What is a Christian Education?

 

“Education is simply the soul of a society 
as it passes from one generation to another”  G.K. Chesterton

 

  School has started for another year. With the increased secularization of our culture and that too often schools focus on social agendas rather than education basics, (the 3 R’s – reading, writing, and arithmetic), parents struggle with the best options of schooling for their children. In spite of the rhetoric of some Christian leaders, God’s Word doesn’t designate one format of education as being the “right” one. 

 The three most common options in America are public, private (for Christians usually a Christian school,) or homeschooling. All three have both advantages and disadvantages. What God’s Word does clearly teach is parental responsibility for the spiritual education of their children.

  Understandably, Christian parents want to protect their children from evil worldviews and influence. It can’t be done. The first family had a son with an anger issue that devolved into cold-blooded murder.

  Some years ago M. Night Shyamalan produced a movie, The Village, with a powerful biblical message – you can’t isolate yourself or your family from depravity. And God doesn’t want us to live in a bubble or raise our children in one. We are to be in the world, yet not of the world. That’s where God’s power shines through. Parents then must evaluate their situation and their child’s needs to choose what will give their child the greatest potential for a Christ-honoring adulthood.

  A ubiquitous contaminant that has little to do with your child’s spiritual future is FOMO (fear of missing out or fear your kids will miss out). Your child does not need sports, music, or dance lessons, etc. Your child needs a biblical worldview. Your child needs you and lots of you consistently interacting with you. Please don’t cave to the parental peer pressure of over-involving your children.

  This may shock you, but no child is deprived because they never went to Disney. Many committed parents in seeking to provide for their child, pack their lives with activity “because everyone else is doing it,” when what their child needs is more parental love, influence, and interaction.

  One of the clearest passages about a biblical education is Deuteronomy 6:5-7: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” The most important educational decision you make for your children is to choose to love and obey God yourself. They learn more about having a heart for God from you than anywhere else. They learn more about what has true value, marriage, parenting, worldview from you. It begins with “these words that I command YOU…shall be on your heart.” If God’s commands aren’t first on your heart, it’s doubtful they’ll be on your child’s heart.

  Here are some simple suggestions. Pray for your child’s teacher and school. We do more on our knees than anywhere else. Let their teacher know that you appreciate them. Attend parent-teacher conferences and school events. Be supportive and encouraging.

  Determine to not undermine their teacher. Be slow in jumping to conclusions about a teacher or what happened at school. One wise teacher sent home this note, “If you promise to not believe everything that your child says happened at school, I promise to not believe everything that your child says happens at home.” On a very rare occasion, you may have to intervene. In the future, your child is going to have bad bosses, neighbors, and co-workers. They must learn to stand alone. It’s safer to learn that while you’re nearby to support and pick them up.

  Limit the biggest educator today’s child has. We have children who are media addicts. The average child spends between 50-75 hours a week in front of a screen. It’s easy to plop them in front of a screen but the long-term outcome is moral decay.

  Screens are amusement. A-muse means to “not think.” What’s lost by constant amusement are rational thinking skills and a biblical worldview.

  For example, if you’re children speak rudely or disrespectfully, listen to what their favorite media choices are modeling about communication. Most movies/TV shows get laugh lines for rude language. If your child is developing a potty mouth and didn’t learn it from you, it’s probable they’re learning it from the media. Pull the plug or at least limit it, just as you do sugar in their diet.

  Most earthly worldviews are very subtle. While most parents are on high alert for the boogeymen of socialism or sex education, they’re obtuse to subtle godless worldviews that are readily accepted. Most miss that we subtly teach our children the myth that success comes with the A’s.

  We value appearance. The Bible teaches that each of us is designed by the Creator. When we value appearance that fits our values of attractiveness yet disdain those who are “ugly ducklings,” we’re criticizing the Maker. Beauty is subjective, shallow, and temporary. While we need to care for what God has entrusted to us, a person with character pleases God whereas a “beautiful” one with little heart for God does not (Prov. 31:30).

  We value ability. Some have natural athletic gifts or other skills. We must remember that they’re all God-given. A lost world heroizes the athletic and talented. Scripture honors faithfulness, humility, and a heart for God.

  We value academics. Who gives us intelligence? God. Every child should be encouraged to do the best they can and develop what God has entrusted to them. But a sanitation worker who loves God and uses the I.Q. God entrusted to them is more pleasing to God than an M.D. who thinks he or she is self-made and worships at the altar of self.

  Appearance, ability, and academics are all gifts from God (James 1:17) and can easily be taken back by the Giver.

  Parents, you need God’s wisdom and guidance to choose the best options for your child. Remember though that the greatest teacher they have is You. As you’re a committed follower of your Heavenly Father, they’ll learn what they truly need to know for life and eternity.

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.