The work of education is really, in many ways, the work of discipling. A disciple is a student who, beyond simply note taking, reading or math work, seeks to imitate his teacher in thought, word and action. On this, Jesus said, “everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.”
As parents, when we choose an education, we are not really choosing a program or curriculum so much as we are choosing whom we want our children to become like. Modern education assumes the mind is most important. While the mind is important, Christ is concerned primarily with the heart. Does your child love what is worth loving? Does she reject what is not worth loving? Does she love the right things in order of what is worth loving most?
In John Bunyan’s international bestselling classic, Pilgrim’s Progress, Evangelist comes alongside the main character, Pilgrim, in a moment of failing to love the right things along his journey. Evangelist gently asks, “What are you doing here, Pilgrim?” In a similar way, the teachers of Immanuel Christian School gently poke, prod and plead, “Come this way. This is worth your attention. Love this. Follow me.”
In a world of digitization and commercialization, there are a million things presented each day which we’re told we must love. Fundamentally, a Christian education does not say, “Follow your heart.” Rather, it says, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” I commend our teachers for your child’s formation. They are in good hands.
Jared Fraser
Principal, Immanuel Christian School
