Christian Education Defined (pt.2)

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudi­ments of the world, and not after Christ” (Colossians 2:6-8).

Just as during Paul’s lifetime, so today humanistic philosophies often lead to the ruin of Christians. Today, though, the false teachings are not being put forth by Greek philosophers, but rather by educated professionals whose word often goes unquestioned, even by most Christians. Unfortunately, many people, especially the immature, accept the teachings or philosophies of unbelievers based on the "pedigree" of the teacher without evaluating the teaching by the Word of God.

The modern educational system is designed by intelligent people to reach the objectives they have set for it. Through education, they desire to create a society pleasing to everyone who believes as they believe. The Christian educator ought have an entirely different purpose, one that governs everything he does. He needs to train the students to serve God, teach them to live for God, and supple­ment the home and church. The school is not to replace home and church to create a product that is a benefit to society. The educator who seeks to please God cannot follow the philosophy of unsaved men; they almost always view the components of education in very different ways. 

Some people may ask, “How do you know the philosophy of public education is atheistic; and even if it does not promote God, surely it does not repudiate Him?” To answer that, I turn once more to the Apostle Paul, this time in I Corinthians 2:12-16. For purposes of space, I will quote only verse fourteen:   “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.” If the natural man can not grasp the things of God and according to Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it,” what can be the result but atheistic philosophy. 

II Corinthians 6:14, 15 is a great prin­ciple for educators to live by: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

Many people stop there and complain, they do not finish the passage. Verses sixteen and seventeen are just as important, for they give the command to separate and the promise for obedience.

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God bath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Where fore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

As far as I can see, the key verse in the passage, for educators, is not even included in the passage by the men who incorporated the chapter and verse divisions. Chapter seven, verse one clearly provides a Christian response to modern educational philosophy, especially when read in the context of 6:14-17, with current public education in mind. “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

I believe that what a person believes about metaphysics, epistemology, and axiology will show forth in other areas of the classroom as well. Discipline, materials, methods, erand activities all are rooted in philosophy.


More to come later.