Distinctively Christian Education is Pretty Simple
Distinctly Christian education (at all levels) is not rocket science. There are other nuances and critically important considerations, but much depends on how a school answers the following five questions.
To what extent do each of your leaders, faculty, and staff believe:
1. the Bible is the inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word of God?
2. these Scriptures are the norm and source of doctrine?
3. this doctrine has immense implications for faith, life, work, relationships, learning, and leadership?
4. their loyalty to the truth and wisdom of God’s Word exceeds any obligation to their discipline, professional guild, professional organization, human affiliation(s), political or ideological tribe, or professional goals?
5. the school/university has a fundamental calling to provide an education that is shaped and informed by God's Word?
I contend that any school that openly, honestly, and persistently asks and does what is necessary to answer yes to each of these questions in the affirmative is likely on a path to fidelity and flourishing. There is, of course, more to it, but this establishes a firm foundation from which to build everything else.
Yet, this is not an easy task. Asking the questions is not hard, but the step of doing what is necessary to answer each in the affirmative can be humbling, gut-wrenching, and vulnerable, even as the end result is a reminder that it is a work of God and not the result of mere human effort or ingenuity.
We find ourselves grappling with the challenging and startling words of Jesus in Luke 14:26, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”
Eventually, we squirm under the exhortation of 1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
We further find ourselves asking God for wisdom to apply what He teaches in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Even as we find ourselves overwhelmed and feeling inadequate fro the task at hand, we are pointed to the love and forgiveness of God in Christ that is described in 1 John 1:8-9, “If we claim to be without sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (an odd blend of the NIV and ESV).
Rejoicing in such conforming words, we are further comforted by Romans 3:23-24, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
W are reminded that God works in us, both to will and work for his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).
Then, as we joyfully go about the tasks in our school, we are further encouraged by the words of Proverbs 16:9, that “the heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”
In other words, the path toward fidelity and flourishing in a Christian school is paved with a posture of humility before the commands and promises of God’s Word that guide each of us through this life, and gratitude for the God who is at work in, amid, and despite us.