Articles

The goal of Christian Education in the home, Church, and school is Christ-likeness. Paul shares this burden for the Galatian believers: My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you (Galations 4:19).  In this text, the great apostle compares himself to a mother in labor by saying: I agonize for you.  He sums up his entire burden in these words: that Christ be formed in you.

The formation of Christ in the believer is to be most cherished

The term formed is the word morpho and presents the figure of the embryo developing into a child.  In this metaphor, Paul would continue in labor until he saw Christ in them (Romans 8:29).  As teachers, may we be challenged in the same manner, namely, laboring until we see Christ in the students!  If this is viewed as the ultimate goal of Christian education, the teachers and staff in a Christian school must be ministry conscience all the time.

Parents, pastors, and churches must remain committed to the Christian school movement.  The story of Daniel and his friends is a good example of alternative education.  In the first chapter of that Old Testament book, these men make an appeal to their superiors because they did not want to be indoctrinated with the public education of Babylon, and it worked.  Teachers, you are ministering to young people because their parents do not want them subjected to the world’s educational philosophy.  Our goal in Christian education is that young people become Christ-like: that they progress towards maturity.  This goal can be accomplished by keeping a ministry focus.

Teachers must be Passionate in Serving the Lord

Teachers will stay ministry focused when they remember that they are servants of the most High God.  They should serve the Lord with passion; fervent in spirit, serving the Lord (Romans 12:11).  Think of the things that people are passionate about and compare that with the ministry the Lord has given you.  What can compare to ministering to the hearts and minds of precious ones?  May you serve Him with all your heart (1 Samuel 12:10, 14, 20, 24).  Further, they must serve the Lord with gladness (Psalm 100:2).  Your joy in serving the Lord should be transparent.  Thomas Watson once wrote:  It is a sign the oil of grace hath been poured into the heart “when the oil of gladness” shines on the countenance.  God frowns upon joyless service (Deuteronomy 28:45-48).   Finally, serve the Lord with adoration:  serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear (Hebrews 12:28).  Never forget that your service to Christ is an act of worship.  This term “serve” is actually one of the New Testament words for worship.

Christian School teachers are special servants of the Lord and their unique sacrifice should be appreciated by all.   The Apostle Paul linked the concepts of service and sacrifice together in his Epistle to the Philippians: Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all (2:17).  Paul was in bonds and was again thinking of the prospect of martyrdom.  A unique rule of Greek grammar links the two terms together (sacrifice and service).  His sacrifice is seen as a sacred duty or service.

All in full-time vocational Christian ministry need to understand that their service to Christ is indeed sacrifice.  While some are called upon to sacrifice more than others, often the most underpaid and least appreciated are the Christian school teachers.  As a pastor, I would love to ask visiting missionaries if they would be willing to live on a Christian School teacher’s salary.  Have you ever compared your benefit package and retirement plan with one teaching in a Christian school?  It does not take long for one to realize the sacrifice made by these servants of the Lord.  May this be an appeal to appreciate them more and perhaps show them in a tangible way that they are appreciated.

Teachers must be Proactive to integrate truth

Teachers will stay ministry focused when they are proactive in integrating truth into every subject matter through the course of the day.  This is often defined as a Christian Philosophy of Education. While Christian textbooks will help to present a Christian worldview, it is the teacher who must rise to the challenge of showing the students that God is the ultimate source of all truth.  Truth is absolute and is never in conflict with itself.

Paul warned of being caught up with secular philosophy and vain deceit (Colossians 2:8).   The text states: Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit… The word spoil means to carry off as a captive or slave and only occurs once in the New Testament. The root of this verb was used to refer to the booty or plunder that was seized from a cargo ship by pirates.  Paul uses the term as a metaphor to say: Do not allow anyone to lead you away from the truth.

As a teacher in a Christian school how does one integrate truth into every subject matter?  Consider the various disciplines:  History should be presented as His Story.  The God of heaven has declared the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10).  All things are moving in a linear way according to the good pleasure of His will (Ephesians 1:5, 9, 11).    Math should present God as a God of order and should reinforce the fact that truth is absolute.  Right is right and wrong is wrong; no gray matter exists.  English should also reinforce the principle of order as God does all things in an orderly fashion.  There are rules of grammar and proper ways of writing that lead to effective communication.  Science should clearly set forth the truth of creation by divine fiat.  God spoke the world into existence, and all things came to be by means of divine utterance (Hebrews 11:3).   Certain laws of physics govern the world and universe; these are from God.  Music and Art are to be presented for God’s glory.  The beauty of each is a reflection of the character and nature of God.  Sports and Physical Education should remind the students that there are rules that must be followed and that fouls, outs, or penalties, will be assessed for failure.  Bible Class in a Christian School should always allow time to interact with what is being taught in the other disciplines.

The point is this:  You are ministering to students as you integrate this Christian philosophy of education.  Do not just teach English, but by all means, remind your students from time to time that the rules of grammar, the correct way to write, the proper format for a paper, the various genres of literature are all because God is to be the center of our education and is the ultimate source of truth.

As you enter your classroom, prepare for ministry.  Make it your personal goal to move your students to be more Christ-like and be proactive to integrate truth into your subject matter.  May God help teachers to stay ministry focused.

About Pastor Mark Franklin

Pastor Franklin has been in pastoral ministry for 31 years and has completed 28 years as Pastor at HBC, beginning here in 1982. He also serves as Administrator at GCCS and on the Executive Committee of the ACCC and the FFBC. For more details, visit the church staff page.