When my son Daniel joined the Army National Guard, at 19, he had to complete Basic Combat Training, a three month course teaching him skills such as teamwork, combat techniques, and survival skills. Our president and military commanders would never think to send unprepared and untrained men and women into battle, where they could be injured, killed, or captured by the enemy. But how often do we, as Christian parents, send our untrained children into the world unprepared and untrained for the battles they will face.
Before I go any further, I want to be clear about my convictions. I am wholeheartedly and unapologetically pro-Christian education. Before my children were school age my husband and I made the decision we would do whatever it took and make the sacrifices needed to send our children to a Christian school. We have made many sacrifices over the years to have our three children attend and graduate from Faith Christian School, but that is a whole other blog. Since becoming part of the FCS family in 2002 as a parent, and now a staff member, that conviction has only grown.
Here are three reasons I believe Christian education for Christian families is essential.
1. We’re at war.
As a Christian parent I am very aware we have a known real enemy in this world. 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) tells us, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” And our children would certainly be a sweet treat to him. That is why in Ephesians 6:11 we are commanded to “put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms…” As a Christian parent, I wanted to do whatever I could to train my children so they could stand and persevere through temptations, struggles, and trials they would certainly face. For we know from James 4:7 that when we resist the devil, he will FLEE. Christian school was basic training, equipping my children to recognize the devil’s schemes, put on their armor, and stand firm, not just for the moment, but throughout their lives. Each of my children have graduated from Faith (2013, 2016, & 2019) and each are walking with the Lord.
2. Parents need Godly partnerships.
My children left the house at 7:30 AM to catch the bus or drive (as they got older). I did not see them again till about 3:30 PM when they were in elementary school. In high school it was not uncommon for them to get home until 6 or 8 PM due to sport practices; that is roughly eight to twelve hours a day! Eight hours a day, five days a week, 180 days of the year equals 1,440 hours at school. Have you ever thought about how faith – or a lack thereof – shapes all aspects of a person’s thinking, learning and behavior?
My husband and I asked ourselves: Did we really want our children learning science from a teacher who did not believe the world was created by a living God? Or health from someone who did not see the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit? Or English from someone who did not understand the depravity of man and the biblical concept of redemption while discussing characters in literature? We did not. We understood that the conversations and teaching that went on in the classroom or on the athletic field would shape and influence our children’s thinking about themselves, the world around them and their faith. As a Christian parent I am commanded to “bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians. 6:4b). My husband and I felt strongly if we sent them to a school that did not have our passion for Christ, would not love and pray for our children, or share our moral convictions, we would be handing them over to a very cunning enemy’s training camp. We were unwilling to take that risk.
3. Childhood is short.
All my children have graduated from Faith. I tell you the truth; before you know it your children will be wearing a cap and gown. They will have developed their own worldview shaped by you, their teachers, and friends. They will have issues and passions molded by you, their teachers and friends. They develop their own sphere of influence, people with whom they have built relationships beyond the walls of home, school and church. My children were not only equipped to stand against the enemy of our faith, but they were trained to gain ground for the Lord no matter where life takes them.
Faith Christian School gave me the assurance of knowing the administrators, staff, and teachers helped to train my children in the way they should go by loving them, praying for them, and encouraging them all through their school years. It is a comfort to know that through both home and school, each one received the necessary basic training for living a Godly life and facing the spiritual battles ahead.
So is Christian education worth the expense and sacrifice? YES! It is an eternal investment that will have eternal dividends—not a monthly bill.
Onward Christian soldiers!
Janel Trout
Director of School Marketing and Development
