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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
February 1926
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C o n t r i b u t e d A r t i c l e s
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Our New Course in Christian Education j Miss Florence M f. Chaffee In Charge of Department of Christian Education, Bible Institute of Los Angeles
work done by him and the disciples he suggested something of Its teaching nature when he said: “ teaching every man In all wisdom that we may pre sent every man perfect in Christ.” Here again we have the idea of teach ing to the end of producing the right type of men and women. This is one of the most vital sub jects before God’s people today. It demands consideration on their part. We aré trying to meet the issue at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, In a way that will be true to the Bible ideal and also to the practical issues as they are raised in the Church life of our day. With this in view we have asked Miss Florence M. ChafTee, who is now in charge of the Department of Chris tian Education, to explain in the fol lowing article our aims in what we are doing along this line. She is a thorough educationalist and at the same time wholly devoted to the Bible as the Word of God, and has a deep appreciation of the fact that the only education that can meet the funda mental needs of human life must be, in the last analysis, Christian. She also fully appreciates that no educa tion can save a man excepting as It leads him to Jesus Christ and the ac ceptance of Him as Lord jand Saviour. We are glad to commend this brief explanation of Christian Education to our friends of The King’s Business. — John M. Maclnnis.
INTRODUCTORY NOTE BY DR. JOHN M. MACINNIS
OD has put the responsibility of Christian Education upon His people in a very definite and emphatic way. In the
Old Testament He commanded the people to teach, keep and do His law that they might possess the land given them and have a definite testimony in the presence of the nations. In this line, God’s word by Moses in Deutr eronomy 4 is both instructive and challenging: “And now O Israel hearken unto the statutes and unto the ordinances, which I teach you, to do them; that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which Jehovah, the God of your fathers, giveth you........... Keep there fore and do them; for this is your wis dom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, that shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation Is a wise and understand ing people. 1 . . . Only take -heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes saw, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life; but make them known unto thy children and thy children’s children.” The educational principles involved in this statement are up to the minute in scientific pedagogy. Take heed to the life and teach for the purpose of preparing the people to make right choices and live right lives that they may fulfill the purpose of their life in an efficient service.
Ml*« Florence 1 M. Chaffee
When we come to the New Testa ment we have the same recognition of the fundamental place of Christian Education. The Great Commission of the Church as given by Jesus Christ is a teaching commission as well as an evangelizing commission. He says: “ teaching them 'to observe all things whatsoever I command yon.” Paul understood the significance of this commission and in speaking of the
chumenal Schools. The great Reformers recognized it to such a degree that Martin Luther declared the work of the teacher to be at least as important as that of the preacher, and this same attitude has characterized most of the out standing Christian leaders, not only of that day but ever since. Horace Bushnell’s great book on Christian Nurture is in recognition of the importance of this work. Most of all, Jesus Himself, in His own work and commands, placed the supreme emphasis on the necessity of teaching. So while the teaching work of the Church has been sadly neglected and relegated to a subordinate place, it is not a new obligation which we are now facing, but we are coming into a new recognition of its Importance. There Is one sense, however, in which the teaching work of the Church is more important today that it has been In
IN common with other schools that are training leaders for Christian work, the Bible Institute of Los Angeles has felt the need of a more thor ough and adequate course in Religious Education, or, as it is more specifically and correctly termed, Chris tian Education. There seems to be some vagueness in the minds of most people as to the content and purpose of this course, and manjr are looking upon It as something New under the sun,” which they don’t just understand. Of course there is nothing new in the idea of educating young people In matters of religion. The Hebrews, instructed by God’s direct command to Moses, understood the need thoroughly, and it was faithfully cared for, first In the home and later also in the synagogue schools. The early Church understood the need and so established their Cate-
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