Every Tuesday morning at 7:00 a.m., the faculty at Faith Christian School meets for devotions. This year we have been going through a study entitled Kingdom Education by Glen Schultz. To say that this has been a helpful resource would be an understatement.
This past week we started the chapter “The School and The Bible”. This chapter served as both a rebuke and an encouragement to me for several reasons:
- Since the Bible is our source of truth, it should be central to EVERYTHING that we teach. When the Bible is taken out of the classroom, kingdom education cannot take place.
- With so much emphasis on standardized testing and results, it can be easy to focus on preparing students for these tests, as we want them to be in the very best position to succeed. This is a tricky balance. We want our students to perform well and yet we cannot allow these tests to be the “standard” for how we conduct our classes or what we ultimately teach. As a school, academics is very important, and providing academics through the lens of the Bible is what Kingdom Education is all about.
- What makes our school Christian? If we are not careful, we can become just a private school that focuses on academics, fine arts, and/or athletics. Is there a sense that all of our classes and subjects are influenced by God’s Word and the principles from Scripture? We cannot simply say a prayer before class, or go to a Bible class and consider ourselves a Christian school. Our goal should be that every subject, program, and extra-curricular activity be seen from the perspective of a biblical worldview.
- “Regardless of the name that is on any school entrance, kingdom education only takes place where God’s Word is central to all instruction.” I was really struck by this quote. As educators, we really need to make sure that we think and act from a biblical worldview. Our students are watching and listening to us all the time, and their perception of Christ is played out before them through the lives of their parents, coaches and teachers. As Christian school educators, we need to make sure that our personal Bible study is daily, passionate, and practically seen, in and through our daily walk.
Faith Christian School seeks to partner with parents to help train and equip students to live effectively in God’s world. This partnership becomes a lot clearer when God’s Word is rightly positioned as our school’s foundation and source of truth. “If a school is going to support the home in providing kingdom education for its children, it must be committed to this reality.”
I trust that you will have a wonderful day seeking the Lord’s direction and His perfect plan for your life.