Some Thoughts on Christian Education in the City

For starters God is very interested in cities. These are the places with the highest diversity in population and usually represent the deepest density of need. Culture is born in cities and spreads from there. If we could bring the kingdom of God to bear in cities it will change cultures. By teaching the youth we can hope to prepare them to serve in Christ centered churches and start Christ centered families, this could lead to cities that glorify God.

This will never happen unless we get the gospel right. The focus must always be on Christ. Being Christ centered is not tag on in classrooms, but serves as a philosophy by which we can evaluate all circumstances. This will play out in relationships, social interactions, one on one counseling and must effect our approach to teaching by putting the focus rightly on the Gospel of Christ. I want to teach in a Christ centered school because it correlates deeply to one of my core realities in life, that is to make know the gospel through public teaching and in the context of relationships.
Most students are not challenged to think critically at all, especially about their understanding of their belief system. Many students learn canned answers to questions about church, God, and Jesus. But many inwardly are still alone, unconnected and missing out on the joy and glory of a thriving relationship with God.

A classical approach to education addresses this devastating reality by challenging students, who are in the dialectic stage, to think critically and recognize sound arguments.
Christian education in my estimation is an approach to learning that is deeply rooted in the wisdom of God. It starts by getting students established in the meta-narrative that is presented in the scriptures. This will provide a foundation for the origin of mankind, the struggle between good and evil and the presence of the Triune Creator God. I agree with the proverb that all true learning and understanding has the fear of God as its foundation. Christian education not only determines the content of our teaching, but also serves as a philosophy by which we relate, teach, discipline and evaluate learning. This philosophy must take into account a holistic approach to education that moves beyond specific academic disciplines and addresses the entirety of a students familial, relational, physical, emotional and societal well being.