PERSPECTIVE: Salt and light
- Sep 18, 2008 - 4 -
Some have suggested in recent years that Christians should abandon the public school system.
Indeed, there have been increases in both homeschooling and private Christian education. Parents of these students are calculating what is best for their children, and they are doing whatever it takes to provide quality education plus moral and ethical training.
Other families compare the options and choose to keep their children in the public school system. They would argue that their children must live in the world, and consequently they should learn how to deal with the world system that is thrown at them. Some view it as the opportunity for them and their children to be salt and light in a dark place. Many families have little choice because of the costs involved in private education.
Teachers struggle with the same issues. Should they leave the public school system and teach in a private school? Considering the continual restrictions placed on them in regard to expressing their faith, can they make a difference in public education? Sometimes the question of safety is an issue.
I would not propose an answer to the debate in such a short article. The issues are simply too complex and opinions too varied. If I tried to answer, I would probably find reasons to disagree with myself. The truth is that every individual family and teacher must find the Lord’s will for themselves.
Despite the debate, the fact remains that most of our children and teachers will be a part of the public school system. It would behoove us to find ways to engage this system and become salt and light. We must become missional in our efforts to impact the culture around us-and no place needs us more than the public schools.
I am not suggesting that Christian teachers and students become preachers in the classroom. I am proposing, however, that they strive to become the best. We should set the pace for excellence in teaching. Our students should be the most well behaved and most diligent students. As Christians, we are to follow the lead of Scripture, which calls upon us to do whatever we do heartily as unto the Lord. Our work and studies are to be done as if they are acts of worship to the Lord. Let the fragrance of a job well done and a life well lived flow from us.
Parents must take the same challenge. As missional Christians, we should be the greatest supporters of the school and of teachers. PTA meetings and activities should be filled with believing parents who care about the school, teachers and students. We have the opportunity to leave salt and light everywhere we go. It can be done without preaching and pronouncements. We can accomplish it by the excellence with which we do our service to others.
Laws can prohibit us from praying publicly in the classroom, but prayer cannot be kept out of the schools. All parents can bathe their children’s classes and teachers in prayer. No law or wall can stop our prayers. I encourage prayer walking around our schools; when attending events at school, simply use the walk down the hall as a time to pray. It is legal and, more importantly, it is powerful to the tearing down of strongholds.
Christians can make a difference in public schools. We can leave a salty tang and light beams everywhere.
This article is reprinted from the August 28, 2008, issue of the Baptist Messenger, the newspaper of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.
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1 On Sep 19th, 2008, at 8:26pm, Bill wrote:
Good points, however if we send our children to Rome for their education, we should not be surprised when they come home thinking like Romans. We are called as parents to raise and protect our children, not send them into the lion’s den.
2 On Sep 20th, 2008, at 9:17am, Jeff B. wrote:
If our public schools are truly public, we as Christians are a part of that public. We and our children have every right to practice our religious beliefs in schools or any other public place. Our students have an opportunity to do this on September 24th by participating in See You at the Pole. Parents, join your kids, and invite the principal and teachers to join hands with you around the flag pole to pray for God’s protection and blessing on your school. You may be surprised at the reaction you get when you ask a teacher or school administrator how you can pray for them. These public servants need our prayer, and I venture to guess that most of them would welcome it! Maybe if our public schools had a few more young Daniels then the lions would start to become afraid. We don’t have to sneak around whispering silent prayers as if we lived in China or Iran. If this is still America, we owe it to those who have fought and died for our liberty to pray publicly wherever we please.
3 On Sep 22nd, 2008, at 11:24pm, Paul W. Moody wrote:
In regarde to public schools in America, I am a strong advocate for a voucher system that will allow parents to choose the school they want their child to be educated in. It is a well know fact that competitiion breeds a better product and our present system, compared to education systems around the world, is far down the list. Two of my grandchildren went to a Christian school in SanAntonio Texas. Tfhey were taught to say ”
yes sir and no sir.” “yes mam and no mam ” They are well educated, respectful of adults, and disciplined in all the essential ways. They are prepared for higher education and will do very well in life because they are grounded in the Christian faith
Sincerely,
Paul Moody
4 On Dec 29th, 2008, at 5:07pm, James E Reeves wrote:
This is a comment about David Dockery’s work.
Much research has been done on this work and I commend Mr. Dockery. A Christocentric look at the overall paper reveals some neglect of exposing the Jewish,and persian influences on education including the precentages according to population of student attendance in relation to the U.S. population. Is there an effort to fund programs with Saudi Arabian money, books, and teachers to achieve the view of plurism without Christ? Can we say that Christ and His followers are being followed and persecuted as Paul, and the apostles were? Look at b.c.e. and c.e. as opposed to the standard A.D. and B.C. issues.
To be salt & light we have to see the real issues.
James