Q. Are there any scriptural guidelines for Christian schools and teachers that we can follow?
Answer:
Truly, the Bible has a lot to say about raising and teaching our children at home, at church and in school.
Guidelines for Parents & Teachers
In two, powerful paragraphs the Bible succinctly explains the “Immersion Principle” to Christian educators and parents.
Immersion Principle
Deuteronomy 11:18-19 says,
“So commit yourselves completely to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands as a reminder, and wear them on your forehead. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away on a journey, when you are lying down and when you are getting up again” (NLT).
Similarly, Deuteronomy 6: 4-9 says…“you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away on a journey, when you are lying down and when you are getting up again. Tie them to your hands as a reminder, and wear them on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (NLT).
(I think the Lord wants us to “get it”).
Deuteronomy 11 & 6 in Today’s World
How would these two, Biblical paragraphs look or fit in today’s Christian families? Let’s explore some ideas.
Story Telling
Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, or Dad might read a Bible story to the children before they go to sleep. They would say a prayer of thanks before eating each meal.
Artwork
The children might take their baths in a bathroom with pictures of Israel or famous Scriptures quotes. The coffee table would hold several Christian magazines for adults and children, and a classic family Bible lying on the table.
Song
There would be several tapes of Christian praise songs to enjoy in the car. Each child would own his or her own Bible with their name imprinted on it. There might be famous paintings conveying guardian angels or Jesus walking on water throughout the children’s bedrooms.
Church Education
Each child would attend Sunday School for their age group. The children might attend AWANA or Scripture memory classes at church on Wednesday nights. They attend Christian camps during summer months.
Private Lessons
Music lessons could bring knowledge and study of lovely Praise Songs from a Christian teacher who emphasizes God in music lessons. Sports events are preceded by prayers for strength and endurance. The children do not attend sports events on Sundays or emphasize sports to the exclusion of other things.
Are we Over the Top?
Does this seem “over the top” to parents? Sometimes… But, when a parent is accused of “overdoing” Christian education then he or she is probably succeeding at proper and scriptural education of the children.
A Generation Brainwashed to Covet
Why do I say this?
Because our children are bombarded by anti church, anti Christian messages wherever they go. Their friends and their parents are brainwashed 24/7 to covet money and status symbols of the world – 10,000 sq. ft. homes, entertainment centers, boats, cars, expensive furnishings, lavish trips, and 100 outfits, shoes and purses for worthless pursuits! (Thankfully, in today’s economic crisis these shallow values are moderating somewhat).
Still, in today’s world degrees or skills are no longer valued as much as money. The secular world pokes fun at a Christian’s faith and belief in God, their church attendance, their world view and everything they stand for.
So we need to directly challenge and fight this system!
Teach Children to Remain Steadfast
Let’s teach our children to remain steadfast in a hostile world. After all, we live in enemy territory while we live out our lives on planet earth! (See Jn 16:12, Jn 14:30, 1 Jn 5:19, Eph 2:2, 2 Cor 4:4).
Proverbs 22:6 says to “Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it” (NLT). Ephesians 6:4 says to bring up the children “with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord.”
Genesis 18:19 says that the Lord singled out Abraham to “direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord and do what is right and just.” Titus 2:7 tells the teachers they must “be an example to them by doing good deeds of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.”
Philosophy & Empty Deception
The apostle Paul warned us 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” (Colossians 2:8, NASB).
Separating from the World
When the Israelites moved into a new place God often commanded them to destroy everything in it, and He meant EVERYTHING: people, livestock, buildings, valuables, places of worship. If they did not destroy everything the consequences were severe if not catastrophic! Judgment often followed.
Syncretism
Sadly enough, today’s churches have too often “syncretized” the world’s materialism and carnality with church entertainment and success-oriented pep rallies from the pulpit on Sundays. The traditional church is history!
Folks, we’re not in church to be “entertained” and to have our “needs met.” We are in church to worship God.
Stop!
So this carnality must STOP. Get your children away from such environments and enroll them in godly churches, Sunday schools, Christian schools or home schools when possible, and become involved in home bible studies.
“Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing. Then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:17-18, ESV).
_____________________________________________________________
References & Suggested Reading:
Black, Jim Nelson. 2004. Freefall of the American university. Nashville, TN: WND Books – a Division of Thomas Nelson.
Pearcey, Nancy. 2004. Total truth: Liberating Christianity from its cultural captivity. Wheaton, ILL: Crossway.
Schaffer, Francis. 1977. How should we then live? Muskegon, MI: 20th Century Gospel Films. www.gospelcom.net/gci/
Authors Valorie Emilio holds an M.A. in History from UCLA having specialized in early church history. Ken has his Bachelor of Science degree from CSULB and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Louisiana Baptist University.