Principles of True Christian Education

True Christian education is not the transmission of information but the bringing of children to Christ himself, cultivated jointly by a Bible-believing and Bible-practicing home and church. When mothers brought their little children to Jesus "that he should put his hands on them, and pray," the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus answered, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 19:14). The first principle, then, is that education's aim is not merely moral improvement, but bringing the child into living contact with Christ. Every lesson taught must serve this end, or it forfeits the name "Christian."

This governs the home before the church, for God gave the primary charge of nurture to parents: "these words...thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children...when thou sittest in thine house" (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). Fathers are commanded to "bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). The church then reinforces what the home has begun, through preaching and the example of a regenerate membership living what it professes. Neither may abdicate to the other; both must genuinely practice what they claim to believe, or the child is taught hypocrisy rather than Christ.

A second principle follows from the very next account. Education aimed only at outward conformity fails, however admirable it appears. The rich young ruler had kept the commandments from his youth, by his own testimony, yet when Jesus said, "go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor...and come and follow me," he "went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions" (Matthew 19:21-22). He had moral instruction without surrender, commandments without love for the Commander. True Christian education cannot rest content with children who merely behave well while their affections remain chained to a rival treasure; it must expose the idols of the heart and call for whole-hearted discipleship.

Together these principles define the task: bring the child to Christ himself, and contend for his whole heart against every idol that would send him away sorrowful.