Our responsibility to God's children
Posted by Webmaster (admin) on Jun 08 2007 at 12:22 AM
The Elder's Call >>

Greetings in the Name of Christ;

As many of you may be aware, I have been interested in the topic of 'education' for a long time. I actually started this article several years ago when I was a member of a different congregation – one that seemed reticent to even consider starting a Christian school for their children. I have strong personal views of educating our young and thought I would put these in print. So, to start let me quiz you: What famous personage is responsible for the following quote?

"…..I greatly fear that schools for higher learning are wide gates to hell…."

Before I answer the posed question I would like to spend a little time setting a stage. Admittedly what you are going to read is my personal point of view, but, since I am writing this, the reader will have to bear with me. (besides, if you disagree, you can write a response in the news letter to keep this important topic alive!)
I teach physical science/chemistry both at the undergraduate and graduate levels at several colleges and universities. In my time in the classroom (now over 20 years!) I have been appalled at how Satan has influenced our educational system. One does not have to go far in any science textbook to find evolution and humanistic philosophies taught as fact and 'gospel'. Sadly, I have run into more young men and women that grew up in the church but turned their backs on Christ because it was not in line or relevant with the contradictory "scientific evidence" taught as fact in our schools. Just as sadly, is how pervasive the same errors are expressed in our high-schools and grade-schools. Nor are the problems only limited to science. Curricula in history, geography, and even math and music/arts are rife with anti-Christian philosophy and teachings.
God does not treat this subject lightly:
"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your 'God which I command you." Deut. 4:2 (KJV)
And again;
"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of the is book, If any man shall add unto these things God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of this book of prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life…….? Rev. 22:18-19 (KJV)
These are very strong words from our God with respect to how we view and understand what it is that He wishes us to know about Himself and our salvation. Parents, particularly should not trifle with the education that God wishes them to provide for the tender charges He gives them.
The quote above is from Martin Luther, made over 500 years ago! This quote begs the question; are our schools better at honoring our God today than they were way back then? I think not – and this should concern each and every one of us.
All to often we partition education into "religion" and secular, believing that in some unique way we are not subject to Satan and his wiles when we study topics outside theology. I have had many parents accuse the church of advocating the teaching of only religion and leaving the "important" secular subjects be.
Where should Christian parents stand?
Does this mean we should not "educate our children" on worldly subjects? Hardly.
Martin Luther's influence on education is as lasting as it is extensive. Although he was interested primarily in the world to come, he urged men and women to prepare their children for a useful life in this world by giving them a broad education.
Benjamin Franklin once made a remark with which Luther would have wholeheartedly agreed. The famous American said: "If a man empties his purse into his head, no one can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest." Luther is reported to have made similar remark (A. Lauterback, December 26-29 1538).
However, this quote highlights a double edged sword. If the purse we have emptied into our heads is full of counterfeit information, it is just as difficult to remove.
The rest of the quote made at the beginning of this piece is as follows:
"You parents cannot prepare a more dependable treasure for your children than an education in the liberal arts. House and home burn down and disappear, but an education is easy to carry off "
Works of Martin Luther (IV, 103-130), by A. Steinhaeuser.
F. Painter has said in his "Luther on Education, iv: "Luther brought about as important a reformation in education as in religion." This was inevitable, for to Dr. Luther the two were inseparable. An irreligious man was not truly educated, and an educated man was religious..
Luther did not have in mind that we scrap education, but rather take control and teach as our Heavenly Father would have us teach "His" children.
No one would advocate only "religious" training. Dr. Luther had an astute grasp on this topic though not without warning:
"I regret now that I did not read more poets and historians and that no one taught me them! Instead of them I had to read, at great cost, with labor and injury, that devil's filth, the writing of the philosophers and sophists, so that I have all I can do to purge myself of their falsehood. (SL 10, 340)
In order to prevent a recurrence of these errors, Luther constantly emphasized that the Word of God be the supreme arbiter in all matters of faith and life. But if this is to be the case then Scripture must above all things be read and studied. How many of our children can boast this in the 21st century? Even those currently in the Church?
"Above all things, the principal and most general subject of study, both in the higher and lower schools should be the Holy Scriptures (SL 10, 340). This quote from Luther would only bring derision in our institutions of higher learning today.
So, what is the cure. First of all, the children of our church belong to God, secondly they fall under everyone's responsibility for training. God does indeed place the highest responsibility of educating children on fathers but the responsibility does not stop there. Your children are just as much my responsibility as mine are yours. Nor does age exonerate this responsibility. When one's own charges are grown and out of the house there still remains many others in need of appropriate instruction. As I get older I am beginning to understand this responsibility that God places on each and every one of us for "all" of God's children, not just our immediate family.
It is for these reasons that Good Shepherd Lutheran Church has always emphasized the creation of a Christian day school. Unlike other "private schools," our primary goals are not to make money or remain solvent. Rather we are trying to follow God's command to train up our children in the way He would have us do so.
Luther was firmly convinced that culture of the intellect alone without the regeneration of the heart of man, is civilized barbarism and veneered animalism. The Duke of Wellington once said: "Educate men without religion, and you make them but clever devils." That the Reformer would subscribe to this statement is clear:
"But where the Holy Scripture does not rule I certainly advise no one to send his child. Everyone not unceasingly occupied with the Word of God must become corrupt; therefore we must see what people in the higher schools are and grow up to be ……………if they do not diligently teach the Holy Scriptures and impress them on the young folk". (SL 10, 341-f)
It is important to understand that when Luther entrusted education to the state at his time in history, he did not have in mind the complete secularization of the schools but wanted them to have a distinctly Christian character.
Our culture makes public education a very easy thing for all of society to have. This is a true blessing of God. However, all of us need to be diligent as to what our children are being taught. Impressionable young minds have been wonderfully created to absorb many things. God desires these things to be centered on Him, His creation, and our redemption/justification.
Parents: From first hand experience, I can support Luther's statement: "The Learned are often Screwballs. There are no heretics found "outside the church"".
When we become cavalier in our childrens' education, and allow God to be removed from the equation of education we should take heed to the ancient Poet's warning:
Pride Goeth before the fall:
If in safety you would walk,
Rise not high into the air;
If you go too far aloft,
Your will burn your feathers there.
(SL 22, 676 Nol. 106)
To keep from "burning one's feathers" in theology, one should not follow any human authority, no matter how learned he may be. To be sure, the learned do not like this attitude as is clear, says Luther in his exposition of John 7: 47-49, from the reaction of the Pharisees. This struggle will remain until the end of time.
Scriptures Determine the truth, not the learned.
Psalm 119: 105 Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
God's blessings to all,
In His Grace
Peter Moeller, Chairman, Board of Elders