Covenantal Approach

Scripture identifies three divine institutions - family, church, and government - and defines their roles in society according to God's plan.  The family (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:24) exists for the purpose of procreation and nurturing of the race.  The church (Matthew 28:18-20) exists to propagate the Good News by making disciples.  Finally, government (Romans 13) provides for protection.  Since the responsibility for education of children has been primarily assigned to the family (Deuteronomy 6:2, 2 Timothy 1), and secondarily to the church (2Timothy 3:16), the Christian school rightly derives its authority to educate from a willing partnership with families and the church.

Often confusion exists among these institutions and roles as we mix our individual responsibility to share the Gospel and the appropriate focus for the Christian school.  "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline" (Proverbs 1:7).  We know that for the believer all is sacred, thus education apart from God and the Holy Scriptures is a meaningless exercise.  If the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, then it follows that a Christian school should begin there as well.

Since the Christian school derives its authority as a result of a partnership with parents and the church (Ecclesiastes 4:12), forming a three strand chord, parents and school must have the same point of departure.  Thus the focus should be primarily upon the parents and family environment, with the commitment of the child becoming important in the upper grades.  For younger children the Christian school, through individual teachers, will have a role in the salvation experience and through its instruction assist in the development of a biblical worldview (a.k.a. sanctification).  For older children who have come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, the strengthening of a biblical worldview and exercising of spiritual gifts serves as standard fare.

I believe that at the heart of the divine institutions lies focus.  God uniquely equips each of us (spiritual gifts, experiences, and sovereign timing) for Kingdom work.  The Christian school that attempts to evangelize and to develop biblically thinking students simultaneously, struggles with two divergent tasks.  In essence, it wrestles to teach God fearers and fools.  This, according to the Scriptures, is a difficult if not impossible prospect, as no common foundation exists.

This does not mean, however, that the Christian school ignores the command to "give and answer for the hope that you have. . ." and to "preach in season and out of season."  Rather, these avenues should be explored outside of the instructional programs and opportunities provided of students through mission projects, community service, personal responsibility, and institutional witness in our community.  Evangelism is not the primary function of the Christian school and the admissions policies, hiring practices, and curriculum should align with the appropriate focus of the school.