What Christian Education Provides That Is Unique

by Bob Brennan

I have been involved with Christian education for the last 47 years.  I attended Christian schools from Kindergarten through Master’s degree (18 years), and I have been involved in delivering Christian education for the last 29 years.  I have had the privilege of being a part of God’s plan to train up hundreds, even thousands of young people to integrate His Truth into every area of their lives.  I have seen many fantastic success stories, as well as some very frustrating results.  I have also seen a noticeable decline in the willingness of Christian parents to place their children in Christian schools.

Recently I was challenged with the following question:  “What is it that Christian education provides that makes it special or unique?”  I began to think and pray about this, and posed the question to numerous colleagues.  I believe that we have formulated a good response.

I would like to frame my answer in the following context.  I want to address the parents of the young person who is clearly a practicing Christian, is faithful in church and is active in the youth group.  This family seeks to live out their faith on a daily basis, has regular family devotions and carefully examines what they watch & listen to and where they go.  Surely this teenager does not ALSO need to attend a Christian school, does he?  Surely this young person is getting all she needs at home and at church?

I would like to list for your consideration a few things that I believe this teenager will ONLY get if he receives a Christian school education (or is home-schooled by qualified Christian parents).

General

-an academic education that is the “whole truth and nothing but” because it is centered on God’s Word

-an academic education from genuine Christian role models and counselors

-35 hours per week of instruction that supports your values at home

-daily interaction between students and teachers who care about their spiritual welfare

-a supportive, encouraging relationship between parents & teachers, centered on a common Christian goal

-the opportunity to pray, read the Bible and worship God on a daily basis with peers

-student discipline that is redemptive and based on biblical principles

-support for students with individual difficulties based on God’s principles of individual worth

-chance to be a witness to fellow students from around the world

History

-the Christian heritage of our nation, including the 1^st & 2^nd Great Awakenings

-Christian influences in the history of our state

-biographies of influential Christians throughout history

-biblical principles of government and politics

-a Christian perspective on political and social issues

-the spread of the Gospel throughout Western Civilization

-the Protestant Reformation and other highlights of Church history

-biblical principles of economics and leadership

-comparative religions from around the world

-a biblical focus on history, beginning at creation

Science

-scientific evidences for special creation in biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, anatomy, geology, etc.

-a biblical perspective on the environment

-clear weaknesses of modern evolutionary theory

-a God-honoring view of the laws of physics

-the Christian testimony of many early scientists

-the ethics of genetics

-the marvelous intricacies of God’s creation

-the uniqueness of humans created in God’s image

Math

-understanding that God is the author of all Truth

-seeing God as a God of order and logic

-seeing math as God’s tools to handle and solve many of life’s problems

Business & Technology

-understanding the biblical ethics that relate to these fields

-seeing technology as another tool to further God’s kingdom work here on earth

Bible

-an overview of the entire Bible, with a summary of the basis information in each book

-a study of apologetics – how to defend our faith

-a study of the historical veracity of the Bible

-a study of the key doctrines of the Christian faith

-an in-depth study of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ

-practical application of God’s Word in the real world

-chance to rub shoulders with Christians of different denominations in a safe environment

English

-biblical critical thinking  and reading skills

-how to analyze a piece of literature from the perspective of God’s Truth

-studying great works of Christian literature

-understanding the literary attributes of the Bible

-learning the importance of quality writing to the work of God

-obtaining a Christian perspective on censorship in literature and the arts

-addressing life issues from a Christian perspective

Foreign Languages

-understanding the biblical origins of languages

-equipping students to share their Christian faith in another language

-diminishing the ethno-centrism of our Christian faith

Fine Arts

-recognizing each student’s individual giftedness as being from God

-using our gifts and abilities to glorify God and spread His love

-learning how to work together to achieve a goal and please God

Physical education & Athletics

-studying health from the perspective of God’s Word and its moral values

-recognizing that we are created in God’s image

-seeing our bodies as the Temples of God

-learning biblical lessons about teamwork and cooperation as part of a Body

-an athletic program where character development and ethical, godly behavior are the focus

-opportunities to live out our faith in the public venue of athletic competition

I could go on, but I think you see my point.  When was the last time your church or you as parents taught your kids about most, if not all, of these things?  So, if that ideal teenager I described above is missing out on many of these important life lessons, what are we going to do about it?  And how much MORE do our teens who are not from ideal families, nor active in their churches, need the support and partnership of the Christian school?

I believe that a Christian academic education is essential to strengthening our young people as they prepare to go into the world as the next generation of God’s warriors.  No education that ignores or eliminates God can be considered a quality education.  It is NOT the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.  So, help me God!

Also read the following articles:

[Have I been Educated]

[Have You Enrolled Your Child In A Christian School For The Right Reasons]

Also see the “Discovering Christian Schools” link on the left hand side of this page