Did you know that America’s public schools began with Christian education? The founders of our great nation knew very well the relation of education and liberty. They knew that a people could not be ignorant and free. Thomas Jefferson stated, “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” Benjamin Franklin stated, “A nation of well informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the region of ignorance that tyranny begins.” The founders of our nation believed that useful education – that which produced liberty – must have its foundation in Christianity.
Our founders recognized that Satan wants to keep people ignorant – especially when it comes to knowing God’s Word. Thus, Satan can keep an ignorant person in bondage. Our founders were motivated to start schools and colleges – all of which taught the tenants of Christianity. Colleges and universities were started as seminaries to train a godly and literate clergy. Of the first 110 colleges started, 106 were founded on the Christian faith. One of the original rules and precepts of Harvard College stated: “Let every student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life (John 17:3), and therefore to lay Christ in the bottom, as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning.” (Harvard has clearly forgotten its beginning.)
Samuel Adams, the father of the American Revolution, declared that education in the principles of the Christian religion is the means of renovating our age. Later on, in 1790, he wrote, “Let divines and philosophers, statesmen and patriots, unite their endeavors to renovate the age, by impressing the minds of men with the importance of educating their little boys and girls, and inculcating in the minds of youth the fear and love of the Deity and universal philanthropy, and in subordination to the great principles, the love of their country; of instructing them in the art of self-government, without which they never can act a wise part in the government of societies, great or small; in short, of leading them in the study and practice of the exalted virtues of the Christian system.”
Knowledge apart from God and His truth is little better than complete ignorance, because the most important aspect of education is the imbuing of moral principles. Many people in America agree that a lack of moral values is the root of the country’s problems, yet without a standard of moral absolutes rooted in a sovereign God and His truth, America as a nation will not be able to impart these needed morals to our children. And, yet, we have a minority crying foul with regards to “separation of church and state” – seeking to eradicate God from every part of our society. The Constitution guarantees “freedom of religion” – not “freedom from religion”. Lest we forget Malachi 3:6a, “For I am the LORD, I change not.”
Is it any wonder that our children are clueless today as to what is really right and what is really wrong? It is clear that they are being led down the path to do that which is right in their own eyes – never realizing the consequences that will follow.
Proverbs 12:15,
“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.”
Proverbs 21:2,
“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.”
This is why it is imperative that our children are taught the foundational principles of 2 Timothy 2:15,
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
[Because], without this understanding, they will never come to understand John 8:32,
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Nor will they understand John 17:3,
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
Remember, without Christ in your life, there is no freedom; only bondage.
