Philosophy of Education

• God is creator and sustainer of ALL things. He is the source of ALL true knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 1:7; Romans 1:18-23). Jesus, God's only Son, is the fountainhead of all knowledge and truth ( Colossians 2:3). This world was created by Him and for Him.(John 1:1-4) All truth is God's truth and therefore He cannot be excluded from any area of life and learning. Jesus Christ is Lord over ALL His creation including all areas of academic discipline such as literature, math, science and history (to name a few). According to the Scriptures, God created man in His own image(Imago Deo) and the human race is represented in the first man Adam.(Gen. 1:26-27). Mankind, mirroring a key attribute of God, was created as a spiritual being with an eternal soul. It rightly follows then that all aspects of life, including education, are religious in nature. Putting it another way, there is no aspect of life that can be considered religiously neutral ground. It can also be said that all education is influenced one way or another by a particular religious world view. The question is not “if” there is a religious world view persuasion present, but rather, “which one?” Thus the whole range and content of Christian education serves to exalt and uphold the truths found in God's Word and in his world. Christian education seeks to develop within the student a personal relationship with God through a proper understanding of truth, whether generally revealed in nature or specially revealed in the Scriptures. The end result should be that students establish for themselves a thoroughly Biblical world view that impacts every area of their daily lives, as well as the culture they live in.
• Man's chief purpose is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever (Psalm 73:25-28; I Corinthians 10:31) God has bestowed upon man the mandate to take dominion over the earth that He created (Genesis 1:28). God has given us the ability to explore and investigate the universe that He created and discover truths about it. Christian education strives to equip and diligently develop God given capacities within the student so that they might be able to discern truth from error and positively impact the world for Christ.
• Parents are instructed to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Genesis 18:19; Deuteronomy 6: 4-7; Ephesians 6:4). A child's education is part of this instruction to nurture and admonish, a responsibility that biblically rests primarily with the parents. However, it is proper that parents should partner with those individuals who are gifted and called to teach. True Christian education functions as a delegation of authority from parents to the educators and it should never be an abdication of authority. The Christian educator does not so much function “in place of the parent”(in loco parentis), but rather in covenant with them. To the extent that we encourage and support families in this endeavor, we will succeed.
• Christian teachers are role models. There is more to education than merely learning of facts and figures. Mankind was created with the capacity and responsibility to learn and understand the difference between what is right and what is wrong, and to make wise choices accordingly. Therefore learning never occurs in a moral vacuum. The teacher is an important part of the educational process as they role model the Christian walk before the students. Teachers hold students to biblical standards of conduct and behavior which expect the student to imitate the teacher as the teacher imitates Christ. In this manner students don't just learn from teachers, but rather, they become like their teachers (Luke 6:40) This requires that a teacher be an imitator of Christ, holding to a high standard of conduct and personal commitment to walk faithfully and obediently in all areas of life in accordance with the Word of God. Education by itself has no value or ability to permanently and effectively transform individuals or societies. True education is that which is accompanied by the regenerative power of the Holy Spirit of God. It is only through the redemptive act of God's Spirit that a mind can comprehend and allow truth to radically improve all aspects of life and culture for the Glory of God. To this end we exist and are commited to serve.