We who preach the gospel must not think of ourselves as public relations agents sent to establish good will between Christ and the world. We must not imagine ourselves commissioned to make Christ acceptable to big business, the press, the world of sports or modern education. We are not diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum. A.W. Tozer
Therefore let God-inspired Scripture decide between us; and on whichever side be found doctrines in harmony with the word of God, in favor of that side will be cast the vote of truth. --Basil of Caesarea
Once you learn to discern, there's no going back. You will begin to spot the lie everywhere it appears.

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service. 1 Timothy 1:12

Thursday, November 1, 2018

Education That is Christian


An article with this post’s headline, by Daniel H. Smith (at the time he was President of Emmaus Bible College), was in The Emmaus Journal, Vol. 1/No.2, Summer 1992.  I thought just the paragraph headlines (and a wee bit of citations) of factors which make education Christian would be enough to provoke thinking about how Christians should be educating their children.

Since I will only be posting the paragraph titles, with a short citation from some of them, I will not use ellipses.  I trust you’ll find them as interesting as did I.

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IT IS BASED ON THE FEAR OF THE LORD: PROVERBS 1:7; 9:10.
An academic world without God is declared to be foolish by Him.

IT IS CHRIST-CENTERED: COLOSSIANS 3:16-17.

IT IS FUNDAMENTALLY AND THOROUGHLY BIBLICAL: 2 TIMOTHY 3:16.

IT IS EXEMPLARY: LUKE 6:39-40.
[E]ducation that is truly Christian will require those in places of leadership to examine the lifestyle of the teacher as well as the content of what is taught. Unsaved people may teach unsaved people Bible content, but in Christian education the teacher must be committed to biblical obedience in his or her life. The Christian teacher must prayerfully desire that the inevitable influence of one’s life will be for the glory of Christ.

IT DEALS WITH BOTH CONTENT AND LIFESTYLE: TITUS 2:12.

IT INVOLVES MORE THAN HUMAN WISDOM: 1 CORINTHIANS 2:13. 

IT INVOLVES THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD: ACTS 20:25-35.

IT STRIVES FOR STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE: 2 TIMOTHY 1:1,2.
Education that is worthy of the name of Christ is not careless or slipshod!

IT’S GOAL IS ETERNAL: 1 JOHN 2:15-17.


2 comments:

Thomas said...

We should not be homeschooling our children because it is wise, but because it is holier that way. Forget about getting college degrees. Practice biblical separation. We should be friends only with those who think as we do. The Holy Spirit has no fellowship with demons (2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Ephesians 5:11). That is one thing the church seems to have forgotten. Sad, isn't it?

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Thomas,

Homeschooling is NOT necessarily “holier” than public school; too many Christians turn it into a legalistic nightmare.

College degrees are essential for some fields, such as medicine, the legal field, engineering, etc. A blanket statement against college degrees is unwise.

I also disagree with your idea that you should be friends only with those who think as we do; I’ve had many friends over the years who were Mormons, who were profligates, and even leftists. No where in Scripture does it say we should eschew such relationships; I find they give great evangelistic opportunities. It isn’t fellowship with demons to have unsaved friends (you are taking those passages out of context). Try reading 1 Corinthians 5:9-11: Paul says he is not teaching you to have nothing to do with unbelievers.

Yes, for the most part the church has forgotten that it is holy, i.e., set apart. It too often wants to be like, and even of, the world.