Philosophy of Education
Evangel Christian School affirms that God has given parents, ideally through the leadership of the father, the mandate to “nurture (their children) in the chastening and admonition of the Lord.” (Eph. 6:1-9). Nurture as defined by Merriam-Webster means training or upbringing. The word nurture comes from the Greek word, paideiva, which means “the whole training and education of children (which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose now commands and admonitions, now reproof and punishment). It also includes the training and care of the body.” The word is also translated instruction (2 Tim. 3:16), which Merriam-Webster defines as “the action, practice, or profession of teaching.”
We conclude that this mandate to educate our children is a primary application of the first and great commandment.
"Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the rules that the LORD your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, that you may fear the LORD your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deut. 6:1-9; Matt. 22: 37-38)
This teaching is to be undertaken constantly and consistently, in every time and place, covering all the spheres of human thought, activity, and living. Moreover, as we have established, God has assigned this responsibility directly to parents, rather than any other institution of society. The Christian school is therefore but an extension of the parents in the fulfillment of their great task.
Evangel Christian School also affirms that God created Man in His own image and for His own glory alone. God has given Man the mandate to subdue the world in which God placed him (Gen. 1: 26-28). However, Man now lives under the curse justly incurred because of Adam’s sin (Gen. 3: 17-19). This curse is experienced not only spiritually (Eph. 2: 1-4) but also intellectually (Rom. 8: 6; Rom. 1:22; 1 Cor. 2: 14; Eph. 4: 17-18). Since this curse has affected the whole man, the task of pursuing proper knowledge of God and His world is now a task subject to tremendous difficulties and distortions. These difficulties and distortions can only be overcome through spiritual regeneration, accomplished solely and completely through Christ’s atoning death on the cross. The redemption that Christ has secured for us, saves us, not only spiritually, from the wrath to come, but also from intellectual futility and foolish reasoning in our methods of learning about the world in which we presently live. Unless complete subjection to Christ comes as the precursor to all teaching, the parents’ efforts are ultimately in vain. In order to accomplish the pursuit of God-centered knowledge, parents must remain subject to Christ’s guidance and direction in their lives.
Evangel Christian School further affirms that it is the Word of God as revealed in Scripture that instructs His people in the truth (John 17: 17). Thus, moral neutrality in education is impossible (Matt. 12: 30, Jas. 4: 4). Accordingly, the aim of Christian parents must be to encourage their children to "bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." (2 Cor. 10: 5), "in whom are deposited all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. 2: 3). In order for God’s people to affect the transformation of the culture, they must find themselves completely submitted to the Word of God as given in Scripture and as enlightened by the Holy Spirit. (Ps. 36: 9; Ps. 119: 105, 130)
Evangel Christian School affirms, therefore, that genuine knowledge of any subject whatsoever begins with reverence and submission to God (Prov. 1: 7), avoiding all adherences to the philosophies of the fallen world or human traditions (Col. 2: 8; 1 Tim. 6: 20). It is a parental duty to train and educate their children, regardless of the subject matter, in the nurture of the Lord and in the light of His natural and divine revelation, Creation and Scripture.
We conclude that this mandate to educate our children is a primary application of the first and great commandment.
"Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the rules that the LORD your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, that you may fear the LORD your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deut. 6:1-9; Matt. 22: 37-38)
This teaching is to be undertaken constantly and consistently, in every time and place, covering all the spheres of human thought, activity, and living. Moreover, as we have established, God has assigned this responsibility directly to parents, rather than any other institution of society. The Christian school is therefore but an extension of the parents in the fulfillment of their great task.
Evangel Christian School also affirms that God created Man in His own image and for His own glory alone. God has given Man the mandate to subdue the world in which God placed him (Gen. 1: 26-28). However, Man now lives under the curse justly incurred because of Adam’s sin (Gen. 3: 17-19). This curse is experienced not only spiritually (Eph. 2: 1-4) but also intellectually (Rom. 8: 6; Rom. 1:22; 1 Cor. 2: 14; Eph. 4: 17-18). Since this curse has affected the whole man, the task of pursuing proper knowledge of God and His world is now a task subject to tremendous difficulties and distortions. These difficulties and distortions can only be overcome through spiritual regeneration, accomplished solely and completely through Christ’s atoning death on the cross. The redemption that Christ has secured for us, saves us, not only spiritually, from the wrath to come, but also from intellectual futility and foolish reasoning in our methods of learning about the world in which we presently live. Unless complete subjection to Christ comes as the precursor to all teaching, the parents’ efforts are ultimately in vain. In order to accomplish the pursuit of God-centered knowledge, parents must remain subject to Christ’s guidance and direction in their lives.
Evangel Christian School further affirms that it is the Word of God as revealed in Scripture that instructs His people in the truth (John 17: 17). Thus, moral neutrality in education is impossible (Matt. 12: 30, Jas. 4: 4). Accordingly, the aim of Christian parents must be to encourage their children to "bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." (2 Cor. 10: 5), "in whom are deposited all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. 2: 3). In order for God’s people to affect the transformation of the culture, they must find themselves completely submitted to the Word of God as given in Scripture and as enlightened by the Holy Spirit. (Ps. 36: 9; Ps. 119: 105, 130)
Evangel Christian School affirms, therefore, that genuine knowledge of any subject whatsoever begins with reverence and submission to God (Prov. 1: 7), avoiding all adherences to the philosophies of the fallen world or human traditions (Col. 2: 8; 1 Tim. 6: 20). It is a parental duty to train and educate their children, regardless of the subject matter, in the nurture of the Lord and in the light of His natural and divine revelation, Creation and Scripture.