Beacon Media Supporting Christian schooling worldwide The History of Education

The History of education History is HIS story

In the beginning In the Garden of Eden education was directly between humans and God.

The Fall The Fall and advent of sin meant that communication was forever distorted, and relationships were impaired.

The Tower of Babel After languages were confused, tribes went in different directions. Education developed within different cultural groups… some included God’s truth, some didn’t.

Truth became corrupted Elders passed on knowledge, including historical truths from the foundation of the world. e.g. Flood stories appear in the history of many cultures But many cultures began to worship other gods. Truth was lost to many cultures.

The Hebrews The Hebrews faithfully educated their children in the ways of the Lord.

A God-centred culture The Mosaic ideal was that every facet of the culture was to be God-centred. Clothes, place names, monuments, calendar dates, the law and every day practices were God-focused.

The Ancient Greeks The Greeks worshiped many false gods. The educational system they established is still evident today. Religion was separated out in a divided curriculum. All for the glory of MAN

The Promised One The birth, example and crucifixion of the Teacher changed education forever.

Jesus, our example His parables and His example impacted educational thinking and practice. God’s love and the gospels permeated the teaching-learning process.

Relationship restored The world now had the opportunity to be reunited with God through the cross. The Gospel was now a key to education.

The spread of the Gospel The Gospel impacted learning from Jerusalem into Africa and Europe and beyond.

The Reformation In Europe, the Reformation was a spearhead for literacy and education for all, so the Bible was in the hands of everyone, and everyone was a priest. John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress and other edifying books were widely read.

Church-based education In Europe, the church valued literacy and promoted study of the creation. Seminaries became universities. Cathedrals founded great schools.

Godly foundation The foundation of schools and universities was theology – the study of God. Godly character and spiritual disciplines were expected of students.

Moral law The laws of the land were based on the Bible and it provided restraints and justice.

The church took responsibility for education Schools were linked to the local church community. A Christian worldview permeated all lessons and informed school practices.

The dawn of evolutionary thinking Darwinism created a setback to Christian education. There was now a conflict. Was God’s word really true, or was man’s idea better? False teaching throughout science, history and social science meant that generations grew without any reference to the Gospel.

Where is God? Their parents and teachers taught and modeled alternative lifestyles.

Christian education diluted Church schools became chameleon-like, trying to be all things to all people. Faith was diluted out of education. The State took control of education. Church schools became elite fee-paying schools for the rich.

God’s plumb line ignored Graduates left school with no certainties, no plumb lines for life. Discipline, academic standards and school cohesion fell.

Where is God? The integrating force of the cross was denied. God was no longer included. State education in Western nations was “free, secular and compulsory”. Church schools followed State curriculum.

Christian schooling must be built on the rock of Jesus Christ Christian schooling must be built on the rock of Jesus Christ. The alternative is on the sand.

A new wave of Christian Schools Because church schools of the past denied their Gospel roots, a new wave of Christian schools arose … Many of these schools today base their syllabus on God, His ways, His character, His nature and His word. How will these schools maintain their God- centred roots?

Following the Teacher Christian schools today must work hard to maintain their original focus… following in the footsteps of the Teacher.

Christian education for the nations Schools that stay God-centred can have a powerful impact on world evangelism. Students will leave the gates of these Christian schools ready to change the world.

The light shines in the darkness Christian schools that build their curriculum upon the Rock will send forth students as lights to the nations, bringing many to know and love God.

Will your school be one of these?