2 Peter 1:3-8: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him, who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
Everywhere that Christianity has flowed, education has also followed. Missionaries understand that people need to be able to read the Bible for themselves, and as such, an education is essential. There are many instances around the world and in the history of the church that show that many, many schools were opened by Christians. In Little House on the Prairie, the local school is hosted right in the church building. Many do not know that Harvard, Princeton, and Yale were founded as seminaries. Here in Canada, the home-schooling roles doubled during COVID, and the vast majority seem to remain. Some people saw for the first time what their kids were learning (or not learning) at school.
When I began school in Barbados a long time ago, we were reminded that freedom and education go hand in hand. As Christians, we understand that there is a need for people to be able to read the Bible for themselves. Men like Tyndale died making sure that the Bible was available to be read by all who wanted to read it.
Peter, in our text above, tells us that the Scripture can equip us to ‘participate in the divine nature.’ The Scripture is filled with precious promises, promises that get us through the tough times of life and equip us to help others. Paul tells us in Colossians, “Let the word of God dwell richly in you.” This is done by reading over and over the word of God. Sadly, in our schools, public schools, the standards of reading continue to go down more and more. Many teens and young people cannot read much, and even if they can pronounce the words, they do not understand them. Many cannot write a paragraph or a story, for that matter.
I recall, as a young man in Barbados, hearing how some of the US missionaries were astonished that the older Barbadians could read when they came to begin missions in the 50s and 60s. They remarked that many of that age in the US could not read. Freedom and education go hand in hand. No one who is involved in a church should want to have uneducated people. We should equip and encourage people to learn how to read and then to encourage it as often as possible.
In addition to reading, there should be history and mathematics, geography, and the like. These are all important. The Bible is full of all of this. The Bible gives us specific locations where things happened and will happen; it tells us about science, and it tells us about people who lived in history. The books of Luke and Acts are filled with historical facts that we can use to verify information and gain confidence in the Scriptures. However, one cannot do this if one cannot read and do research.
Ignorance is the tool of the Devil. He does not want people to read, verify, and be re-assured of the Scripture by reading it for themselves. Parents, we should not tolerate the dumbing down of our education system, especially since, in the past few years, the focus has been on the indoctrination of our kids to everything that God hates. It may be time to take our kids out of public schools and put them in home-schooling or Christian schools.
I recently heard of a father who found out that his son was being transitioned into a girl at school. The school had dresses at school that he could change into when he got there, and this was done all behind Dad’s back. This is going on all around us, and the Devil is stealing our kids. This is not an isolated incident. Public school is a spiritual death trap for Christian kids. Even if they are not trying to indoctrinate them, and honestly, not all are. There is a lack of serious education that stunts out kids and ill-equips them to become sound and productive citizens. Many cannot read what rights they have either here or in the world to come. Reading will set your kids apart, and it will equip them to succeed. God wrote the Bible for the purpose that we should read it and have access to its power.
Children who go to Christian schools do not suffer from diminished social skills; they do just fine. I know; all of my kids are in or went to Christian schools. I know of countless families who have done the same with all of their kids, and they do not lack. What they do lack is ignorance. They lack stupidity. My 12-year-old is memorizing scripture and asking me about the Ottoman Empire, asking me about history and the like. I have 16-year-old twin nephews who are obedient, hardworking, can be trusted, and do not need to be babysat all the time. They have been taught that their parents are to be honoured, not shunned and lied to. They interact with adults and understand manners. These are still important.
Christians should always strive for a good, godly education. While I did not attend a Christian school in Barbados, we began each day with Scripture reading and prayers before any classes. If any of my teachers doubted God, it never came up in class, and no one ever encouraged me to defy my parents.
If your local church has the capacity to do so, maybe you should consider starting a school. It will make disciplining your kids a bit easier. And, yes, I know the argument that when we take our kids out of public school, we lose the witness. I can appreciate that observation. Then, maybe make sure that you set the foundation and have them in Christian schools until they are in grade 10 or 11, and then let them attend. Even then, be very careful; the Devil will come hard for our kids. But equip them to stand before you unleash them in the battle.
God wants us to read the Bible. He wants us to know it and to have it in us so that the Holy Spirit can recall it to us. One must know how to read and how to study the Bible. Churches should promote good education; we should want people to be able to read for themselves. Maybe begin an ESL ministry at your church and use the Bible or other Christian books to learn how to read. We should be looking for ways to get the Gospel out, and this may be one way. Teach people how to read, and get your youth involved; they have to read to be able to teach.
Psalm 19:7-11 “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”
God bless you,
Dr. Sean Gooding
Pastor of Mississauga Missionary Baptist Church
Pastor of Bethany Baptist Church
How to Connect with Us
Online: https://mmbchurch.ca/
Email: seangooding@mmbchurch.ca
Join us on Zoom every Sunday (10:30 am) for Sunday Service AND every Tuesday at 8:00 pm for Bible Study: Meeting ID: 700 794 460 Passcode: 032661; https://us02web.zoom.us/j/700794460?pwd=M3NFRG91ZW5Sa2Z3amVyWkFnYXd6QT09