“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
Christian education is a great avenue in following the instructions of this very familiar verse of Scripture. I am blessed to be product of such education and I will say that I am very grateful.
I was reading an article in
The New York Times about parents making decisions about their children’s education. The hot topic of course in the article was private schools and if it was worth sacrificing to keep their kids in such a place. There was one section of the article that was very troubling to me. Now, I don’t know if this particular part was about a Christian education or just a private one, but nevertheless it was saddening to me.
The section was about a psychologist and her husband who were dealing with the reality of having to sacrifice for their six-grade daughter. The mother had basically decided that it was best for the family and her own personal sanity not to send her daughter there because worrying about money would be too much to handle.
But one day, this lady encountered another lady who believed in the importance of such an education. After talking to this lady, the psychologist had decided to continue the enrollment process.
Here is where for me the troubling aspect came to a head: The mother wrote that the family had decide to “commit financial suicide.”
Financial Suicide!? Is that what many parents are doing when they decide that little Johnny is going to get that private education or Christian education? Is that how we ought to view it?
I have a passion for Christian parents to send their children to a Christian school. Centre County Christian Academy says this in their mission statement:
“Centre County Christian Academy’s mission is to provide support to the Christian home, encouragement to the church, and a young person that is sensitive in their spirit, submissive to authority, competent in their studies, and moral in their conduct. “
The Christian school is to come long side the Christian Home to help and support. The Christian school is to come long side the Christian child to educate and equip them for the real world. Never should the school become the substitute for the Christian instruction at home though. The child needs to see a godly example at home and caring parents that are investing in them.
There is a word of warning though. Just because your child goes to a Christian school does not mean that they will turn out the way that you may want them to. In my experience some have fallen to the wayside while others have moved forward in ministry for the Lord. I hope and pray that those that are on the wayside will return unto the Lord and know the joys of serving Him.
My parents did not commit financial suicide. They instead, sacrificed and invested in my future and ministry. I am very grateful that they did.
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Centre County Christian Academy (This is the school who’s mission statement was mention in this blog)
Seneca Trail Christian Academy (This is the school that I graduated from in ‘02)
