Why Christian Education?

The centrality of the Word of God in the educational process was the charge that Moses gave to the nation of Israel in the book of Deuteronomy. Christian parents still feel the weight of this daunting responsibility today.

“You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul …. And you shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up.”  (Deuteronomy 11:18-19)

What we have here is a clear biblical mandate to saturate our children’s minds with the Word of God.  At a truly Christian school, the Bible will not only be taught for what it is – the inspired Word of God – but that it forms the foundation of all other texts.  When students pursue the knowledge of mathematics, biology and music in a Christian setting, they’re chasing after the knowledge of God. As Solomon the wisest king that ever lived once said

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).

J.Gresham Machen recognised the importance of a comprehensive biblical foundation when he stated,
“A truly Christian education is possible only when Christian education underlies not a part, but all, of the curriculum of the school.  True learning and true piety (religion)go hand in hand, and Christianity embraces the whole of life – those are great central convictions that underlie the Christian school.”

An education that uses God’s Word as its foundational text not only enables its students to think God’s thoughts after Him, it encourages them to be discerning. Rather than merely telling students what to think, they are equipped to know how to think as they measure competing truth claims against the objective revelation of God’s Word.  As a result students are helped to identify and take captive every lofty opinion that sets itself up against the knowledge of the truth as they measure them against the perfect standard – Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

The aim then of a Christian school is not to shelter students from the ‘real world’ but to assist parents in preparing them to stand on their own two feet by providing a supportive environment that helps challenge them to wrestle with competing truth claims and find in God’s Word real answers robust enough to build their lives upon. Instead of being squeezed into society’s way of thinking (Romans 12:2), they are equipped to head out into the world as ambassadors of hope secure in the knowledge of who God is, who they are and what the point and purpose of life is. In short they are readied for life!

Another reason for considering Christian education is that students who have been grounded in the truth of God’s Word day after day during their formative years – both at school and at home – are better-equipped to handle discrepant ideas upon leaving school.  Whether in a secular university or in the workplace, young adults with a solid biblical foundation are far less likely to fall victim to the subtle lies of our postmodern culture.

The importance of a shared vision is made plain in Amos 3:3,
“Can two walk together except they be agreed?”

When church and school are both supporting the home, by teaching God’s truth with clarity, and conviction, then parents can have greater confidence that the message that their children receive is a consistent one.

The significance of home and school sharing the same values, philosophy or worldview cannot be overstated. If students are taught that having ‘good morals’ or chasing any laudable pursuit is an end in itself – instead of flowing from and ultimately motivated by a desire to please God – then those admirable endeavours actually serve to lead students away from God and not to Him.

When home and school start with God and His glory as the foundation of all learning and pursuits, then this shared vision provides a harmonious stability that serves to best support the student in their formative, emerging and adolescent years.

Teachers are a school’s heartbeat.  Its pulse.  They are also among the most influential role models in students’ lives.  When everyone – the school boards, the principal, the teachers and the parents – is operating under the same educational paradigm, the unity of purpose can prove to be a real blessing in the life of the pupils that make up that institution.

In Luke 6:40 Jesus said;
“A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.”

While this comment was said in the context of a discussion on discipleship, these words should still give every Christian parent reason to pause and reflect on the influence of those they choose to partner with in the educational process. As Proverbs 13:20 states,
‘He who walks with the wise grows wise but a companion of fools suffers harm.’

Who do you want as an influence in the lives of your children? Like it or not children are impressionable and are strongly influenced by those their own age. Scripture teaches
‘Bad company corrupts good morals’ (1 Corinthians 15:33)

How will you protect the morals you have instilled in your children? While Christian schools are not immune to undesirable behaviour by students, the peers they mix with at Hastings Christian School are far more likely to come from homes which have similar Christian values to your own.