A disciple of Jesus Christ, A Husband, A Father, Chairman of Veritas Learning Center, A new Classical and Christian School in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Apr 22, 2016

A Question for Christian Parents

Why do you send your children to school? What is your purpose? What is your intention? I want to you to think seriously about this question because it will affect the outcome of your children’s education.

My intention is not to tell you what to do; it is rather to help you think through the issues and consider what is best for you and your family and more importantly, what does God’s living, and eternal word have to say about educating your child.

God speaks to us in his word on this from Deuteronomy 4:6–7 6 Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ 7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?

So God tells us to Love Him with all we have got and to teach His commandments to our children. The instruction is foundational and puts the responsibility for educating our children about God and his commandments clearly into the parents realm.

God also speaks to us from Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

The English word discipline is the Greek word παιδεία (paideia). The word paideia is a very loaded word, as the word politics in our day. It is a significant concept in the Greco/Roman world. It means the entire enculturation of the child. Maybe you could say it like this: Fathers, stop annoying your kids needlessly and give them the God Worldview that affects their whole life so they will love Me (The Lord) with all their heart and mind and strength as demonstrated in every part of their life.

So God calls parents, fathers, in particular, to take responsibility to Paideia their kids. The Church is to assist in this task as the whole family is in the community of disciples. The Christian school is to affirm this and give it structure and depth.

Therefore, I send my children to school to assist me and work with me to Paideia my kids, so that they will love the Lord their God with all their hearts and with all their soul and with all their mind. (Matthew 22:37) and shall love their neighbors as themselves. (Matthew 22:39)