“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:9-10
As I have studied education and specifically classical Christian education, I can think of no better way to train Christian leaders than with an education that is both classical and Christian. It is by far the superior education for training the next generation of the church, the body of Christ.
A classical Christian education lays the framework for logical thinking and wise decision making while also laying the groundwork in knowledge, virtue, discipline, integrity, civility and prudence.
The Christian educator’s most important purpose in educating students is for them to love Christ and know, love, and obey His Word. From knowing Jesus Christ and His Word come wisdom and Christians are to grow in wisdom. “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6). Then, the student can learn as much as possible with a Christian worldview to impact the world for Christ. The goal of Christian education should always be for students to use their knowledge, understanding and wisdom to impact the world for Jesus Christ.
Early believers in Christ knew that the Christian faith was the framework for understanding the world around them. Christians also knew that the purpose of education was to deepen a person’s spiritual understanding of living in this world and the leading out of darkness into the light, and Jesus Christ is the “Light” who gives knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. When Jesus Christ enlightens a person’s heart and mind to know and obey God’s Word and the wisdom it can bring, Christians then develop a worldview.
Everyone has a worldview, a belief and understanding of the world around them and this understanding is the foundation for the assumptions and decisions they make in life. A person’s worldview is either based on Biblical truth and wisdom, or it is not. A secular progressive has an anti-God humanistic worldview and a Christian’s worldview is based on belief in Jesus Christ and God’s Word that gives wisdom and understanding. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).
As I grow older and my love for Christ grows, and I see the world around me turn more and more to foolishness and against the things of God, I pray as the Psalmist, “Lord, teach me to number my days that I may grow in wisdom” (Psalm 90:12), and that the Lord would guide me to teach and train up young lives for Christ, so they would believe in Him and grow in God’s wisdom, knowledge and understanding to impact this fallen world for Christ. Amen.
May God bless you with His grace, love, and truth!