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Text: Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
There are many views regarding education.
Some are technical. John F. Kennedy said, "The goal of education is the advancement of knowledge and the dissemination of truth."
Some are cynical. Mark Twain said, "I have never let my schooling interfere with my education."
Some are insightful. Albert Einstein said, "Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school."
Some are thoughtful. "The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education." Martin Luther King, Jr.
Some are provocative. "Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil." C. S. Lewis
Some are extreme. "Let's not leave an educational vacuum to be filled by religious extremists who go to families who have no other option and offer meals, housing and some form of education. If we are going to combat extremism then we must educate those very same children." Hillary Clinton
Some are diabolical. Joseph Stalin said, "Education is a weapon whose effects depend on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed."
1. Goal
The goal of a Christian education, in my estimation, ought to be establishing the student on the course of life that directs toward the highest Christian ideal, Christ mindedness. This is not to say that instruction in pragmatic disciplines are merely perfunctory. Not at all! However, any system of education that fails on this primary point, fails miserably in my opinion. Certainly "education is a weapon" as noted by Joseph Stalin. Humanists have used education as a weapon against Christianity for nigh unto 100 years. Evolutionists use education as a weapon against religion. Communists against Capitalists, Capitalists against Communists, because the mind is the battlefield on which wars are won that ultimately shape the world. That is why Christian education should not to have as its highest goals knowledge of the sciences. Rather, training students to think like Jesus so they may respond to circumstances of life in a Christ like way.
2. Lowliness
Never has a man impacted the world like the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth. His way of thinking was very different from what is typical among men.
"Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation,..." Jesus Christ was and is equal with God. However, His exalted status did not prevent Him from lowering Himself to the position of having no reputation on earth. Christian education ought to instill in the minds of students the virtue of lowliness. That is to say, what I want, or my desires are not important, what is important is what God wants. When a person believes he or she is more important than others that person is actually a detriment to society rather than an asset. Though Jesus fully deserved to be recognized as co-equal with God, He chose to make Himself of no reputation. He chose to lower His status publicly.
3. Service
Not only did He allow His reputation to be far below what He was due, Jesus actually assumed the role of His new identity. "...and took upon him the form of a servant,..." The mind of Christ is to serve others, the philosophy of the world is to be served by others. The goal of Christian education is not to equip students with the tools to rule over others. It is to equip students with the tools to serve others. How unlike the world is that? Serving others begins when you are convinced in your heart and mind that others are important. This is the example Jesus set for all who follow Him.
3. Humility
The empty promises of secular education are satisfaction through success. Dale Carnegie understood this error, he said, "Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get." Success in the Christian education is not measured by ACT or SAT scores. It is not measured by fame or popularity. In Christian education success is measured by the lofty standard of Christ-likeness. Both success and happiness are bound together in the abiding presence of Jesus Christ. "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, ..." The King of glory, Creator of all that is, left heavens splendor with all of its super natural delights and was found in fashion as a man. He kept His glory concealed save for a moment with only a few of His closest disciples. He did not demand that His true identity be revealed. He did not insist that His proper place be restored. He humbled Himself! Christian education ought to have a heavy emphasis on humility. Humility is the core curriculum of Christian education, because it is the core of Christ-likeness. No man, woman or child has ever properly represented Jesus in a spirit of pride.
4. Submission
Finally, Christian education is a successful education when a student learns obedience. "...and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." The goal of Christian education is not to combat the governments of this world. "We wrestle not with flesh and blood..." The goal of Christian education is not to ascend the mountains of successful ventures. The goal of Christian education is to employ the disciplines of study as assistants in building Christ-likeness into the very being of the Christian student. Christian education is not merely adding Bible study to the curriculum. Christian education is not learning about God. Christian education is about knowing God on a personal level. It is about learning how to "obey God rather than man" when man’s commandments run counter to God’s written Word. Christian education is about learning to obey the voice of the Holy Spirit instead of yielding to one’s own desires. Christian education is about establishing the student on the course of life that directs toward the highest Christian ideal, Christ-mindedness. These are high ideals, but they are what we strive for. Christian education does not begin in kindergarten and end at High School, College or graduate school. Christian education is the life long pursuit of Christ, "...to know Him and the power of His resurrection." May God have mercy on us, and bless us with grace as we devote ourselves to teaching and learning how to have the mind of Christ.
5. Closure
Today, we celebrate the graduation of Joanna, my daughter, my friend, and my joint- heir in the promises of Christ. I attest to the fact that she has fully complied with and exceeded all the requirements of the state of Missouri. Furthermore, I confidently present to you a young lady that: loves Jesus with all of her heart, serves her friends, church, and family unselfishly, willingly and humbly submits to her authorities, and obeys even at the expense of personal loss.
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