This is the ultimate goal of education (and how to achieve it)
Pupils get ready to start a lesson at an elementary school in Helsinki, Finland. Photo AFP, Jussi Nukari
Christian Life
Every child should get an education. There are few who will deny the importance of schooling. But what is it all about?
Eight o'clock in the morning: it's time to take the children to school before going to work. This routine is about to start again for many parents this September.
This is a series about the Christian view of today’s world.
The idea that children should go to school is so ingrained in European culture that it seems self-evident. But is this idea inspired by God? How should we, as Christians, think about education?
The Reformers, in particular, pushed for the development of universal education.
The fact that we think so highly about education for all and the fact that we have schools everywhere in Europe can be traced back to the impact of the Bible in the past centuries.
Although there were some schools in the Greek and Roman times already, it was the Roman Catholic Church that developed an effective education system in Europe. Furthermore, the Reformation laid the foundations for education for all. Martin Luther and other Reformers understood that the Bible alone was the supreme authority that should govern all spheres of life. If so, people had to understand the Bible in their own language. Therefore, the Bible had to be translated. However, in order to know how to read, people needed education too. Therefore, the Reformers, in particular, pushed for the development of universal education.
Freedom
For centuries, churches established schools and universities. Christians understood that God commanded them to educate children to live according to His ways.
In God's eyes, parents are primarily responsible for the education of their children.
When God saved the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt, He gave them a law that Israel had to obey in the land God promised them. If the people taught these commandments to the next generation, Israel's freedom, prosperity, and existence over the generations would be assured (see Deuteronomy 4). Sadly, it was the neglect of education that set Israel on a path of decline, until it was nearly wiped out and a small remnant exiled to Babylon.
Teach the nations
The New Testament Church understood that Jesus did not abolish the law. On the contrary, the Lord declared, “whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:19). Jesus confirmed to his disciples that their task was to teach all nations everything He had commanded (Matthew 28:20).
For centuries, churches have set up schools in Europe, from Paul's school in Rome (Acts 28:31) to monastery and cathedral schools and universities. Nevertheless, in God's eyes, parents are primarily responsible for the education of their children (e.g. Ephesians 6:4), not the state or the church. The church, for its part, is called to offer its support to the parents.
The fact that the modern Church is no longer involved in education is a sad anomaly of history. Today's society believes that the state bears responsibility for education, instead of parents or the Church. Furthermore, this idea is reinforced by the belief that it is possible to set up education in a religiously neutral way that is acceptable to Christians, Muslims and atheists alike.
Neutral education
However, this idea is a myth. All education is rooted in a worldview, and this affects all subjects, even mathematics. To believe that 1+1=2, one must believe that the world is real, ordered and that we can observe it. These assumptions are rooted in a worldview.
The “neutral” education provided by the State, is an education that imposes one religion at the expense of all others.
What the European world believes to be neutral is in fact religious. More specific, that religion is humanism. Consequently, the “neutral” education provided by the State, is an education that imposes one religion at the expense of all others.
To put it short and simple, state education follows the following logic: It is as if my atheist neighbour does not only want me to pay for the atheistic education of his child, but he also demands that my child should receive the same education.
Challenge
As Christians, it is important to realise that the responsibility for education should be returned to the parents, as God has ordained it. The tragedy today is that many Christian parents have forgotten that the primary purpose of education is to teach God's ways. Therefore, Christian families and churches face a daunting challenge: to respond once again to God's mandate to take responsibility for the education of the next generation. The future of Europe depends on it.
Related Articles
