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Editor’s note: The Student Worldview Dictionary is the only Christian dictionary available for elementary-aged children. Based on Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language, it restores the biblical foundation behind the meanings of words—something utterly lacking in modern dictionaries.
Max Lyons, Ph,D.
How can we better teach truth to our children? God planted the seeds in my mind eight years ago. Teachers and homeschoolers who loved the Principle Approach and Webster’s 1828 Dictionary asked me, “Is there a Christian dictionary for young children that you recommend–one that has definitions as rich as the 1828 and is based on Scripture? I love Noah Webster’s original 1828 Dictionary but the vocabulary is too difficult for young children.”
After much reflection, I realized such a resource was needed. In fact, it was essential in shaping Christian worldview! According to my research, the only Christian dictionary for children was produced by Bob Jones University and is now out of print. Is it ok to let the internet replace this tool? Even young children are now bombarded with false narratives. How are children today to understand such words and topics as socialism, evolution, gender, slavery, equality, fascism, nationalism, racism, etc.? Children often have no idea what these words mean, or worse, the meaning is based on TV, film, friends, and social media. Often what they understand is partially true or completely wrong! How are our children to embrace a Biblical understanding of the world–how are they to think and act like Jesus–if they embrace unbiblical views about important cultural issues?
I began to pray with my wife and daughter when I was burdened with these realities. We dreamed about creating what would become the Student Worldview Dictionary.
We decided we will not stand idly by while the secular world re-defines many words that shape our worldview. We will not rest while our children are bombarded with the false definition of words through social media, music, entertainment, podcasts, and the news. We will not simply complain while students search for definitions of words on the internet, AI, and Wikipedia. We will not settle for the indoctrination of our students in an unbiblical secular/socialist worldview.
I invite you to come to your own conclusion. Take a look at the words marriage, nationalism, gender and truth below. Consider the contrast. I used my phone and simply typed in the four words to evidence the disparity– here are definitions from the internet that a student would read. It is shocking to realize the falsehoods that are promoted by these incorrect definitions.
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STUDENT WORLDVIEW DICTIONARY TRUE DEFINITION |
AI, WIKIPEDIA, OTHER DICTIONARIES FALSE OR SECULAR DEFINITION |
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Marriage: The act of uniting a man and woman for life… by which the parties engage to live together in mutual affection and fidelity, till death shall separate them. Marriage was created by God for the good of men and women to live in mutual affection and faithfulness, and for the care of, and education of children. |
Marriage: An intimate or close union; social union or legal contract between two people.
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Nationalism: Devotion or loyalty to one’s country. Nationalism is normal and necessary, but it can be wrong if not coupled with a desire to see other nations equally blessed.
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Nationalism: The identification with one’s own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of other nations; an ideology of group rights that denigrates individualism in favor of an abstraction called the “nation.” |
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Gender: The condition of being male or female; sex. According to the Scriptures and biology, there are only two genders – male and female.
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Gender: A social concept which distinguishes the different gender categories. It is the range of social, psychological, cultural and behavioral aspects of being man, woman or one of 70+ other genders. |
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Truth: A true statement; established principle, fixed law, as fundamental truths; conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been, or will be.
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Truth: The quality or state of being true; a concept that can be considered relative, as some philosophers argue that truth is subjective and relative to the individual or cultural context, as “my truth” or “your truth.” |
True, sound definitions call for a Biblically-based tool which stays true to the original meanings. Noah Webster led the way by producing the 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language that defines words using Scripture and Biblical principles. The Student Worldview Dictionary follows this model. This powerful resource is now available with the Bible at the heart of every definition!
Noah Webster, the Father of American Christian Education, pioneered the use of Scripture in a dictionary. What more appropriate source should we reference when defining a word? This may seem obvious to Christians of our day, but this is not the norm! Pick a dictionary off of a shelf today and you will be hard pressed to find that the author used the Bible as the basis for the meaning of words. Indeed, the best and most pure source for the true meaning of worldview words is completely missing! This cannot be a coincidence or accident!
To recover the Biblical worldview in our generation, we must recover the use of the Bible for the basis of the meaning of words. God has the first and final word on everything, including theological, philosophical and worldview topics.
Noah Webster not only wrote Biblically-based definitions, he also wrote with clarity, beauty and precision. Consider these definitions of right and truth:
Right (2) In morals and religion, just; equitable; accordant to the standard of truth and justice or the will of God. That alone is right in the sight of God, which is consonant to his will or law; this being the only perfect standard of truth and justice. In social and political affairs, that is right which is consonant to the laws and customs of a country, provided these laws and customs are not repugnant to the laws of God. A man’s intentions may be right though his actions may be wrong in consequence of a defect in judgment. Proverbs 4:11
Truth (1) Conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been, or shall be. The truth of history constitutes its whole value. We rely on the truth of the scriptural prophecies.
My mouth shall speak truth Proverbs 8:7.
Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth John 17:17.
The Student Worldview Dictionary is available for purchase on our website, TheBiblicalThinker.com.
Our children are hungry for truth. The gift of an accurate, Bible-based dictionary will serve them for life.
Contact Max Lyons at 757-715-0020 or thebiblicalthinker@gmail.com.
