On Christian Education - Cornelius Van Til (Reformed Quote)

The principles by which believers live are squarely opposed to the principles by which unbelievers live. This is true in the field of education as well as in the church. Accordingly we speak of antitheses in education. These antitheses cover the whole educational field. They cover first the field of educational philosophy. This is of basic significance, but is often overlooked. In the second place these antitheses appear in the field of what is to be taught, i.e., the curriculum. Finally these antitheses appear when we consider the child or the young person to be instructed. Under these three aspects we shall try to bring out the antitheses in educational philosophy. Non-Christians believe that the Universe has created God. They have a finite god. Christians believe that God has created the universe. They have a finite universe. Non-Christians therefore are not concerned with bringing the child face to face with God. They want to bring the child face to face with the Universe. Non-Christian education is Godless education. What is of most importance to us in education, which is absolutely indispensable to us, is left out entirely. Godless education ignores or denies that man was created responsible to God. This implies that sin is not a transgression of God's law. Hence Christ did not need to die in our stead. Godless or non-theistic education is therefore also non- or anti-Christian education. Godless, non-Christian education naturally becomes humanistic, i.e., mancentered. If man does not need to live for God he may live for himself. If then we want a God-centered and truly Christian education we will have to break away completely from the educational philosophy that surrounds us.

 

- Cornelius Van Til, Essays on Christian Education