The Case for Classical Christian Education, Douglas Wilson, p. 175.
"But it is impossible to make a good omelet with rotten eggs. If staff members of a Christian school are not walking in fellowship with God, then they cannot be in fellowship with one another. If we walk in the light, John says, we have fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7). If the people working in the school are under the chastening hand of God, then it does not matter how many education conferences they go to. It does not matter how intelligent they are. It does not matter how many books they read. It does not matter that they adopted a classical Christian curriculum. The whole thing stinks. The enterprise is comparable to insisting on rotten eggs as ingredients and then determining to make the omelet good by improving the kitchen, firing the cook, or changing the recipe. Refusal to deal with sin is folly, pure and simple."
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteDW wrote this with primary direction toward day school. However, the principle applies directly within all educational endeavors. Home educating our children is a wonderful "in my face" way to display the character of godliness I strive to establish within my home. When Mom is calling me at work to detail the struggles with sin in the children in school, I can nearly always find an immediate link to my own sinful example. Furthermore, as the sins of the fathers have consequences for the children, having my children at home enables immediate feedback! In a former day schooling situation the feedback always came, thanks to the godliness of the administration and teachers. However, the time delay seemed to communicate to my children the false concept that, "God doesn't really see your sin right away...you can get away with it for a while." While they would never have admitted thinking such a rotten thought, the actions betrayed the actuality.
ReplyDeleteAll this said, it is still by faith, by faith, by faith. And, that faith, as DW so excellently alludes, is not to be in techniques, materials, concepts, training, expertise, etc., but rather in Christ. While seeking excellence in our craft is clearly God's command, that craft is truly a rotten egg if it is not grounded in the truth of God's holy Word.
Finally, this post is not a de facto promotion of home education over Christian day school. Each has its benefits and detractors. In either case, faithfulness on the part of parents is critical whether that is providing the propensity of faithful instruction/oversight throughout the day or faithfully delegating/observing the instruction/oversight provided by other Christians.
Press On!
This really applies to all worthy endeavors, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteIf the Christians trying to do the work aren't right with God (and with each other) no matter what they are trying to do will end up rotten.
It is a good reminder!