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With Christian education there is often much misunderstanding. We each interpret it
according to our own experience and understanding. Christian education, as I see it is:
 | an understanding leading to knowledge of God, so that each of us may become a mature
member of Christ's body. (Col. 1:28) |
| to come to the full understanding of God's secret, Christ, in whom lies hidden all God's
treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col. 2:2) |
To be educated in God's eyes is to have a full understanding of Christ. Education for
children then, is an unfolding of God, His work and His ways.
It follows that if a person understands and has a close relationship with the creator
or inventor of some objects or article, then a more accurate and purposeful knowledge is
gained about his creation or invention, its function and purposes.
How can this be done?
Through a curriculum based upon the character and nature of God. God is our Lord and
King, our Shepherd, deliverer, protector… The curriculum should be based upon His
traits. He is gentle, loving and merciful… These should be presented to children at
their conceptual level. Language arts, science, general studies and creative areas will
largely be based on and drawn from the attribute being studied. This format is often
called 'thematic' or 'centre of interest' approach, and is spiraled so that layer upon
layer of understanding of God and His creation increases.
 | Education should not dwell on Bible stories alone. All curriculum subjects should be
covered. |
| Education should not be based on humanistic 'progressive education' philosophy, which
proclaims man's autonomy in the universe and has no place for God. |
| Education should be based on Biblical precepts which constantly point to the centrality
of God in all subjects and relationships. |
| Children should be instructed by those who have a renewed mind and are called to lead
and watch over the children as they individually develop their innate gifts, ministries
and talents. |
And all your children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of your
children. Isaiah 54:13
Perhaps the most exciting discovery in Christian education recently is that 'God is the
curriculum'. Many people reply to this, "You can't just teach the Bible you
know." But do you see the difference? It is not stated that the Bible is the
curriculum…God is the curriculum.
The reason for this is that the most important knowledge a person can ever have is to
know and experience the true nature of the person of God in one's life. Knowing the Bible
does not necessarily mean that a person knows God in this way. If, in fact, the aims of
the Christian life is to know God, then we come short if we make the Bible the curriculum.
This does not mean that the Bible is rejected, but rather, that it takes its place as
God's greatest tool for making Himself known to mankind.
But God has other tools to reveal His nature to mankind. The whole Creation is His,
formed by the word of His command. As such, it has the imprint of the Creator on it, and
speaks clearly to mankind about the nature of God.
This means that the study of Creation is not an end in itself. Rather, physics,
chemistry, biology and every other area of study is the unfolding of God's wisdom that
clearly speaks of His nature and the centrality of Christ to the whole life. To say that
'God is the curriculum', is a recognition that all knowledge is God's, and rightly used,
it educates us to a greater understanding of God, the goal if a believer's life.
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