The Spartan Blog

At the start of the 2022-2023 school year, I stepped into a new job at a Christian School. Specifically, I became the Chaplain at Calvary Christian School in Bellefontaine, Ohio.

My job has not been limited to my duties as a chaplain. At the time of writing this, I’ve had the privilege to substitute teach at every grade level. While subbing is not always easy (my apologies to any students who have asked me math questions!), it has given me valuable insight into the world of Christian education. In light of that, I want to share why I think Christian education is a wonderful thing.

I can’t summarize the value of Christian education any better than a wise man at my church. He says, “We wanted to send our kids somewhere that would reinforce what they were learning at home and at church, not contradict it.”

Let’s hone in on those two emphasized words: reinforce and contradict.

Google searching the definition for “reinforce” provides the following definition:

strengthen or support (an object or substance), especially with additional material

And for “contradict”:

deny the truth (a statement) by asserting the opposite

Broadly speaking, a Christian school is going to strengthen and support your student with additional material. The “additional material” provided by a good Christian school is going to be biblically and theologically sound.

A public school, by contrast, has no obligation to teach biblical truth. Thus, a public school will have no issue with denying the truths of Scripture and asserting other teachings in its place. To be clear, I am not against public schools. I think there are wonderful public schools with wonderful Christian educators, and I am thankful for them. I am merely bringing up a fact of the matter at hand. Public schools cannot teach your student that God created the universe; a Christian school can. Public schools will teach your students history from a secular perspective; a Christian school can teach your student history from a biblical perspective—the list goes on.

In America, the chasm between Christianity and secularism is growing more apparent. Secular philosophies that oppose the truth of Scripture are becoming more prevalent in public schools. While Christians are not called to seclude themselves from the world, Christian parents do have an obligation to train up their children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6). While discipleship in the local church and in the home are the primary means for accomplishing this, Christian education can be an tremendous serve as a tremendous aid.

Most kids spend a great deal of time in school (6–7 hours a day on average; from K4–12th grade, that amounts to nearly 17,000 hours). It is worth considering how their education is shaping them. I’m thankful for Christian schools that not only help educate young minds but also aim to help students be transformed by the renewing of their minds (Romans 12:2). I’m thankful for Christian schools that come alongside families and reinforce the students’ biblical foundation that is being instilled in them at home.

If you’re a Christian parent and you’re looking for this kind of reinforcement, then perhaps Christian education is the right move for you.

Best,

Pastor Joey

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2