Christian Education

Stephen Williams

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1 Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: 2 That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.

3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

10 And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,

11 And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;

12 Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.

14 Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;

15 (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.

16 Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.

17 Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.

18 And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers.

19 To cast out all thine enemies from before thee, as the LORD hath spoken.

20 And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God hath commanded you?

21 Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand:

22 And the LORD shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes:

23 And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers.

24 And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.

25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.

True Education

If I learn my ABCs, can read 600 words per minute, and can write with perfect penmanship, but have not been shown how to communicate with the Designer of all languages . . . I have not been educated.

If I can deliver an eloquent speech and persuade you with my stunning logic, but have not been instructed in God’s wisdom . . . I have not been educated.

If I have read Shakespeare and John Locke and can discuss their writings with keen insight, but have not read the greatest of all books—the Bible—and have no knowledge of its personal importance . . . I have not been educated.

If I have memorized addition facts, multiplication tables, and chemical formulas, but have never been disciplined to hide God’s Word in my heart . . . I have not been educated.

If I can explain the law of gravity and Einstein’s theory of relativity, but have never been instructed in the unchangeable laws of the One who orders our universe . . . I have not been educated.

If I can classify animals by their family, genus, and species, and can write a lengthy scientific paper that wins an award, but have not been introduced to the Maker’s purpose for all creation . . . I have not been educated.

If I can recite the Gettysburg address and the Preamble to the Constitution, but have not been informed of the hand of God in the history of our country . . . I have not been educated.

If I can play the piano, the violin, six other instruments, and can write music that moves men to tears, but have not been taught to listen to the Director of the universe and worship Him . . . I have not been educated.

If I can run cross-country races, star in basketball, and do 100 push-ups without stopping, but have never been shown how to bend m spirit to do God’s will . . . I have not been educated.

If I can identify a Picasso, describe the style of da Vinci, and even paint a portrait that earns an A+, but have not learned that all harmony and beauty comes from a relationship with God . . . I have not been educated.

If I graduate with a perfect 4.0 and am accepted at the best university with a full scholarship, but have not been guided into a career of God’s choosing for me . . . I have not been educated.

If I become a good citizen, voting at each election and fighting for what is moral and right, but have not been told of the sinfulness of man and his hopelessness without Christ . . . I have not been educated.

However, if one day I see the world as God sees it, and come to know Him, whom to know is life eternal, and glorify God by fulfilling His purpose for me . . . I HAVE BEEN EDUCATED

Seeing the world has God sees it. Getting to Know God. Fulfilling Gods purpose for my life.

“True education ... is the harmonious development of the physical, the mental, and the spiritual powers. It prepares the student for the joy of service in this world and for the joy of wider service in the world to come.” Education, p. 13.

Seventh-day Adventist education is dedicated “to restore in man the image of his Maker, to bring him back to the perfection in which he was created, to promote the development of body, mind, soul, that the divine purpose of His creation might be realized.” Education, p. 15-16.

Chap. 1 - Source and Aim of True Education

Our ideas of education take too narrow and too low a range. There is need of a broader scope, a higher aim. True education means more than the pursual of a certain course of study. It means more than a preparation for the life that now is. It has to do with the whole being, and with the whole period of existence possible to man. It is the harmonious development of the physical, the mental, and the spiritual powers. It prepares the student for the joy of service in this world and for the higher joy of wider service in the world to come. {Ed 13.1}

The source of such an education is brought to view in these words of Holy Writ, pointing to the Infinite One: In Him "are hid all the treasures of wisdom." . "He hath counsel and understanding." . {Ed 13.2}

The world has had its great teachers, men of giant intellect and extensive research, men whose utterances have stimulated thought and opened to view vast fields of knowledge; and these men have been honored as guides and benefactors of their race; but there is One who stands higher than they. We can trace the line of the world's teachers as far back as human records extend; but the 14 Light was before them. As the moon and the stars of our solar system shine by the reflected light of the sun, so, as far as their teaching is true, do the world's great thinkers reflect the rays of the Sun of Righteousness. Every gleam of thought, every flash of the intellect, is from the Light of the world. {Ed 13.3}

In these days much is said concerning the nature and importance of "higher education." The true "higher education" is that imparted by Him with whom "is wisdom and strength" (), out of whose mouth "cometh knowledge and understanding." . {Ed 14.1}

In a knowledge of God all true knowledge and real development have their source. Wherever we turn, in the physical, the mental, or the spiritual realm; in whatever we behold, apart from the blight of sin, this knowledge is revealed. Whatever line of investigation we pursue, with a sincere purpose to arrive at truth, we are brought in touch with the unseen, mighty Intelligence that is working in and through all. The mind of man is brought into communion with the mind of God, the finite with the Infinite. The effect of such communion on body and mind and soul is beyond estimate. {Ed 14.2}

In this communion is found the highest education. It is God's own method of development. "Acquaint now thyself with Him" (), is His message to mankind. The method outlined in these words was the method followed in the education of the father of our race. When in the glory of sinless manhood Adam stood in holy Eden, it was thus that God instructed him. {Ed 14.3}

In order to understand what is comprehended in the work of education, we need to consider both the nature of man and the purpose of God in creating him. We need to consider also the change in man's condition through 15 the coming in of a knowledge of evil, and God's plan for still fulfilling His glorious purpose in the education of the human race. {Ed 14.4}

When Adam came from the Creator's hand, he bore, in his physical, mental, and spiritual nature, a likeness to his Maker. "God created man in His own image" (), and it was His purpose that the longer man lived the more fully he should reveal this image--the more fully reflect the glory of the Creator. All his faculties were capable of development; their capacity and vigor were continually to increase. Vast was the scope offered for their exercise, glorious the field opened to their research. The mysteries of the visible universe--the "wondrous works of Him which is perfect in knowledge" ()--invited man's study. Face-to-face, heart-to-heart communion with his Maker was his high privilege. Had he remained loyal to God, all this would have been his forever. Throughout eternal ages he would have continued to gain new treasures of knowledge, to discover fresh springs of happiness, and to obtain clearer and yet clearer conceptions of the wisdom, the power, and the love of God. More and more fully would he have fulfilled the object of his creation, more and more fully have reflected the Creator's glory. {Ed 15.1}

But by disobedience this was forfeited. Through sin the divine likeness was marred, and well-nigh obliterated. Man's physical powers were weakened, his mental capacity was lessened, his spiritual vision dimmed. He had become subject to death. Yet the race was not left without hope. By infinite love and mercy the plan of salvation had been devised, and a life of probation was granted. To restore in man the image of his Maker, to bring him back 16 to the perfection in which he was created, to promote the development of body, mind, and soul, that the divine purpose in his creation might be realized--this was to be the work of redemption. This is the object of education, the great object of life. {Ed 15.2}

Higher than the highest human thought can reach is God's ideal for His children. Godliness--godlikeness--is the goal to be reached. Before the student there is opened a path of continual progress. He has an object to achieve, a standard to attain, that includes everything good, and pure, and noble. He will advance as fast and as far as possible in every branch of true knowledge. But his efforts will be directed to objects as much higher than 19 mere selfish and temporal interests as the heavens are higher than the earth. {Ed 18.3}

He who co-operates with the divine purpose in imparting to the youth a knowledge of God, and molding the character into harmony with His, does a high and noble work. As he awakens a desire to reach God's ideal, he presents an education that is as high as heaven and as broad as the universe; an education that cannot be completed in this life, but that will be continued in the life to come; an education that secures to the successful student his passport from the preparatory school of earth to the higher grade, the school above. {Ed 19.1}

If you love God, He will be the principle part of your decision making process.

You will want to please Him, You will want to talk to Him, You will want to talk about Him, You will want to spend time with Him. You will want to read His love letters, the Bible. You will want to understand His Word. You will want to listen to music about Him, and music dedicated to Him. You will want others to experience the same love relationship that you have experienced.

This kind of love for God is impossible without God's help. It is the Holy Spirit who will assist us. When the Spirit of God fills us, we will be successful in loving God the way He wants to be loved.

THE ONE WHO LOVES GOD, FEARS GOD - Vs. 2 If I love God with all my heart, soul, and strength, I will reverence Him.

I will respect Him. I will be afraid to displease Him.

If I love Him, He will have the reverence of my praise. If I love Him, He will have the reverence of respectful approach to Him in Jesus' name. If I love Him, He will have the reverence of my speaking well of Him.

Nobody can take the Lord's name in vain and truly claim to love Him. If I love Him, His Word will be respected. If I love Him, I will realize that disobedience hurts Him, and is a show of disrespect. If I love Him, I will realize that I am accountable to Him, that He is my judge, and disobedience breaks his Heart. If I love Him, there is only one sentence necessary from the mouth of my master, "Well done thou good and faithful servant." THE ONE WHO LOVES GOD, OBEYS GOD - Vs. 2 We do not keep commands in order to earn our way into Heaven or to stay saved. We keep his commands because we love Him. Much of the Old Testament Law is no longer necessary for us to keep, such as the sacrifices and keeping of holy days. This is because Christ has fulfilled these things. But Jesus did say, "If you love me keep my commandments." And Jesus did say, "Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you." says, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." THE ONE WHO LOVES GOD REMEMBERS GOD'S WORD - Vs. 6 The words that Moses was giving the Israelites were the Words of God. These were words worth remembering. These were valuable words. We try to remember important things, like dates, instructions, appointments, and valuable sayings. What could be more valuable than remembering the Word of God? Hiding God's Word in your heart is very valuable, not only because God tells us we should, but because of what it will do for you. Hiding God's Word in your heart will: Keep you from sin. Lead you to obey. - Help you to pray. - THE ONE WHO LOVES GOD TEACHES HIS CHILDREN VS. 7 Your goal should be to train you children in the things of God! Your God is the true God. Your children need to know that! They will see God as you live the Christian life before them. They will learn of God, as you talk about the Word of God at the table and at appropriate places in your travels. When God answers a prayer, tell your children.

When God shows you something special in his Word, show them. When God gives you a special blessing, tell them. When God takes care of you during a trial, share it. And be sure to read the Bible together as a family! Also be sure to apply god's word to the problems and successes that your child is experiencing. THE ONE WHO LOVES GOD KEEPS GOD'S WORD IN VIEW Vss. 8-9 God's Word is not something to be forgotten. It is something that should be in our view, and the view of our families. We can literally place it in front of our eyes with plaques. We can literally put it into our hands and read it! We can literally put it before our minds eye through memorization. THE ONE WHO LOVES GOD TAKES PRECAUTIONS TO REMEMBER GOD Vss. 10-12 The Israelites were warned that God's goodness would lead to their complacency. They had to be careful not to get so comfortable in their new land, that they forget the Lord and slip into idolatry. In Verse 12, the Israelites are not to forget Egypt. They were not to forget the bondage. They were not to forget the slavery. They were not to forget that God had delivered them! We are to do the same. Egypt reminds me of the bondage of sin. We are to never forget what God has delivered us out of. We must never forget the slavery that sin causes, and the great victory that Jesus gave us. We must continually remember that it was the grace of God that delivered us.

I shall be your God and they shall be my people.

- And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people

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