When you drop a ball, what makes it fall to the ground? What holds the earth in its orbit around the sun? If your only answer to these questions is “gravity,” you gave the same answer that an atheist or evolutionist would give. This is the answer a student in secular, public educations is trained to answer. The simple answer of gravity, however, misses the miracle and reality of gravity. Let me illustrate. If you would tie a weight on the end of a long rope and then hold tightly to the opposite end of the rope and begin to swing the weight faster and faster in a large circle around you, you know that the heavier the weight and the faster you swing it, the stronger rope you will need to hold the weight. Imagine being able to swing your entire house in a large circle attached by a cable. The faster the house travels, the thicker cable you would need to hold the house in its orbit, so that it does not snap the cable and fly off. Think now of the mass of the entire earth speeding at a rate of 30 km or 18 miles per second (67,000 miles or 108,000 km per hour) in its orbit around the sun. How thick of a steel cable would be needed to hold the earth in its orbit? It is estimated that we would require a cable approximately the thickness of the earth’s diameter, i.e. about 8,000 miles or 13,000 km thick! Yet spacecraft fly in space, and no cable, or rope, or even string is there. Nothing! What is this gravity that has no physical presence and yet has the strength of an 8,000-mile thick cable holding the earth in its orbit every second, hour, day, and year? God’s Word informs us. It is Jesus, who created everything in the entire universe and is “upholding all things by the word of His power...” (Heb. 1:2-3).

Can you grasp from this example that Christian edu­cation connects God’s Word with His works? It connects gravity with Hebrews 1. It honors God. It teaches the truth of God’s Word and it sees His hand and hears His voice in God’s marvellous works of creation (Ps. 19:1-3).

In Christian education, both words are important. Educa­tion that is secular (without God) and Christian (with God) both study gravity as a force in the universe. Both aim for high-quality science education. But secular education misses the miracle and the God-connection. It attempts to distance God from His handiwork or to push Him out of the universe that He created, and it defines gravity as “a natural phenomenon by which all things with mass are brought toward one another, including planets, stars and galaxies.” The results are diametrically opposed. Secular education produces practical atheists who see, understand, and communicate about creation without God (Rom. 1:18-21). Christian education strives for God’s glory; it aims to praise the Lord for His glorious work in creating and upholding the entire universe and all in it (Ps. 19:1, 97:6; Acts 14:17; Rom. 1:20).

Christian education aims to educate its students in a way that:

1. Promotes God’s glory — This is the chief purpose of our existence (Matt. 22:37-38; Rom. 15:6; 1 Cor. 6:20; Ps. 29:2, 34:3, 57:5).
2. Teaches God’s truth — From God’s written Word, the Bible, which reveals His Living Word, Jesus Christ, and connects these truths with His works in creation and providence (Matt. 1:21; Acts 4:10-12; Heb. 1:1-3; John 3:17; Ps. 19:1-4; Rom. 1:19-20).
3. Strives for the well-being of the entire personhood of its stu­dents — Students’ spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical development and health (Mark 12:30; Gen. 2:7; Prov. 1:1-7; Rom. 15:6; 1 Cor. 6:20).
4. Aims for the well-being of the community — The student is created to live in community, to love and care for others, and to deny himself or herself for the good of others (Matt. 22:39-40, 5:15-16; Eph. 4:3; 1 Cor. 1:10; 1 Peter 3:8).

It is fitting to note here that Scripture frequently uses the term “fathers” for those instructing children. Christian teachers include “fathers” in the Christian church, “fathers” in the Christian home, and “fathers” in the Christian school. Christian education of children is strongest when it includes this all-encompassing three-fold cord, for a house divided against itself will not stand (Mark 3:25). Children need all three Christian teaching “fathers” so they can receive Christian education their entire day (Deut. 6:7, 11:18-21; Ps. 78:1-7). While there is repetition and reinforcement from all three (a principle of effective education), the main focus of the church is to preach the gospel and teach the doctrines (truths) of Scripture. The primary focus of the school is to connect God’s Word (and its doctrines/truths) with God’s works in all subject areas, such as science, history, or language. The key responsibility of the home is to show how life is to be lived in light of God’s Word and works. While teachers called by God (“fathers”) are important in all three spheres, it is in the home where children most deeply expe­rience how these elements are all pulled together and life is really lived.

Christian teachers or “fathers” in Christian churches, schools, and homes need to hold to the following five biblical, Christian perspectives:

1. Christian teachers view their children/students in a biblical way⤒🔗

To teach our children in a Christian manner, we need to view our students as:

• Specially created and placed by God — Only mankind was created by a special announcement of the Trinity (Gen. 1:26); in the image of God (Gen. 1:27); with a soul destined for eternity (Gen. 2:7); and to be placed in dominion over the rest of earthly creation (Gen. 1:28).
• Specially formed as God’s image-bearer — Mankind was created to reflect traits of God, to resemble Him in certain ways — in our rationality, use of language, and immortality, by being given a conscience and soul. But in its essence, the image included a right knowledge, holiness, and righteousness (Col. 3:10; Eph. 4:24).
• Fallen sinners by man’s decision and merits — Mankind fell by choosing sin and is in a state of total depravity by nature (Gen. 6:5; Ps. 53:3; Isa. 53:6, 64:6; Rom. 3:23, 5:12; Gal. 3:22).
• Renewable sinners by God’s grace and Jesus’s merits — Sinners may be saved by repenting from sin and believing on Jesus Christ. God is able to save, even to the uttermost (Isa. 55:7; John 3:14-15; Acts 2:38; Rom. 1:16; Heb. 7:25).

2. Christian teachers must teach their children/students in a Christian way←⤒🔗

How did Jesus, the Teacher of all teach­ers, teach? He taught using the following teaching/learning strategies:

• Asking questions — Many times Jesus taught by asking questions. “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath day?” “Whom do men say that I, the son of man, am?” “The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven or of man?”
• Specially created and placed by God — Only mankind was created by a special announcement of the Trinity (Gen. 1:26); by a personal and immediate act of God (Gen. 1:26-27); in the image of God (Gen. 1:27); with a soul destined for eternity (Gen. 2:7); and to be placed in dominion over the rest of earthly creation (Gen. 1:28).
• Specially formed as God’s image-bearer – Mankind was created to reflect traits of God, to resemble Him in certain ways — in our rationality, use of language, and immortality, by being given a conscience and soul. But in its essence, the image included a right knowledge, holiness, and righteousness (Col. 3:10; Eph. 4:24).
• Fallen sinners by man’s decision and merits — Mankind fell by choosing sin and is in a state of total depravity by nature (Gen. 6:5; Ps. 53:3; Isa. 53:6, 64:6; Rom. 3:23, 5:12; Gal. 3:22).
• Renewable sinners by God’s grace and Jesus’s merits — Sinners may be saved by repenting from sin and believing on Jesus Christ. God is able to save, even to the uttermost (Isa. 55:7; John 3:14-15; Acts 2:38; Rom. 1:16; Heb. 7:25).
• Lecturing (and preaching) — Jesus preached and lec­tured everywhere: outside, inside, in cities, in fields, on mountains, by lakes, in synagogues, in homes; in short, wherever there was opportunity.
• Story-telling (using examples) — Forty parables of Jesus are recorded in Scripture, a number of fullness in the Bible.
• Discussion — Consider Jesus instructive discussions with Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, the rich young ruler, and His disciples.
• Learning-by-doing — Do you think any of Jesus’s disciples ever forgot the lesson He taught them when he washed their feet, or when He touched the untouchables (the leprous, diseased, and dead)? What did they learn when He asked them to throw the net on the opposite side of the ship, distribute the broken bread, and cast out demons?
• Reporting — Remember when Jesus sent out the sev­enty to preach? After they returned, He asked them to report on their experiences.
• Concrete-to-abstract reasoning — Think of the physical objects Jesus used in His teaching to illustrate spiritual truths, such as a fig tree, a Roman coin, birds, flowers, sheep, and many more.
• Individualization — One blind person Jesus healed by speaking only, another in steps (He saw people as trees walking), and a third person with clay on his eyes which he could feel.

We know that children learn differently. Each child is a unique creation of God. Experienced teachers know that one child can read something and understand it, while another child can read and re-read something many times and still not understand it. But provide that student with a clear oral explanation, and she understands it immediately. A third child does not understand well from reading or listening, but show a visual example, sketch, or picture, and he understands instantly. Another child learns best from put­ting a concept into her own words or by discussing a matter with others. A strong Christian educational program does not limit itself to one teaching and learning method, but reinforces learning through a wide variety of instructional methodologies and student learning experiences.

3. Christian teachers are to discipline their children/students in a biblical way←⤒🔗

We need to first understand and then teach a biblical basis of authority and discipline. God is the ultimate King over all, who holds ultimate and absolute authority. He has revealed His will in the Bible. What He declares to be right and just is so, and what He states is wrong and sinful is so, regardless of what you or someone else thinks or feels. To regulate human life, God has delegated authority to parents in the home, elders in the church, officials in civil govern­ment, and leaders in all institutions, e.g., the principal in a school or teacher in a classroom. Those serving in delegated spheres of authority may not rule as they see fit, but are responsible to God to govern in a manner that is true to the ultimate King’s law-word, the Bible.

Christian teachers are to exercise biblical preventive and corrective discipline. Preventive discipline involves effective teaching of God’s law and giving instructions in ways that seek to prevent or reduce children's disobedience and teens’ sinful behavior (Deut. 11:19-20; Ps. 34:11, 78:4-7; Isa. 28:9-10). Corrective discipline involves punishing children for their sinful acts of disobedience and rebellion (Prov. 13:21, 19:18, 22:15-16, 29:15). When administering corrective discipline, Christian teachers or “fathers” must always do so:

• Motivated by loving concern (not self-justification)
• Aiming for the conscience (not just a payment price)
• Doing so with reason (not on an impulse)
• Seeking correction/repentance (not retaliation)

Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture (preventive instructional discipline) and admonition (corrective discipline) of the Lord.Eph. 6:4.

4. Christian teachers are to influence their children/students in a Christian way←⤒🔗

The following adage contains a great deal of truth: “Children learn something from what they hear; more from what they see; but most from who you are.” We all know the truth of this; we have all experienced the impact on our lives from the example of a parent, school teacher, and/or a pastor.

The seven articles of clothing worn by the Old Testament high priest point to the great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ. On the hem of the high priest’s garment of blue were sewn pomegranates and golden bells in an alternating man­ner. The pomegranates were of three colors and they would be seen waving with every step the high priest took. The bells would be heard ringing, as well, with each step he made. The two were in perfect balance. As Christian’s, by God’s grace, we are to grow more Christlike. Let us strive that more and more the sound of our talk is beautifully balanced with the fruitfulness seen in our walk, in every step we take. What a powerful example this would make! The impact of a godly example on the lives of children can be very significant. A Christian teacher is granted a great opportunity, but also a great responsibility. Let us teach by example.

5. Christian teachers are to pray for their children/students in a biblical manner←⤒🔗

When approaching the closing of this article, you likely are feeling overwhelmed and thinking, who can do all this in a Christian way? How can I, one with so many sins and shortcomings, be a Christian teacher in my home, church, or school? Maybe you cry out with Paul, “Who is sufficient for these things?” (2 Cor. 2:16). I encourage you to go to God with your needs. He knows that we need His grace. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). Pray for grace to be a Christian teacher for your children or students. But also pray for them. God encourages you to do so with His own promises, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6). “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days” (Eccl. 11:1).