrari9794]

Great question. When I was 11 and faced with the prospect of Latin class I was resolute that it was an utter waste of time. Oh the arrogance of youth. Given that it is the basis of the romantic languages and much of the language that we are speaking right now, the study of Latin provides an insight into our language and culture that can be found nowhere else!

[@randomdad1234]

Because it’s an aid in helping kids master the English language, over 50% of our English words are derived from Latin; also, 90% of words containing multiple syllables are derived from Latin. Latin is also found abundantly in many professions such as law, medicine, science, music, theology, philosophy, and literature. Latin helps students not only grow in their vocabulary but also their understanding of grammar and the history that it has played in shaping the western society today. There are many more benefits such as reading classics etc. but I hope this helps explain it’s importance just a bit.

[@kieranmurphy14]

Thank you men

[@encefalord]

Read Olavo de Carvalho Read Olavo de Carvalho

[@treybarnes5549]

In the bible, imagination is bad.

[@sarahs7751]

How so?

[@deuteriummeridian8998]

No, imagination separated from faith in Him is sin.

[@Yesica1993]

Nonsense.

[@philippbrogli779]

@@sarahs7751 Didn't you know Bezalel was cursed because he had too much imagination?

[@SummumBonum.]

You are confusing education with indoctrination.

[@timharris2291]

This is a man that listens to rock n roll. I don't think "high culture" is in his domain.

[@freightshayker]

Doug says: Trust me. I've been studying this stuff a long time that makes me expert. And I'm telling you the truth. Dont you believe I'm telling you the truth? Student: How ... do I know you're telling me the truth? Doug ... Anyways friends. It's ok to have "Bible" study with others. Just make sure your main Teacher is Lord Jesus Himself Who will teach you through His Holy Spirit. amen. Means go to a man of God who knows the difference between titles baptism and baptism in the name of Lord Jesus Christ. Means you will be faithful aka obedient aka love Lord Jesus the rest of your earthly life. Means you will pick up your cross and find out what is long suffering. Means you are given your acceptance letter to university. Means you must attend classes an pass tests in order to graduate. They don't mail out your graduation diploma with your acceptance letter friends. So-called teachers like Doug are like Nicodemus who thought being born again might be crawling back into their mommy's tummy. Lord Jesus said: You're a teacher and you don't know these things? As well. Lord Jesus asked the Pharisees: The baptism of John the Baptist. Was it from Heaven or from men? Doug is among those teachers who had no answer for Lord Jesus. As it is written: Always learning yet never coming to the truth of the matter. As it is written: Professing themselves to be wise they became fools. You once-saved-always-save false teachers skip past ... For we are His [God's] workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. amen Ephesians 2: v10 As if Paul didn't struggle to turn from sin for his whole life. Paul beat his own body into submission. Paul ran his race. Paul kept his faith. Anyways. Doesn't matter even if you believe the gospel aka believe everything Lord Jesus said and did is truth ... because the "world" will try and bring you out of your faith aka backslide into sin and lukewarm-ness. That's why there is foot washing which is commanded after water baptism in the title-name-title of Lord Jesus Christ. You and your teaching friend. When are you going to start teaching the gospel correctly? The problem is sin and the answer is to be obedient to Lord Jesus as He instructs you on what you must do in order to have that wedding garment without spot, wrinkle nor blemish. Start where Father Jesus demonstrated for us to start ... go to a man of God who knows the difference between titles baptism and baptism in the title-name-title of Lord Jesus Christ

[@rockycomet4587]

What a giant lolcow you are, just like the ones on the KiwiFarms.

[@freightshayker]

@@rockycomet4587 That's right friend ... pretend name calling absolves you the need to be born again of water and Spirit tic ... toc ...

[@adrianalanbennett]

Repent from your dead works and serve the Living God.

[@freightshayker]

@@adrianalanbennett Lord Jesus said: You shall know them by their works

[@adrianalanbennett]

@@freightshayker The Lord Jesus says you will know them by their fruit.