This is an interesting topic, no? Here are some things that Mr. Rose highlights are not found in the BPA. (The scriptures I have added to demonstrate these as principles in God’s Word.)

BPA is not:

• the teacher dominating the subject or student.

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. John 16:13 If the Holy Spirit is gentle to guide, we are to be also.

• encouraging adults to copy what any other home or school is doing.

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 1 Cor. 4:4-12 We all have unique gifts to bring to our home eudcation.

• exalting methodology above content, or vice versa.

For {as} the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding {in the matter} for which I sent it. Is. 55:9-11

Jesus is higher than either and we need His help to remeber that. They are both tools to learn more about Him.

• a coating of Christianity and knowledge.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Mt. 23:27

• a cover-all, but God all-in-all.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.  John 1:1-4

• evolutionary but expansive. You can simultaneously teach every subject to every student though every grade, expanding the principles as they are able to receive deeper conepts. In another section Mr. Rose discusses this  on p. 126, quoting Ms. Slater

The message of salvation is not presented in evolutionary manner by degrees, or part by part, nor progressviely. The means by which the youngest may ‘also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus’ is presented full and complete from the first…The ‘little child’ learns the same Gospel as the advanced student of theology.

This is applied in the next column when Mr. Rose writes

The manner in which God brings forth fruit in nature is by infixing (setting in) seed–representative of whole, complete principles. 

We give our little chicks a seed at a time until they are able to handle more. But they receive the same principles, not matter what age or maturity. That’s wy this works for all peoples everywhere. The Bible’s principles are universally applicable. So your whole family can enjoy God’s principles together!

• instant. There is no microwave to renew your mind, no instant way to conform into His image. This takes a commitment and a lot of investment of time and energy.

There is no expedient way to truly educate–no quick and easy method of producing the kind of character and scholarship able to withstand evil and ‘having done all, to stand!’ (Eph. 6:13)” p. 16

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Rom. 15:4

In BPA the subject and student are extensions of Jesus (Author and Governor). I LOVE this concept. Jesus is the focus of every subject at all times. We learn about science and math and HisStory to learn more about Him. The facts come naturally but they are not the focus, Jesus is.

Join us for the study in A Guide to Amercian Christian Education by James Rose.