Defining Christian Education

For the purposes of this blog series, we want to take a moment to distinguish between the lifelong sense of Christian Education, or the spiritual journey we embark on throughout the course of our entire lives, and Christian Education in the academic K-12 and college sense of the term. While they certainly overlap for many people, for our purposes today, and over the next several weeks, we will be looking at Christian Education with regard to the formal schooling option. 

Values of Christian Education

Christian education acknowledges that no form of education is neutral and that each method of schooling has a particular lens through which they hope students will see the world and their place in it. No matter how “neutral” an education system claims to be, they all cycle through agendas that often line up with the latest societal trends. Christian education aims to stay rooted in unchanging values that center on biblical truths and, of course, Jesus Christ. 

Christian education doesn’t try to hide it’s agenda or remain neutral. We purposefully strive to help students view and understand the world through the perspective of God’s truth. It emphasizes God as the sovereign creator and explores human patterns throughout history as they seek answers to life’s biggest questions. Christian education highlights the reconciliation to God that we receive through Jesus and how this should influence our everyday lives. 

Aiming to promote more than just a Christian world-view, Christian education strives to encourage a Christian way of living that relies on the example we have in Jesus and the joy we receive through His gift. This way of life is taught through a unified and loving collaborative community. 

Methods

Christian education relies heavily on a collaborative community in Christ. This includes parents, children, teachers, other staff, and community members. We understand that one person or group is not solely responsible for the education of our children and there is tremendous importance in unity and consistency. If values and beliefs from school aren’t supported at home, they are bound to fall flat. Conversely, if the values and beliefs you are trying to instill at home aren’t supported by your choice of school, children will struggle to build a firm foundation and likely be more influenced by pop culture and worldly trends. 

We all know of the phrase, “actions speak louder than words”. It may be one of the most widely used knocks against the Christian community as humans quote scripture but then fail to align their actions with the life and teachings of Jesus. It is important to acknowledge this shortcoming, and work to hold our educators and leaders accountable for modeling the type of lives we aim to equip our children to live. Christian education relies on teachers, staff, parents, and community partners to model spiritual growth and reliance on Jesus. It requires that we strive continuously to abide in the Holy Spirit and live in a way that displays the fruit of the Holy Spirit and shines God’s light and love. 

Christian classrooms are built on a foundation of love and respect for ourselves and others. This is why “discipline” looks different in a Christian Classroom (check out next week’s post for more on that). We hold each other accountable for high standards of work and living, but are quick to extend grace and help one another grow. It is a safe place to explore big questions and doubts, using the Bible as a foundation and source of truth, but also appreciating and utilizing scientific knowledge and advancements. 

Goals

The goal of Christian education is to develop the whole child. We, of course, emphasize the standard core academic subjects that are needed for students to excel in their day to day lives and eventually the workforce. But above and beyond those core competencies, Christian education promotes spiritual formation – a transformation of hearts. We aim to help students develop a love of God. We seek to help them abide in Christ, appreciate fellowship, build character, bear each other’s burdens, and spread the good news of the Gospel to those who are lost. We believe these latter goals that are unique to Christian education are what truly prepare our children to be tomorrow’s leaders.

Looking Ahead

Check back next week as we explore what Christian Education looks like specifically at Our Savior School.  And as always, if you have any questions or wish to discuss this further, please don’t hesitate to contact us!