The American Crisis
Exiles face opposition; they are misunderstood and are tempted to lose their distinctiveness.
Erwin W. Lutzer
In the previous blog, I defined the differences between various kinds of schools. You will notice that there is a distinct difference between Christian schools and Kingdom schools. The question I am often asked is, "Can a Christian school not be a Kingdom school?" The answer to this question is yes. Lutzer articulates this well in his book The Church in Babylon, where he describes how the Church, and I would add Christian schools, are losing their distinctiveness. Over and over again, Christian schools have bowed the knee to anything but the distinctiveness of the Word. So, how can you know if a school is focused on kingdom advancement rather than socially accepted advancement? How can parents determine if a school is focused on advancing the Kingdom?
The education of children and youth results in the formation of lifestyles or worldviews that will be patterned after the belief systems or worldviews of their teachers.
“The disciple is not above his master: but everyone that is perfect shall be as his master.” Luke 6:40
“Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Philippians 4:9
Every person has a worldview or an underlying belief system that drives his or her attitudes and actions in life. A person can hold one of two possible worldviews: a God-centered worldview or a man-centered worldview. The individual's worldview is primarily determined by that of his teachers. Everyone who teaches others influences them in three ways: by their content (what they say), by their communication (how they say it), and by their conduct (how they live). No one can teach out of a philosophical vacuum. Their beliefs and values will come through, and these will help shape the beliefs and values of those whom they teach.
George Barna claims that only 7-8% of today's Christians have a biblical understanding of life. Following this principle, we would conclude that today’s Christians have been educated by a majority of people (influences) who did not possess a God-centered worldview.
A parent should ask these questions when determining which school their children will attend:
- Does my child’s teacher have a God-centered worldview? Do they think and act from a biblical perspective?
- Does my school develop my child with a biblical frame of reference (worldview) that causes my child to interpret the meaning of all knowledge in every aspect of life with its God-intended meaning?
- Does my school take seriously the development of worldview through the music that is played (allowed), the media that is analyzed, and the textbooks from which they are taught?
The education of children and youth must be characterized by the pursuit of biblical excellence based on godly character resulting in competent performance.
“O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Who hast set thy glory above the heavens.” Psalm 8:1
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8
The pursuit of excellence should be a key aspect of the education every child receives at home, church, or school. This is because God’s name, alone, is excellent. I would challenge each parent to write down what the word "excellence" means to them in relation to their child’s education. Most Christians, when asked to do this, will define excellence based on performance and/or achievements. Unfortunately, the majority of Christians have adopted a worldly picture of excellence. The world sees excellence from only a horizontal perspective. It can be summed up by two words—compare and compete. An individual, organization, or team is excellent if it is better than the other or beats the other. In a postmodern, post-truth world, excellence is entirely subjective in nature. Achievement and performance become the measure of success.
The Apostle Paul warned Christians in Corinth about the danger of measuring oneself through comparison with other people (2 Corinthians 10:12). It is important that Christians pursue biblically-based excellence. Biblical excellence has several characteristics that are in stark contrast to the world’s idea of excellence. True excellence has the following characteristics:
- God is the standard for excellence.
- Jesus is the model of excellence.
- Christlikeness is the goal of excellence.
- Character, not performance, is the primary focus of excellence.
- God’s glory is the motive for excellence.
- The Bible, not human opinion, is the source for determining excellence.
- God’s Spirit is the empowerment to achieve excellence.
Performance and/or achievement is important in pursuing biblically-based excellence. However, performance and achievement only have eternal significance if they are an extension of striving for godly character in one’s life. A person should strive to do their best in every endeavor because they represent Jesus Christ. When this is accomplished, a student not only achieves excellence but is a success in God’s eyes.
A parent should ask these questions when determining the school their child will attend:
- Does my child’s school emphasize excellence that is characterized by performance and is based on a horizontal perspective characterized by compare and compete?
- Is my child’s school’s view of excellence starting with a vertical perspective and focused primarily on character resulting in competent performance?
- What type of excellence is being promoted in the education that my child receives from their school? Is it focused primarily on God receiving glory in everything that is done?
- Do my child’s teachers, coaches, sponsors, church leaders, etc. lives reveal God’s character in everything they do so that praise for God is increased in my child’s life?
This is where parents should begin as they review the impact their child’s school is having on their child. Parents should be asking questions, seeking answers, and comparing their child’s school with the Word of God, not the standard of society. If hanging banners, trophies, and awards are the central focus in your child’s school, you may be in a Christian school, not a Kingdom school.
This is the American crisis
Mr. Euler has over 20 years of experience working in Christian Schools, 13 as a Head of School and is currently the Head of School at Word of God Academy, Shreveport, LA., a ministry of Word of God Ministries.
Website www.wogacademy.org
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