This article describes how to live in a way that uniquely demonstrates the gospel. This article expands on the idea first presented in Gospel-Worthy Walking.
When it comes to the topic of Christianity and education, there are many different directions we could follow and discuss in much greater detail. For example, we could take the path of what type of education (public, private, or homeschooled), while we could also head down the path of what it looks like to be a Christian in a public school. We could also delve into what it means to be a Christian educator in a public school setting, or even what some strategies are for students and educators to use to minister to those in the school. Any of those would make for lengthy discussions.
However, a more helpful framework for Christianity and education should start with the premise that parents should be and are the primary disciplers of their children.
As the primary discipler, every parent’s job is to raise their kids up in the training and instruction of the Lord. That can happen during the day; that can happen at night…and that can happen through any school setting your child may be attending. So, as a parent or someone looking at the topic of education, what is the purpose of education as a Christian?
I would challenge Christians to look at education in 3 main buckets.
Education Prepares Children for God-Honoring Work
We learn in 2 Thessalonians 3 that if anyone is not willing to work, they are not to eat, so students learning basic educational skills that will help them in their vocation later in life is a key component to help our children successfully work. That can happen, again, at home, in a public school, or in a private school. We know that Christians were created to work, as learned from Adam in the garden, and our Creator is a worker. God calls us to such, so learning key skills will help us work to the best of our ability unto the Lord, and this is one of the founding purposes of education.
Education Helps Discover God-Given Passions
Education helps kids uncover the things that God wants them to be passionate about. Students are exposed to a variety of classes that allow them to determine what they either like or don’t like. For example, I hated writing classes, but I loved biology and life sciences—learning about all of the things that God created. That led me to become a biology teacher. It may lead someone else to be a plumber, or a doctor, or an engineer, or an architect. Regardless of what it is, we know one thing is common amongst everything we do—we are to do it to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Education exposes us to many areas of study—we should be asking our kids and ourselves on a frequent basis, is there something that God is showing me through the classes I’m currently taking or the education I’m getting right now?
Education Helps Provide a Platform for Living and Sharing the Gospel
Education is a tremendous opportunity for all of us to put the training and instruction of the Lord into practice. If I’m not being a plumber, doctor, engineer, architect, or biology teacher, for the glory of God, trying to make disciples in any and all of those contexts, I’m wasting the talent God has given me. And no better place to learn how to work for the glory of God than during my time in school. Again, this can happen in a public, private, or home educational setting. If your family does not see education as a means to reach the lost, you’re missing a huge opportunity in front of you. I’ve watched kids do prayer walks around our school, lead morning Bible studies, pray with others, and invite others into a setting where they lead devotions every Friday morning. What a great platform to minister to others.
Additionally, I can guarantee you that there will be some affliction that happens to every kid in education - bad grades, not getting a part in the play, failure on a sports team, gossip, social media, a certain teacher’s viewpoint, success, etc. As parents, if we are the primary discipler, our job is to help our kids interpret how to handle, address, or respond to any type of affliction - God‘s lessons are everywhere around us. What a great environment for our kids to lean into, practice, and live out God‘s commands in all of those situations. Because we all know, when students eventually finish their education, affliction can be more devastating…if we allow it. Sickness, loss of a job, paying bills, raising kids, etc., can provide enough struggles of their own, which can definitely feel more weighty than a bad grade on a test. What better way to raise your kids to handle all of those “smaller” things in life to help prep them to live out a gospel centered life when they leave education in all areas of life!
As a Christian, I would encourage you to see education as a means to help children develop tools and skills to contribute to society, find passions that God has placed in them, and see it as a training ground for them to grow in godliness as they minister to themselves and others in any and all circumstances.