“Education should make us live life with zest, with gusto, with exuberance.” It was seen that education, which is basically Christian, should make one “live life with zest, gusto, exuberance,” because the Lord Jesus is its center, He is life!
We believe in Christian education, not because we have a part in it. To the contrary, we have “part” in Christian education, because we believe in it.
Christian education holds for ideals, which will genuinely enrich young people’s lives. Of course, ideals are not always realized in every respect and every young person who has been afforded the opportunity to attend a Christian school, “ideals are like stars, we may never reach them, but like mariners on the sea, we chart our course by them.”
Some ideals of Christian education, which the writer feels should be realized, and are evident today are as follows:
- God is present in such a way thatHe is acknowledged as the Sovereign Redeemer. There is no room for the theory, God is dead.
- God’s Word is respected as the authority, which controls the universe.
- The Lord Jesus is held up before teachable hearts, in order o transform and direct young lives.
- Ideals for living become Christian-centered, rather than self-centered.
Attitudes become positive rather than negative. Young people realize that ifGod is for them, no one can possibly be against them. Successful lives are lived, because of the power of God, which entered, tender hearts of young people, while experiencing a proper training, under conditions that would prompt successful careers and lives, Christian education.
The results are far reaching. A young person who becomes a “product” of Christian education, demonstrates daily, the training he has received. When Christ becomes the center of their education, His life energizes young people. Their lives, in return, will influence and change others.
In summary, the ideals of Christian education are realized in providing a wholesome education, an education which is religious, academic, social, physical, and vocational.
—Dale Offutt, in the “Christian Beacon,” Volume 2, Jan., Feb., Mar..1965 Number 1