Why a Christian School?

by Rev. Alan Day                                                                                                                    Vol. XIII, No. 4, April 2000

There is a definite pattern in Oklahoma for Christian parents uncritically to send their children to state or secular schools. Three groups of people need to re-think their responsibility in this matter. And all of us need to remember why Christians got involved in education to begin with.

Let's do the second issue first. Christians have a long and respected involvement in education. Early writers on the subject gave several primary reasons: 1) obedience to the Great Commission to extend Christ's influence and Kingdom over every endeavor; 2) to keep our children in the faith; 3) to educate denominational leaders and pastors; 4) to provide the only true education, which is education from a Christian worldview.

Should it startle us to learn that 88%of Baptist children leave the church after high school, many never to return? We send our children to secular schools, many of whose teachers are openly hostile to a Christian worldview; on whose campuses there is a spirit of worldliness and, often, immorality; and then we wonder what happened to them after 12 years in such an environment.

Parents say that Christian schools are too costly. What cost are you referring to? Do you mean dollars; or do you mean loss of potential; loss of our future leaders; loss of character; and, sometimes, loss of the souls of our children? That's a cost we should be unwilling to pay. And the dollar cost of providing Christian education is worth the difference.

I said three groups of people need to consider their responsibility for the pattern. First, parents should consider the real purpose of education. Parents, you take your children to church for 18 years. Will you then send them to a school where a teacher can unravel their beliefs ... ?

I told our four (now grown) children that they could attend any school they wanted, but I would support only an education at a particular Christian school. Guess where they went!

Second, pastors must rethink the philosophy of Christian education that led us to establish some of the finest colleges and universities in America. We must understand the trends, such as the 88 percent figure above. We must become strong and unapologetic public advocates of the Christian school.

Third, no one has a more profound influence on the youth of a church than the youth minister. While they are teaching kids to have a quiet time and that "true love waits," they should talk about issues of the mind as well. They need to develop a philosophy of Christian learning. I have heard youth ministers bewail the fact that so few of their youth maintain their walk with Christ after high school. Think about it--88% drop out! Could there be a relationship between that figure and the number of youth who go to secular schools? We need to think about it.

[Adapted from "Why a Baptist College?" by Alan Day, pastor of First Baptist Church, Edmond, Oklahoma, as found in the Baptist Doctrine Series in the Oklahoma Baptist Messenger newspaper, January 27, 2000.]

COMMENT: Since Christian higher education is preferred, then isn't a Christian education even more important for our young children? Why start so late? Why not start early as possible? Readers who want to follow up on this subject are invited to contact: The Separation of School & State Alliance; 4578 N First Street PMB #310, Fresno, CA 93726; (559)292-1776 292-7582 fax; email: SepSchool@psnw.com. Also see: "Proclamation" at http://www.sepschool.org/Proclamation/. Third, you can contact Rev. E. Ray Moore, Jr., www.exodus2000.org; tele (803) 714-1744.