I
AM VERY CONCERNED with the current state of
education in our country. However, my greatest concern
is not so much about what is happening in the general
educational community but what is happening with the
education of children in the Christian community. From
all of the recent studies that have been done on the faith of
teens and young adults, it is alarming to see the number of
our young people that are leaving the church. Depending on
which study one reads, the estimate for our young people
leaving the church is between 60 to 80 percent. What is
causing this vast exodus from the church?
There is no doubt that one of the greatest contributors to
this growing problem is the education that our children are
receiving. The reason I say this is based on a truth that many
parents, church leaders, and educators don’t understand
when it comes to the education of our children and youth.
I am convinced that the principal business of education is
the communication of ideas, and all ideas have consequences.
In Colossians 2:8 Paul warns Christians to, “See to it
that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty
deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the
elementary principles of the world, rather than according to
Christ.”
This warning makes it clear that Christians can be
taken captive by false philosophies. A simple definition for
philosophy is a “set of ideas.” Since the principal business of
education is the communication of ideas, then education is
one of the major ways that one is taken captive by the ideas
presented in the process. Christians must be intentional to
make sure that the ideas that are taking their children captive
are according to Christ and not the false ideas of this world.
In order to raise our children to be strong, confident Christ
followers; parents, church leaders, and educators must give
greater attention to how they are educating their children.
The education our children receive is a major influence on
what they believe to be true. This is important because what
one believes to be true sets one’s beliefs; one’s beliefs shapes
one’s values; one’s values drives one’s actions. The fact that
so many people are walking away from their faith is because
they have developed a set of beliefs (worldview/ideas) that
are contrary to truth as found in Christ and His Word.
How did we get to this current dilemma?
I believe it is because we have been pursuing some false
‘gods’ when it comes to the education of children and youth.
Author and educator Neil Postman made a bold statement
in his book, The End of Education. He set forth the premise
that “behind every educational effort is a pursuit of a ‘god’
or ‘gods.’”
Nancy Pearcey also addresses this concept in her book,
Total Truth, where she states, “The fear of some ‘god’ is the
beginning of every proposed system of knowledge.” I find it
amazing that both a Christian and a non-Christian author
understand that everyone is pursuing a ‘god’ of some type
when it comes to the education given to one’s child.
Two Australian Christian educators take this concept
one step further. They would agree with Pearcey and Post-
man, but they also understand the consequences that will
result in the pursuit of a ‘god’ or ‘gods’ by education. They
write, “Every kind of teaching and learning is based upon and
oriented by a shared vision of life (worldview/ideas), and that
all people …serve some ‘god’ or ‘gods’ in their lives and in
turn are conformed into the image of their ‘god.’”
It is not a question of whether a person will be conformed
into the image of a ‘god.’ The question is, what ‘god’ will
they be conformed to? Every child will be conformed into
the ‘god(s)’ we pursue through the education we give our
children.
Kyle Idleman makes a sobering statement in his book,
Gods at War. In the book, Idleman was reminding his read-
ers of Joshua’s challenge to the nation of Israel in Joshua 24.
Joshua told the people that they were to choose a god to
pursue. They could choose the false gods that their fathers
knew about in Egypt, or they could choose the false gods
they knew were among the pagan nations that were around
them or they could choose the true and living God of Israel.
This account is very familiar to most Christians, and
many of us may have a plaque on the wall with Joshua’s bold
statement on it. Joshua proclaimed to all of Israel, “As for
me and my house, we will serve the Lord!” Idleman explains
Joshua’s challenge to Israel in a unique way when he writes,
“It’s time to select a god and follow him, to select a worldview
(ideas), and allow it to remake you.”
The power of ideas
Christian parents, church leaders, and educators must
understand the power of ideas. Ideas are always tied to a god
of some type. We will pursue ideas that are in line with the
god we most fear, and when we choose that god to pursue
we will be conformed to its image. Therefore, it is imperative
that we choose to pursue the right ‘god’ when it comes to the
education of our children and youth.
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