Parents give various reasons for placing their children in Christian schools instead of tax-supported public schools. Some make the decision to lay a better academic foundation or escape a dangerous environment, while others base their choice on a desire to protect their children from secularizing influences, anti-biblical indoctrination, and ungodly social pressure. Although these reasons are all justified, what does the Bible command about Christian schools?
Other than a few allusions in Galatians 3-4, the New Testament does not say a lot about schools for children. In the Roman Empire, parents were almost entirely responsible for the formal education of their children. Those few who could afford it sent their children to be tutored by teachers they approved; however, most children learned simply by living with and working alongside their parents.
The Bible makes it clear that in God's view, every parent is an educator. "Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). In the Old Testament, God commanded Jewish fathers to educate their children in God's Law. "And thou shalt teach 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" (Deuteronomy 6:7). The Bible also provides great examples of mothers who were teachers, including Hannah and the mother of Lemuel in the Old Testament and Lois and Eunice in the New Testament.
Furthermore, God makes it clear that parents should protect their children from false teachings. "Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge" (Proverbs 19:27). In addition, Proverbs 13:20 says, "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed" (Proverbs 13:20), and 1 Timothy 6:20 says students should avoid "profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called" (1 Timothy 6:20b).
Although the Bible does not mandate Christian schools, there is a clear, biblical call for Christian education. However, when it comes to academics, many of today's working parents are not able to take full responsibility for their children's education. Although Christian schools exist to meet this need, a local Christian school is not always an option. As an accredited online Christian school, Ignite Christian Academy® is available wherever an Internet connection exists. Our qualified teachers and staff are delighted to work with all our students. At ICA, we assure parents that we will assist their children to join in "the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done" (Psalm 78:4).
David Bauman
Principal, Ignite Christian Academy