The Biblical Basis for Christian Education

Consider Deuteronomy 6:4-8:

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

Through the Lord's servant Moses, God would emphasize the importance of His Word being a continual presence and influence in the life of His people. To the New Testament saint, the Apostle Paul exhorts:

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4) Fathers are to bring their children up in the nurture (tutorage; education or training; including disciplinary correction) and the admonition (calling attention to; by implication, mild rebuke or warning) of God.

The responsibility for the education of a child, and the making of that child into a disciple of Jesus Christ, clearly belongs to the child's parents. It is a great responsibility! As every Godly parent is a member of a body of believers, the local church has a supportive role in assisting parents in this training process. Ephesians 4:12-16 teaches of the Biblical dynamic the church body provides in assisting the maturation process of the disciple. This includes the education, exhortation and encouragement of the young disciple as he grows in grace.

The Historic Roots of Education in America

The concept of Christian education in America came over on the Mayflower:

Shortly before the Pilgrims set foot upon this land, they signed the Mayflower Compact in which they stated that they would create schools in order that their children might be taught to read the Word of God.... For two hundred years after the Pilgrims landed in 1620, the education of our children was in the hands of the parents or the churches. There was no such thing as public education or state education.[ii]

The great leaders of the early years of our nation understood the role of education and its relationship to the Word of God.

"True religion affords government its surest support. The future of this nation depends on the Christian training of the youth. It is impossible to govern without the Bible."

-George Washington

The philosophy of the classroom is the philosophy of the government in the next generation."

-Abraham Lincoln

Of Washington and Lincoln, one prominent Christian researcher and writer concludes:

"Both of these great leaders affirm that we need to be vitally concerned with the education of youth and that the Bible must have a central place in education."[iii]

-Paul A. Kienel

Kienel went on to say:

The purpose of Christian school education is to show children and young people how to face God and then with the vision of God in their hearts to face the present world and the world to come. The purpose of Christian school education is to present as clearly as possible to our children the truth about God, about life and living, about our world and everything in it and to present the Word of God as the authoritative source upon which to build a life that has purpose and meaning. In true Christian education, students learn to use the Bible to evaluate all of life.

The Shift from Christian Education to Secularism

In the 20^th century, education made a major shift to with the advent of the modern secular-progressive movement. With John Dewey of Columbia Teachers College as its architect, the new system was based on the ideology of atheism which makes man the center of the universe. Thus the term "humanism" was used to identify this movement.

What is a "humanist?" In statements provided by the American Humanist Association quoting Sir Julian Huxley, one of last century's leading humanists and former First Head of UNESCO,

"I use the word ‘humanist' to mean someone who believes that man is just as much a natural phenomenon as an animal or plant: that his body, mind and soul were not supernaturally created but are products of evolution, and that he is not under the control or guidance of any super-natural being or beings, but has to rely on himself and his own powers."

On October 14, 1973, during a speech in Phoenix, Arizona, Dr. W. P. Shofstall, Arizona State Superintendent of Schools, conceded: "The atheists have, for all practical purposes, taken over public education in this country."

Christian education is the exact opposite of secular (public) education in America. Secularism is defined in Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary as "rejection or exclusion of religion and religious considerations," simply stated, "Without God!" We are to be reminded of the Psalmist's declaration, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." (Psalm 14:1). Christian education is God-centered. Secular education is man-centered.

The Issue of the Educational Environment

The environment in which education takes place is critical to the accomplishing of the purpose. One may ask, "Is Christian education simply a shelter from the world?" Those who think this have made some incorrect assumptions. Paul Kienel says in response to this:

"The first assumption is that non-Christian teachers in public schools are better prepared to train Christian youngsters to live as Christians in a non-Christian world than Christian teachers in a Christian school. Pardon the mind bender sentence, but the full reality of the situation is that non-Christian teachers, in a non-Christian public school usually succeed in training Christian and non-Christian students to live as non-Christians in the world. Rather than adjusting to the world, the Christian kids are conforming to the world."

The Christian is commanded not to conform to this world. "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2) Kienel goes on to say, "another assumption (is) that a greenhouse is good for young tender plants but somehow the semi-protected environment of Christian school is not good for children." A head start protection from the destructive elements during the delicate early growing season provides young plants with proper conditions for maximum maturity. The end result is that plants are larger, stronger, more productive and better prepared to ward off plant diseases than their counterparts who had their start in the wild. The Psalmist describes the end result: "Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God." (Psalm 92:13) And so it is with Christian Education, we want strong, more productive and better prepared young people who can be leaders in their generation.

Another advocate for Christian education, Tim LaHaye commented, "All too many Christians will expose their kids to public school educators who may be mental perverts and skilled in the art of deception. To me it is insanity."

The Central Values of Christian Education

The central intent of any Christian education is expressed by Christ Himself; "that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3) In today's world of humanism and materialism, a Biblical ethos must drive and direct the education of our children. Realizing that ultimately our children belong to God, the substance of their educational diet must meet with His approval. The scriptures must become the core of education, excellence the creed, and virtue the result. Thus the culmination of a truly Christian education should be an accurate understanding of God Himself.

Another goal of Christian education is to instill into the students a system of values consistent with the Word of God. The church, home and school should be in concert with these values or they will create confusion in the student's mind. That is exactly what Paul was warning the fathers about in Ephesians 6:4.

And consider this, a Godless home, without a church, sees no conflict with a humanistic education system. This magnifies the need to bring the students to the knowledge of a personal relationship with Christ (salvation) because the spiritual truths that support the values we are teaching are spiritually discerned. Outside of Jesus Christ we can never accomplish this!

What are some of these values?

A. A respect for parents - Is the training institution driving a wedge between child and parent, or reinforcing the parent's authority and instruction? Often the public school acts as though the government owns the children and knows better than parents what is best for their children.

B. A regard for the church - The local Church that Jesus Christ is building is an inseparable part of the Christian's life and experience. It is not just a place to go. It is our spiritual family, our basic training camp. It is vital to our earthly purpose. It is part of the context in which our training should take place.

C. A love for country - By teaching our nation's Christian heritage accompanied with a challenge to patriotism, a love of country should be developed. We have complete freedom in our Christian schools to speak about the Christian foundation upon which our country was built. You do not have to look far to see that the public education system is rewriting history, and God has been edited out. Public education is fraudulently erasing God to promote its Godless ideology!

As you observe the students of these two educational perspectives, both public and Christian, what opinions or conclusions would their lifestyle choices illustrate about these values? Does their life demonstrate that they have been taught the importance of these values? Because of their education do they live as if these values matter?

The Ultimate Cost

How is cost measured, only in dollars and cents? I think we need to consider the dollars, however, we need to look quickly beyond money to the greatest cost. Our children will, to a great degree, be a product of their education. So let us consider the true costs.

The curriculum from which your children learn will shape their beliefs and value systems. Do you want that curriculum to be God-centered or man-centered? Those who instruct your children, who may become examples and role models for them, do you want them to be God-centered or man-centered? The education your children receive, do you want it to complement the Word of God or conflict with the Word of God?

Just how important is a Christian Education? Do you have a conviction about how your children are trained and educated, or is their education a convenience? Have you possibly even viewed it as unimportant? Is the evolutionary based, secular humanist public school system teaching children the truth or a lie? Parents, how do you answer this question: "Is it a sin to teach a child a lie?" Jesus warned of those who would "offend" (to stumble or to cause to fall) little children. He said it would be better to have a millstone placed around one's neck while being tossed into the sea than to offend one of these little ones. You briefly steward the children God has placed in your home. How will their Heavenly Father view your choice for the education of His children?

What about the cost of the destruction of faith? (Obviously, there are some good Christians in public schools, but all must concede that the public schools by deliberate and legally enforced choice have, as a system, purposefully removed God from the process of education.) Secular educational institutions have an extraordinary ability to destroy the faith of their students. In a recent study of graduates from Christian schools that identified themselves with the American Association of Christian Schools it was discovered that just over half of those who went on to a secular university turned from their faith before they graduated four years later. Who wants to pay this price? These are costs none of us can afford! A Christian college builds upon the Biblical foundation established in the Christian day school.

As parents, and as a church family, we must do everything in our power to see that the world, flesh, and devil do not capture the hearts and minds of our children and remove them from the Army of God. The cause is too great! Undoubtedly Christian education will cost us time and resources. We will be asked to make sacrifices. Can we afford to pay the price? We must pay the price! The eternal souls of boys and girls and moms and dads are at stake! Jesus put it this way:

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. (Matthew 16:26-27)

Will we pay the price?

[ii] Dr. D. James Kennedy's article, "What's Happened To American Education?" from the book, The Rebirth of America, written 25 years ago.

[iii] Paul A. Kienel, America Needs Bible Centered Families and Schools.