For Such a Time as This

Why Christian Education is So Vital for Such a time as this

By Dr. Manuel Salazar Lancaster Baptist School Administrator

We live in a great nation, but the light of our land is growing dim. It is time for a new generation of Christian young people to rise up and fulfill the God-inspired words of Isaiah the prophet. “And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in” Isaiah 58:12. Authentic Christian education plays a vital role in preparing, educating, and equipping young people for this vital task. Let’s examine five areas that will help place this enormous but vital task in perspective.  

A Definition of Christian Education
Colossians 2:6-8 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” 
This Bible verse is fulfilled via authentic Christian education. We can define Christian education as a life-long process, based upon the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit, whereby children/adults are led to a saving knowledge of Christ.They are then instructed, grounded, and built up in Him to serve and share Christ. This would include preaching, Sunday School, discipleship, and a thoroughly Christian education for children and teenagers.

A Diligent Examination of the Scriptures
Children are His special creation, designed with a godly purpose. Psalm 139:14 “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”  Parents are compelled to raise children in a Christian environment; this would include the home, church, and school. Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”  Parents are to provide a Bible-based education for their children.  Dueteronomy 6:7-9 “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.  And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.  And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”

A Direct Look at America’s Foundation
America was forged under God by men and women of great faith. We must return to our foundations. The Bible compels us to remain faithful to our foundations. Proverbs 22:28 “Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.” Here are just a few foundations our founders set:
Our first textbook: The New England Primer—“In Adams fall, we sinned all…Christ crucified, for sinners died”
Our first president: George Washington—“It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”
Our first school master: Noah Webster—“The Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed.”
 Our coinage—“In God We Trust”
Psalm 11:3 “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
The Disturbing Trends of Today 
As we have removed our foundations, the consequences have become increasingly more severe. For example, just look at the top offenses in America’s Public Schools and how they have drastically change in just 40 years.
 Public Schools Trends of 1965
Excessive talking                       
Chewing gum
Running in the hall
Getting out of their lines
Wearing improper clothing
Not placing paper in the trash

Public Schools Trends of 2005
Assault/Robbery/Burglary                          
Gang warfare
Drug and alcohol use/pushing
Teen pregnancies
Rape/Abortions
Suicide/Murder
When we reject the Lord there are real and serious spiritual and social consequences. When we exalt and live for the Lord, there are blessings. Psalms 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord….” 

The Desired Outcome in our Generation
Christian education is vital today because the Lord needs a faithful generation of young people to restore the right paths to dwell in. Thus, our greatest desire is to see young people saved and Spirit-filled, who have a genuine and growing love for God and people. Young people who are respectful and courageous, who love their families. Young people who are honorable and hard-working, who love their country. Young people who desire to be “a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use…” 2 Timothy 2:21