Page 65 - The Church and Education PDF Pro

The New Testament indicates that the responsibilities of the church include edification as well as
evangelism (Matt 28:19-20, Acts 2:42, 2 Tim. 2:2). The scriptural representation of the church as a body
implies it is an organism that grows and matures and requires education to do so. Also, one of the
important spiritual gifts given to the church is the gift of teaching which assumes the necessity of
teaching and training in the local churches.

The government or state has no biblical grounds to be involved in education; the biblical mandate has
been made to home and churches. Allowing the state to dictate the standards and procedures of
Christian education jeopardizes the ability of parents and the church to exercise their educational
prerogatives and ensure that the education is founded on God’s Word. So the church and home need to
work together to provide an environment conducive to Christian education where the process is
theocentric in nature.

The Content of Christian Education

The content of Christian Education is to teach student to know God and imitate Him in His character and
works. They must be taught that God is the source and foundation of all truth and His Word is His
revelation of that truth to man. Therefore, no idea or “fact” can be true that conflicts with the
statements of the Scriptures. For example, evolution as the means for the creation of man cannot be
true, because it is diametrically opposed to the origin of man presented in the Genesis account.
Christian education begins with the premise that Scripture is true, and all observations must be
interpreted in light of that truth. The central content of education is to know God and His Word, and to
see the world from His perspective.

The Bible declares that man rejected God in the Garden of Eden and fell into sin. This nature to sin
passed to every generation after Adam (Romans 5:12). Man’s natural inclination, therefore, is to rebel
against authority and resist submission. This important characteristic of every student must fully be
understood to properly design and implement an educational system that deals with these natural
inclinations.

The concept of kindergarten was derived from naturalists who believe that all children (German is
kinder) are born naturally good at heart, and desire to learn. All that is needed is to place these
innocent creatures into a beautiful garden (garten) that provide them the most opportunities to learn
(positive environment) and they will soak in everything that is needed to be known. Such ideas about
the nature of man are educationally destructive, because they refuse to understand that man is a sinner
and will resist coming under authority and instruction. Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a Genevan
philosopher who promotes such ideas in the 1700’s. His novel, Emile, or On Education he promoted
such ridiculous beliefs which then became the foundation for modern secular education today.

The Word of God is the main source of knowledge of God, both factual and personal, and must not only
have precedence in the curriculum, but must be the grid through which all information is viewed. The
creation reveals the Creator, and that which reveals God is a proper study for man. The natural
sciences, properly interpreted, reveal God’s earthly handiwork, and should be a part of Christian
Education. This would include astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and related
subjects because they provide knowledge of God’s nature and His work in this world. Creation joins
with written revelation in praise of the glory and goodness of God.

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