- Some of our students are unbelievers, and admit that to be true. Our school is a "covenant" school, in which at least one parent of a child must be a professing Christian, but that doesn't mean the students themselves are believers.
- Even when parents profess to be Christians, many of them do not live as believers, based on things such as how they raise children or how they interact with the teachers or other parents.
- Our culture is going to hell in a handbasket, and we want to provide somewhat of a safe haven for our students, while we recognize that we cannot shield them from ungodly influences in the world.
So what do we do about these things? Because we have the Word of God, we naturally want to bring it to bear on problems like these. That involves our teaching in both formal lessons and informal relationships with students and parents. But we often find that our instruction falls on deaf ears. Even professing conservative Christians do not seem to want to hear Biblical teaching about our culture or family life.
One reason for this problem is that many churches no longer faithfully proclaim the whole counsel of God, teaching all that Jesus has commanded (Matthew 28:20) - which includes the entire Bible, since it is all the Word of Christ. Too many churches are content to proclaim whatever makes the congregation feel good and which does not place too many demands on them.
So in the school we try to teach students how to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength in every area of their lives, while at church and at home they are taught that being a Christian just means having warm feelings about Jesus but not having to sacrifice all to follow Him. We often feel like we are fighting a futile, losing battle.
So what is the solution? Well, the school must not take over the role of the church. We must not say, "If the church is not going to do its job, we'll have to do it." God has not called the school to minister the Word and sacraments (baptism and the Lord's Supper); God has not promised that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the school; God has not built the school upon the rock of Saint Peter's faithful confession (Matthew 16:18). The school is not the church, and must not try to become the church.
But what does this mean for the school? Here are some thoughts - these are my thoughts alone, not the views of any particular school. Feel free to disagree if you wish!
- I'm not sure schools should have "worship" services as chapel programs. I have no problem with bringing in some inspirational speaker, or having a faculty member give regular Bible instruction (although that should be happening in the Bible class), or having a group of musical students lead the students in singing some hymns or praise songs. I just don't believe that is worship. I believe Scripture teaches that worship is when God's people come together as a formal assembly, under the authority of His ordained leaders (pastors), organized according to His Word (with elders and deacons). Worship includes the reading and explanation of Scripture by an ordained messenger, the singing of Psalms and hymns, the prayers of the saints, and the administration of the sacraments. That does not describe something the school does or should do. We can still have "chapel" services, but I don't believe we should call it "worship."
- The school can and should instruct students regarding their relationship with Christ and their growth in grace. And we should provide information to the parents which will help them understand a Biblical worldview better. But we cannot try to substitute for the church's instructional program with families through such things as mandated spiritual growth seminars. Yes, many families are woefully ignorant of the Bible, due to poor teaching in their churches. But the school is simply not equipped to take on that role in the lives of the parents. The school does not possess the means of discipline that the church has - the sacraments and church discipline. That is the context in which instruction can truly take place, and the school cannot take that role from the church.
- Likewise, the school cannot become the de facto church for the faculty and staff. Hopefully, they are all attending solid, Bible-believing churches. But sometimes (especially in a large city such as Atlanta, where I live) the teachers attend a wide variety of churches, and some do not have sound Biblical teaching. But the school must not try to make up for that by turning staff development sessions into mini-sermons on spiritual growth. The focus needs to be on instructional matters - that's what the school is called to do!
Well, those are just some thoughts. But I believe our work in Christian schools will be more profitable if we focus on being a school and let the church be the church.