Christian Education: A Biblical Directive Yes or No?

In today’s society of changing values and morals, unpredictable violence, and worldly philosophies, parents must cautiously guard against the influences that could harm their children’s belief system. Christian parents need educational allies, teachers who have like-minded values and who share the same belief system. When it comes to education outside the home, parents can have no better ally than a Christian school. This is why thousands of informed Christian parents have chosen to pursue an alternative to secular education.

Parents who acknowledge the Bible as the authoritative source of truth can know God’s mind on education. But knowing God’s mind means taking the time to read, study, and understand what He said about education in His Book of holy truths. Here is where many Christian parents fall short; they fail to seek God’s mind about education, either because they are entangled with tradition or they are satisfied with secular education. Unfortunately, these parents will not take the time to analyze the scriptural reasoning for Christ-centered education. In the final analysis, the issue becomes one of having the faith and courage to obey God’s directives or of doing what self wants (Prov. 3:5-6).

Parents who send their children to Christian schools know that their Christian values and beliefs will not be undermined by teachers who espouse worldly beliefs and values. They also know that their children will not be exposed to secular textbooks that promote humanism and evolution.

Undeniably, Scripture instructs parents to train their children in the ways of the Lord. This truth is incontestable! Isaiah 38:19 instructs fathers to make known thy truth [truths] to the children and Ephesians 6:4 directs parents to “bring them [up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Deuteronomy 6:6-9 commands parents to honor and obey His words in regard to teaching children. These and numerous other verses speak loudly to Christian parents. God’s intention has always been to give His Son, Jesus Christ, first place in everything parents do, including where their children attend school (Col. 1:15-18).

Does the Bible give parents educational guidelines? Perhaps the question could better be framed, “Is Christian education a biblical directive?” (Prov. 3:5-6). Unquestionably, parents need to know the mind of God in relation to these questions (Phil. 2:5).

These questions challenge parents to differentiate between two philosophies of life—God’s way (theism) or man’s way (humanism). If children are taught by teachers who reject, deny, or hinder the teaching of Bible truths, could one conclude that the teaching-learning process has stepped outside the boundaries established by God?

Likewise, could it be that some well- meaning Christian parents are honestly unaware of what the Bible says about education? Could they also be naive about what is happening in secular schools? Pursuing these questions further, is Christian education a choice or has God taken choice out of the question? God is jealous for His children; He wants them to be educated His way. Parents must remember that God thinks in view of eternity and man thinks in view of the “here and now” (Isa. 54:13; 55:8-11). Unfortunately, too many Christian families with school-age children will ignore these questions, will minimize the importance of these questions, or will never read or hear these questions.

In conclusion, Bible study and prayer are a part of every school day in Christian schools. The uniqueness of Christian education is also found in the way in which academic facts and knowledge are interpreted. Reality is taught in view of God being the author of all truth and what is not truth is not of God. Furthermore, Christian school teachers are committed and dedicated to helping their students grow academically and spiritually.

Application

Is Christian education a biblical directive—yes or no? In formulating a response, first, read and think about the Scripture references listed in this article. Second, consider the application of these verses to education.

Jesus Christ should occupy first place in everything, and, as such, receive the preeminence He is rightfully due (Col. 1:18). Thus, parents and teachers need to instruct their children in biblical truth and to ensure that these truths are an integral part of the teaching-learning process. This is the foundational basis for choosing Christian education. So, what is the answer to the question, “Is Christian education a biblical directive- yes or no?” The answer must be “yes.”

A Publication of the American Association of Christian Schools

Private Schools: Latest Statistics

Private school enrollment has officially moved out of the parlors of the East Coast upper class and into the living rooms of mainstream America. A common desire to seek the best educational environment possible has led to the existence of more than 27,000 private and charter schools comprising almost 25 percent of the nation's schools and educating more than 6.5 million students annually.

What goes up keeps going up
According to the most recent report by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), private schools have enjoyed a steady increase in enrollment, climbing by 18 percent between 1988 and 2001 — and enrollment rates are expected to continue to rise by at least another 7 percent by 2013! Public school enrollment rose by about the same rate (19 percent) but is expected to continue to rise by only 4 percent.

The growing popularity of private schools is driven primarily by the research-backed belief that private and charter schools provide a better education, better structure, and better discipline than public schools. The desire to seek the best education for our children has even sparked political movements nationwide that seek to create voucher systems enabling all families to choose the schools their children attend, regardless of their income level or location.

Just the facts
The last time the NCES published a survey of private schools, the data that was available was from 2001. At that time, of the 27,223 private schools identified, nearly 84 percent were religiously affiliated, and the vast majority of them were Catholic schools. Not coincidentally, 46 percent of the increase in private school enrollment in the past decade was in conservative Christian schools, 37 percent was in Episcopal schools, and 26 percent was in non-sectarian schools. California boasted the greatest numbers of private school students, with a whopping 619,067 students. Not too far behind was New York, with 475,942 and Pennsylvania with 339,484 students.

Certainly, a desire to seek a less secular education may be a reason for the popularity of religiously affiliated schools, but it appears that the main motivator is purely academic — religion-oriented schools often stand out for their academic rigor and excellence.

Day schools set the paceDay schools are outpacing boarding schools in their popularity as the jostling for vacancies at schools in some cities reaches an all-time high. In the past ten years, day school enrollment has grown by 15 percent or more in some areas of the country. While boarding school enrollment has also gone up, it can't begin to compare with its average increase over the past decade of only 2.7 percent. Competition for day school is so fierce in areas such as New York City and San Francisco that many students stand a better chance of getting into an elite boarding school than they do of attending a private day program closer to home.

Academically advantageous
It's really no wonder so many parents are seeking out private schooling when many studies suggest that private school students fare better academically, are better prepared for college, and typically excel faster in their professional lives. If your children attend a private school, they may have to complete twice the homework of a public school student, but they're also a lot more likely to participate in sports and to tell you how much they like school. They might even tell you that they think the teachers and the school rules are fair. Imagine that — a teenager thinking rules are fair!

Partnering with parents
Private schools often strive to form partnerships with the parents of their students so that they are unified in their goals and values. This teamwork approach transmits a solid, consistent message to students from the adults surrounding them in their home and academic environments, resulting in grounded students with an aptitude for achievement. Partnering is especially evident in private day schools, where parents are actively sought out as part of their child's education team and encouraged to participate in a wide variety of school activities that go far beyond making cupcakes for a holiday party. Parent involvement in private schools extends to community service, mentoring new students and their families, career education, and beyond.

Pick and choose
Whatever type of school you're seeking, you will likely be able to find it. Private schools are diverse in their offerings — day schools, boarding schools, boys' schools, girls' schools, even international schools. Some schools are small, some are huge, some are old, and some are new. There are even many that offer unique specialized learning or academic tracks, such as performing arts schools, or outdoor schools with an experiential focus. If private schooling is what you're looking for, you'll likely be able to find it — perhaps even in your own neighborhood.

Here, World, Take My Children

This is the contemptible proposal Lot made in Gen. 19:8 to a perverted mob in Sodom when he offers to prostitute and sacrifice his daughters to them in order to secure social custom, pragmatic peace, and personal gain. "I have two daughters which have not known a man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes; only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof." How could any parent, especially Christian, (II Peter 2:6-8) ever make such a proposition? Let us see how Lot came to his tragic hour, and how he developed such a mean and selfish character causing such a wicked proposal.

The destruction of Sodom and the surrounding cities is a picture of coming final judgment. We may expect conditions then to repeat themselves now in increasing measure until the final judgments begin to fall. Those conditions include Christian parents with hearts and attitudes like Lot.

History

According to Gen. 11, Lot went with his grandfather Terah and uncle Abraham from Ur after his father Haran dies. Enroute to the land of Canaan, they dwelt in a place called Haran where Terah died. From there the Lord called Abraham on to Canaan, promised the land to him, and promised to make of him a nation and a blessing to all nations. Lot went along as one of the family. Perhaps he was already married and had some children by the time they reached Canaan. In Gen. 12:10, Abraham went into Egypt because of a famine, and Gen. 13:1 says when Abraham left Egypt, Lot was with him. Following the sojourn in Egypt, Abraham was very rich (13:2). Lot had accumulated some possessions also (13:5). While the riches did not turn Abraham's heart from the Lord, Lot acquired a taste for money and the fleshpots of Egypt.

As a result of increased possessions there was strife between their herdsmen (13:7,8). Rather than having strife, Abraham suggested they separate and generously offered the first choice of territory to Lot (13:9). Lot could have asked to settle the strife and stay with Abraham, or he could have asked counsel from his godly uncle. At least, he should have gone to Abraham's altar (13:4) and called on the Lord, asking for divine direction. But Egypt (type of the world) was already established in his greedy heart, and he saw the well watered, money-making acreage of the lower Jordan valley with cities, including Sodom, where he could sell his products (13:10). God, who sees not as men, saw a place filled with men who were sinful and wicked (13:13).

Sodom suited Lot even if it did not suit God and, "he pitched his tent toward Sodom" (13:!2). Satan always decorates the road to ruin and makes it attractive, so Lot unwisely moved his family toward Sodom and finally into Sodom (14:12). Lot's children were at that crucial age when they needed spiritual guidance and examples. Had Lot made the right choice, his wife and children could have been led in paths of righteousness with godly standards and goals. Instead, Sodom filled their hearts.

In Gen. 14, Lot did have a special warning from God and an opportunity to leave Sodom. When enemy kings captured and took Sodom captive, Abraham, with 318 of his loyal servants, rescued them. Instead of leaving the city, Lot moved back and even used the incident to further establish himself in the city. Gen. 19:9 indicates Sodom tolerated Lot as a judge and reprover, perhaps because his uncle had delivered Sodom.

Lot had a very "democratic" home. The children "did their own thing" while Dad was busy making money and securing his position. Mrs. Lot even encouraged the children to follow every fad and style. They made friends with the wicked and accepted their morals, and it is amazing that two of the daughters were still virgins! The godly precepts of Uncle Abraham were almost forgotten, and their teachers were sex-crazed liberals. Two of the daughters had married wicked men, and the sons mentioned in 19:12 were also lost.

Notwithstanding the presence of the compromiser, Lot, Sodom became more wicked and depraved until the Lord tells Abraham in Gen. 18:20 that its sin cried out for judgment. In answer to Abraham's prayer, the Lord agreed that He would spare Sodom if He could find only ten righteous people in the city. Since Lot had not won his family, there were not even five righteous in the city--perhaps only backslidden, carnal Lot was saved (II Peter 2:6-8).

In Gen. 19, the two angels the Lord sent to inspect Sodom and warn Lot, arrived and met Lot at the city gate, where legal matters and business were transacted. Lot, knowing their danger of molestation and death, insisted that the angels, who appeared as men, go to his home. Deep in Lot's nature was the customary habit of hospitality, and to this tradition he would sacrifice everything, even his own children.

After the meal, a mob of perverts from every part of the city surrounded Lot's house demanding the strangers. The fires of unnatural lusts burned unrestrained in both young and aged, indicating the proportions of this society's wickedness. They forgot hospitality and decency in their display of depravity. This was the moral filth in which Lot had chosen to rear his family.

Lot stepped outside to face the mob, called the wicked "brethren" and pled the laws of hospitality and the protection of his house. When this failed, he offered his two virgin daughters as substitutes for his guests! Lot sacrificed holy standards on the altar of established tradition. He had no right to do wrong, even to protect a guest. He could not have known the mob would refuse his offer and insist on their perversion with his guests. The mob threatened Lot, then rushed him with the evident purpose of raping Lot, then the two guests.

The angels rescued Lot, smote the mob with a type of blindness, then announced God's judgment on Sodom. Lot was given an opportunity to go and warn his married daughters and their husbands, but he had been such a poor testimony, they thought he was joking. After this failure, the angels urged Lot to take his wife and virgin daughters and flee the city, and when they were reluctant to leave, the angels forcefully evicted them--"the Lord being merciful" in answer to Abraham's prayer. Lot had so cursed his wife with his materialism that in disobedience to God she looked back to what she loved and was turned to a pillar of salt.

Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of their wickedness. Only Lot and his daughters were delivered. His girls were out of Sodom, but Sodom was not out of them. They got their father drunk on successive nights and both conceived by him. Lot fathered both the Moabites and the Ammonites, the ancient enemies of Israel, by his own daughters.

Application

Almost anyone would condemn Lot for offering his daughters to that perverted mob, no matter the custom that provoked it. But parents, including Christians, are doing the same thing today saying, "Here, world, take my children." Customs, social, business, and peer pressure are more important than purity to the modern parent (Titus 1:15).

Parents allow their children to listen to any kind of godless music and view every kind of filth on the televisions screen. Every kind of immodest and inappropriate dress is allowed because it is stylish. Parents do not want to be too strict or called fanatics by either their children or their friends so there are few restraints concerning dates, friends, habits, entertainment, etc. Again and again their practice says, "Here world, take my children!"

Fathers and mothers are too busy or detached to have family devotions and communication with their children. There is little desire or opportunity to manifest parental love in "training up a child in the way he should go (Prov. 22:6)." Here, world, take my children!

Most parents have no place for a Bible believing church in their family schedule where salvation and holy living are taught. Some who do attend a good church will leave when they are offended at some Bible standard or strong message. Here world, take my children.

Parents send their children to school where evolution, free sex, and "one worldism" are taught or even to a prominent religious school where there are no standards and little restraint. The bribe is a better job, a bigger church, an education which will conform you to the world. Here, world, take my children.

If discipline is necessary in a good Christian school, instead of thanking the leaders for their love and concern for the child, some parents are furious and pull the child out of the school. What does this do to the child? It can only cause weakness of character for a lifetime! Here, world, take my children.

Modern day Lots are losing their wives and children to materialism and immorality. They prefer a well watered plain that looks like Egypt (the world). They make decisions based on material gain and social custom instead of seeking first the kingdom of God. They choose a good place to water their cows, even if it destroys their children. Here, world, take my children. I don't have the time, dedication, character, or will to rear them for God.

Contrast

Instead of, "Here, world, take my children," you could say, "Here Lord, take my children." God said of Abraham, "I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord . . ." (Gen. 18:19). No wonder he is called the "friend of God."

Heb. 11 repeats, "by faith Abraham . . . " three times. It is never said, "by faith Lot pitched his tent," or "by faith he sat in the gate." Abraham walked by faith, Lot by sight. Abraham was a man of worship and prayer. No altar of Lot is mentioned, and his only recorded prayer is, "Let me escape." Abraham "looked for a city . . . whose builder and maker is God" (Heb. 11:10). Lot went to a city built by wicked men and destroyed by God.

The "strife" in Gen. 13 manifested Abraham's faith and generosity, but Lot's greed and worldliness. Abraham could see the "well watered plain" as well as Lot, but with a "single eye" and purified affections, he let God make his choice. Lot with double vision (James 1:8) tried to serve God and mammon and got a vexed soul and a vain life. Abraham is a hero of the faith; Lot was saved (II Pet. 2:6-8) "yet so as by fire."

They started together on their course but reached different goals. Abraham was favored and his family blessed because he chose, like Noah and Enoch, to walk with God instead of the wicked world's system. Lot was not content with the Lord and tried to find contentment in the world, but his nest was abruptly broken up and he lost his family.

Abraham taught Isaac in a tent away from the system, saying, "Here Lord, take my life and my children." The lines fell to him in pleasant places. Lot, in Sodom, taught his children saying, "Here, world, take my children." Who made the right choice? What choice will you make?

Published with permission from William W. Hall, D.D.

The Attributes of a Graduate

“The Lord has called His children to be faithful stewards”

  Spiritual

• Has a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ - through daily Bible study and prayer, has developed an intense desire to know Him and the power of His resurrection.
• Discerns the will of God in his/her own personal life.
• Distinguishes the ways of the world from the Lord’s way.  (There is a way that seems right unto man but the end result is destruction.)
• Responds to adversity under the power and control of the Holy Spirit, demonstrating the love and likeness of Christ.
• Is faithful in developing the spiritual gifts the Lord has blessed him/her with.
• Genuinely respects and honors those in authority.
• Manifests the fruit of the Spirit as defined in the book of Galatians, Chapter 5.
• Does not compromise convictions.

 Academic

• Has developed effective study habits
• Is an avid reader
• Is committed to life long learning
• Has developed keen communication skills
• Appreciates Fine Arts
• Participates in community functions
• Is politically active for the cause of Christ

Character

• Embraces Christ honoring convictions
• Is honest, trustworthy - a man or woman of his/her word
• Is unselfish in spirit
• Is loyal to family, friends, and employers
• Through example, influences others toward good character
• Exhibits biblical leadership and self-discipline
• Consistently displays a positive, winning attitude