Patrick Briney, Ph.D.
I carry a strong conviction to this fact that God’s ways are indeed superior to any that man has devised, so much so that I have volunteered as a science teacher in the Fayetteville Christian School for the past fourteen years. I teach ninth, tenth, and eleventh grade physical science, biology, and chemistry. The humanistic schools in our area are not an option for my children or for anyone wanting a Christian centered academics. Further, I would not want to subject my children to the values abuse that takes place in humanistic schools rampant with peer pressure and ridicule to engage in drugs, sexual experimentation, and hazing. Raising children is a responsibility to raise a godly seed for the Lord Jesus Christ. Humanistic schools do not do that. Rather, they sanction pro-homosexual teachers and education, rebellion, radical environmentalism, communism, and anti-Bible doctrines such as evolution, pantheism and witchcraft.
My personal journal through education involved 20 years from kindergarten through graduate school. I earned my Ph.D. in microbiology specializing in immunology and infectious diseases. I am a trained humanist, indoctrinated into the liberal and atheistic philosophies. I swallowed everything that was thrown my way until I was invited to hear a creationist speak at the University I attended. I heard things for the first time that challenged my beliefs. I heard things that exposed flaw in the things I had been taught. I heard things that raised questions in my mind and doubt toward the system of education that had taught me all my life. Two years later, I converted from humanism and evolution and became a Christian. I experienced the conviction of God’s Spirit in my heart revealing to me the truth of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, the truth of my sin and guilt before God, and the truth of God’s grace and promise to save whosoever believeth on Him. I have not only seen God’s superior way in education, I have lived it and experienced it. God’s way is the best way and no man has ever improved upon it nor ever will!
Education is at the heart of God’s method of reaching the world with the Gospel message. It is through education that humanity is brought to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. It is through education that humanity is brought to truth. It is through education that humanity is delivered from its miseries and sufferings. Specifically, it is education in God’s Word that accomplishes these things.
In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus admonishes us to go, teach, baptize, and teach ….” Jesus set the example for us to teach with passages recording his many times of teaching.
In Mark 6:34 tell us that Jesus “was moved with compassion toward” the people, “because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.”
Mark 8:31 says of Jesus as the time of His death drew near that, “he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
In 1 Timothy 4:11 Paul commands, “These things command and teach.”
In 2 Timothy 2:2 Paul commands, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
In 2 Timothy 2:24 Paul commands, “ And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
In Titus 2:4 Paul includes commands women also to teach saying they should, “teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
Hebrews 5:12 rebukes those who do engage in teaching saying, “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.”
In Luke 11:1 the disciples came to Jesus while he was praying and “said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” We too should be going to Jesus with the earnest prayer, Lord teach us!
Sound education begins with Christ! He said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” There is no sound education apart from Christ. There is no truth in education apart from Christ. I know that would make most cringe with objection that atheists and non-Christians have provided a wealth of discoveries about our world from geology to medicine. But it is all in vain if it does not bring us to Christ! “What does it profit a man if should gain the whole world and yet lose his own soul?” Education must begin with Christ, continue in Christ, and end in Christ or it is all for nought.
The admonition of God from His word is to teach. An admonition that is compelling and demanding. An admonition of urgency and great need. An admonition that is clearly without compromise because the eternal destiny of souls is at stake.
The resounding thought behind teaching as portrayed in the Bible is that teaching is done by the power of God and with the wisdom of God.
Teaching without the wisdom of God is foolishness. (Romans 1:21-23).
God’s methods of teaching are many. He uses drama, words, visual aids, and memorials. We see that nothing escapes God for opportunity to teach. The Gospels record Jesus teaching most often impromptu and spontaneously rather than formally. Every incident, every need, and every conversation was opportunity for instruction. Jesus was more than a classroom teacher. He was a mentor, a tutor, a master discipler. He was an education center on two feet. He was a living, breathing chalk board. He walked His talk, and talked His walk. In contrast to the Hypocrites such as the Pharisees who loved the seclusion of their classrooms and pulpits waiting for people to come to them, Jesus took the classroom to the people. Please do not misunderstand. I am not saying that classroom or more obviously pulpit teaching is hypocritical. I am saying that Jesus lived what He taught and communicated the message to people not in word only but in deed as well. He brought the message to the people and showed them what He meant. Those who followed Him were more than students, they were disciples. They incorporated the teaching of Christ into their lives. They conformed themselves to His teaching. They applied what He taught.
Jesus’ teaching was a way of living, thinking, and talking. It so permeated His life, that everything was spontaneous. He was instant in season and out of season because He was a walking, living, breathing instruction manual! This is education at its best! We call it discipleship. The Apostle Paul was a disciple of Jesus. He taught the same way Jesus did. In 1Cor 11:1 he exhorts, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” In Second Timothy 2:2, He says, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
The result is superior education. Every child in a Christian home should have a personal tutor, a discipler, a mentor who will lead him in the superior ways of God’s truths. And not only so, every member in a true new testament church should be receiving personal tutorship in the superior ways of God: learning how to think, how to act, and who to live. Superior education requires a superior method, God’s method of educating souls. This is discipleship.
The Word of God contains instruction for every area of human life and experience: from relationships to finances, from politics to morality, from physical health to spirituality, from creation to parenting. It is imperative that we as men of God walk in the footsteps of our Lord. Those of us entrusted to carry the Word of God to the world, to teach and instruct them in the ways of God, must carry instruction in our hearts and minds, always ready to teach with the same spontaneity that our Savior did. We must carry it in our demeanor, in our conversation, in our behavior, in our lifestyle. He called us to follow Him. He calls us to be disciples and disciplers: to live the Word of God, to speak the Word of God, to breathe the Word of God, to demonstrate the Word of God, to represent the Word of God. He calls us to train others to do likewise. Pastors need to train fathers and mothers how to make disciples of their children.
I realize the incredible sense of inadequacy that floods the human heart at such a daunting task. I know that you, if you are like me, feel overwhelmed and insufficient. But how much more through our inadequacy we prove the Word of God! “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Do you believe that? Do you cling to that claim without doubt in your heart, knowing that if there is doubt, it is without faith which is sin (Romans 14:23).
It is no wonder that Peter and the Apostles said in Acts 5, we must devote ourselves to study and prayer. I propose that our feelings of inadequacy are not just the result of feeling unworthy and unable, but due mostly because we are inadequate in our study and application of God’s Word and in our prayer!
If we are going to prove that God’s plan for education is superior (good, acceptable, and perfect), then we must be willing to apply it in our own lives. Superior education requires your personal participation.
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