operate at top efficiency it still be comes a most difficult task to coun teract a worldly and secular philos ophy of life to which the average boy and girl is* subjected five days a week. One hundred years ago state education was f r i e n d l y toward Christian truth. Elementary school children were taught to reverence the Bible, believe in God and honor the religious life of piety and morality. Read McGuffey’s readers on which our grandfathers were reared and you will see the basic views presented in the education of that day. But America has changed. Today state education is compelled to take another view. The great majority of parents will not tolerate rever ence for the Bible and honor for God and Christ, which were gen erally accepted a century ago. In this the public school should not be blamed, for it is only the reflection of the great masses of our country. This definitely puts Christians in the place of the minority and a small minority at that. It is impossible and, in fact, undemocratic for us to expect to impose our Christian faith upon the children of the masses through the channel of state education. Does this mean that we are to surrender to the education of the state and turn our children over to the state for the 12 most formative years of their lives and then expect a few of them to go to a Christian college to find out what they be lieve? I believe that we influence the world not by amalgamation but by separation. 3) There is a positive need for Christian education to fulfill the requirements of the Holy Scrip tures for a Christian. We are told: “ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Pet. 3:15). It is impossible to give a reason for the hope that is in us if our own thinking is muddy with a smattering of Bible truth, a few principles of community religion and a tolerance toward the evolu tionary philosophy which places great question marks around the Word of God. There may be some who feel
that still we do not need Christian schools, that somehow or other through the influence of the church and home we can overrule the in fluence of a purely secular school. Even if this were true, how much better to have a school coordinated with a truly Christian home and a church where the Word of God is continually proclaimed. We often hear the objection that students in Christian schools are sheltered from the world. But re member, wherever you have young people you have “ the world.” We merely create an atmosphere where it is an honor to stand on the right side of a question. From the begin ning we’ve tried to maintain a bal ance between the academic, spir itual and social emphasis — with an attempt to make them all prac tical. Another objection is that to take the Christian out of state schools would deprive these schools of a Christian testimony. This would be true, except that very few Christian students are able to have their mes sage tolerated either by the state, the students or the teaching staff. The real objection is the financial load — and this a real problem. We can testify, however, that even with this added expense our foreign missionary giving has actually in creased per capita and last year’s offering for overseas missions was our church’s largest. My suggestion for pastors who want to start Christian schools in their communities would be to first hold a conference to gain informa tion and interest your membership. Call in authorities in the field to lecture and lead discussion periods. Second, learn the legal aspects of Christian schools. Our government is generally favorable to such ef forts, leaving much responsibility to the groups concerned, but cer tain z o n i n g restrictions, health regulations and other mat ters should be investigated. Third, plan for your location, staff, equipment and curriculum. You may make a very modest be ginning, perhaps in your own church building with one or two teachers. Fourth, launch out. Announce the opening date and trust God to enable you to meet it. We did, and He has blessed. END.
L essons o f the sea
Where wind-swept sand dunes edge the sea, Something eternal pleads with me: The barrenness, the ebbing tide, The waters surging far and wide, The lonely wastes of shifting sands— I wander there, hand touching Hand With One who loves the surging sea And stoops to walk the wastes with me.
— Mabel Madison Rader
S tay with me, Lord
"Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord." —-Luke 5:8 Stay with me, Lord, I cannot say “ de part,” As Peter said. Each selfish base de sire, Each petty thought reflected in this heart, Reveals the need of purifying fire. Stay with me Lord, and cleanse me by Thy grace: I need to look— long, long— into Thy face. —• Helen Frazee-Bower
I found a song that needed singing, And though my heart was sad, I sang for one who needed cheering And somehow made him glad. I found a task that needed doing, I worked with care and love; I found a prayer that needed praying And sent it up above. I saw a child who needed helping And set him on his way; And suddenly my heart was dancing, So light it was and gay!
—• lla' Lewis Funderburgh
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker