PHILOSOPHY OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

                         A biblically-based philosophy of education is the foundation upon which the Christian

       education movement must be built.  Our founding fathers built this country on the absolute truths

       contained in the Bible.  The early American educational system was solidly based on the Word

       of God.  In fact, the Bible often served as a textbook in many classrooms.

                 Through the years, however, new philosophies began to permeate our society.  These

       ideas were introduced by prominent men of the time, including Charles Darwin, Sigmund Freud,

       and B. F. Skinner.  These men did not believe that God created the heavens and the earth. 

       They stressed the importance of man rather than God.  These ideas, often referred to as

       humanism, began to influence educational thought and eventually, the Word of God was

       removed from our educational system altogether.

               As Christian educators, we must teach our students the importance of the Bible and how

       it relates to living life as part of the world we are in.  They must be taught to understand

       the doctrines of Christian living according to the Bible and a knowledge of the other anti-God

       ideas that permeate our world as well.

               A Christian philosophy of education must include a number of important elements.  These

       include a Christian life view, the doctrines of God, Jesus Christ, man, education, parental

       responsibility, and discipline to name a few. 

              The Christian educator must believe in a creation-based life view.  This view affirms that

       God is the center of the universe.  He created man in His own image and is in complete control

       of our world.  This life view offers man the opportunity to to receive eternal life by simply trusting

       Christ as Lord and Savior.  This wonderful hope makes living the Christian life in our present

       society much easier and more enjoyable.  It is the duty of a Christian educator to help our

       students form a Christian life view after they have received Christ as their Savior.

              The Bible simply assumes that God does exist.  Hebrews 11:6 states, "But without faith it

       is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe He is, and that He is the

       rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."  We must work with our students to understand this

       very important concept of faith in God.  Students must learn to understand that God exists and

       can be seen through nature itself; the changing seasons, the planets and stars hanging in the

       sky, and weather conditions to name a few examples. 

              Our Christian philosophy must have Christ at the center of all we do and say.  Christ was

       sent to serve as a personal example for believers.  Christian educators must train students to

       use the life of Christ as a pattern for Christian living.  This will help now and in the future when

       our students are young adults.  We must help them with this from a very young age all the way

       through to graduation as a high school senior.

               According to the dictionary, one definition of education is the process of teaching.  The

       purpose of Christian education is to teach students the truth as expressed in the Bible.  It is

       our duty as Christian educators to teach our students biblical truth and how to apply it to their

       daily lives.  The Christian school teacher must also exemplify the life of Christ and the truth as

       found in the Bible.  Our students should be able to see the example Christ set forth in his life

       come alive through us as we are teaching them.  We must also teach our students that obeying

       God leads to all knowledge and wisdom.

               Parents have the God-given responsibility of caring for and raising their children according

       to the Lord's standards.  Children must be taught to respect their parents and others in authority

       over them.  They must also be taught to respect other children at school as well.  It is the

       Christian teacher's responsibility to continue to help parents with this training by reinforcing the

       Bible's commands concerning the raising and teaching of children.

               Discipline is also important in every aspect of our students' lives.  We, as Christian

       educators, must strive to implement a sound disciplinary program in our classrooms.  We must

       realize the important responsibility we have been given in understanding the battle that is

       raging between good and evil in the world and in the lives of our students.  A teacher who does

       not discipline students in a biblical way may lead a Christian school to failure in its outreach to

       today's young people.