CHRISTIAN EDUCATION :
MILESTONES OR MILLSTONES ?
By Tonya Gordon
“ And calling to him a child , he put him in the midst of them and said ,‘ Truly , I say to you , unless you turn and become like children , you will never enter the kingdom of heaven . Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven . Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me , but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin , it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea ’” ( Matt . 18:2-6 ).
Whether a child is being educated at home or school , the journey can be marked by milestones or millstone moments . The Cambridge Dictionary defines a milestone as “ an important event in the development or history of something or someone ’ s life .” In biblical times , a millstone referred to an extremely heavy grain grinding mechanism requiring the force of a large animal to move it . This exhibits the ease with which such a tool could sink the source of condemnation .
Scripture is infallible and the only reliable source of Truth . It is also clear how our Savior regards all children and how they should be treated . Take into account several verses .
“ Behold , children are a heritage from the Lord , the fruit of the womb a reward ” ( Ps . 127:3 ).
“ And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them , and the disciples rebuked them . But when Jesus saw it , he was indignant and said to them , ‘ Let the children come to me ; do not hinder them , for to such belongs the kingdom of God . Truly , I say to you , whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it .’ And he took them in his arms and blessed them , laying his hands on them ” ( Mark 10:13-16 ).
“ See that you do not despise one of these little ones . For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven ” ( Matt . 18:10 ).
Ministries involving children , specifically Christian education , should be approached with reverential fear . No calling that has direct access to influencing and molding a child ’ s or youth ’ s mind and heart toward Christ should be entered into casually . Whether a homeschool co-op or Christian school , candidates for employment or voluntary service should undergo a thorough multi-layered vetting process . Even then , a checks and balances infrastructure should be in place to ensure that sound , biblically guided accountability is always present .
STANDARD QUALIFICATIONS FOR CHRISTIAN EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS
• Have a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ
• Share their salvation testimony and be in agreement with all of the Bible
• Demonstrate how to lead a child to Christ
• Verbalize what biblical worldview is and how it directly impacts education
• Answer positional questions on controversial topics such as social justice , the biblical definition of marriage , and the sanctity of life
• Trained in educational methodologies and pedagogy
If any of these criteria are absent or weak , there should be a serious contemplation of whether the individual should biblically educate children . Too much is at stake to forgo caution and simply hope that training will develop key areas . Too often , Christian administrators and teachers are thrust into positions of influence out of sheer need and friendly familiarity rather than genuine aptitude and preparedness . As a result , students are the unfortunate beneficiaries of sub-par biblical worldview education and potentially harmful millstone experiences .
Likewise , Christian school board positions should not be haphazardly filled by individuals who do not have a deep passion for or understanding of biblical education . The responsibility of ensuring righteous leadership of a school is critical to each child subject to the policies and counsel
42 THE RENEWANATION REVIEW