Why Christian Education?    

Christian education prepares children for the real world and provides the greatest educational value.  

The decision of how a child will be educated is one of the most important decisions parents will make for their child.  In recent years, the deterioration of the public school system has caused increasing alarm within the Christian community.  Yet, the option of Christian education is still viewed with some apprehension.  There are two common reasons why parents opt for public education over Christian education.  There is the concern that a child must be prepared for the real world, rather than sheltered from it.  When this concern is coupled with the financial constraints that tuition places on the family budget, there seems to be no real reason to pursue the Christian education option.  However these common objections beg the question, “What is the real world and how is it defined?”  Furthermore, what value does Christian education bring to my child that would warrant the financial sacrifice?  Answering these questions would seem to provide clarity to the question of  “Why Christian education?”  

Preparing a child for life in the real world is primarily the responsibility of the parent.  The scriptures teach us that each generation of parents has the responsibility to ensure the next generation is prepared for life.  “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Eph. 6:4 (NIV)  “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”  Deut. 6:6-7 (NIV)  But, parents’ responsibility must be balanced with the responsibility of every child to become a learner, as we are told in Proverbs 1:5 (NIV) “let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.”   Learning is a personal responsibility.  

What does it mean to educate a child for the real world?  Webster defines the word educate as “to train or develop the knowledge, skill, mind or character of”.  But, what is the real world and who defines that world.  Ultimately for the Christian the “real” can only be defined by God and not by man.  So to prepare a child for the real world one must go to God for His definition.  For only His wisdom can prepare us for real life and for the real world.  “For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Prov. 2:6 (NIV)  Apart from God, there is no wisdom, there is no knowledge, and there is no understanding.  Apart from God, man cannot make sense of life.   

Let us consider next what value Christian education brings to a child’s educational experience, because for many parents participation in Christian education requires a major financial sacrifice.  

The value of Christian education can be broken into several categories. These include: the child’s Safety, the child’s Personal Development (including Academic, Character, Physical, and Citizenship), and parents’ Knowledge of their child’s development.   

Christian education provides for each child’s safety because it takes place in a secure, controlled and loving environment where students are both taught, and held accountable, to have respect for authority (God, parents, teachers, etc.), for themselves, and for their peers.  

Christian education maximizes a child’s personal development in several areas.

(1) Academic development is maximized because of skilled teachers who genuinely care for the child, strong curricula, an appropriate facility, and close parental involvement in the educational process.  

(2) A child’s physical development is maximized because Christian education begins with the recognition that the human body is God’s creation and stewardship of it requires the appropriate respect, discipline, and training. 

(3) A child’s character development is maximized because biblical principles form the foundation of Christian education.  Also, the child will have teachers who genuinely care for him and who teach and operate on biblical principles.  In Christian education, parents and the school work together to develop the child’s moral character.

(4) Christian education also contributes to the development of a child’s citizenship.  It teaches children to be others-focused, instead of self-centered. It models servanthood and provides opportunities for Christian service and Community service.  

Finally, another key value of Christian education is that parents have thorough knowledge of their child’s development.  Christian education provides a parent-school intimacy rarely found in education today.  In Christian education, parent involvement in the educational process is not only encouraged, it is usually required.  Effective parent-school communication is a critical success factor.  Parent participation as volunteers is often needed due to limited resources, contributing even more to parent-school intimacy.           

Christian education prepares children for the real world, God’s world, and it provides the greatest educational value.  Apart from God, children cannot receive the rewards that He has for them.  So, every parent should give Christian education serious consideration when evaluating options for their child’s education.

Frank E. Garland, IV

Associate Pastor & Administrator