What do you think about Christian schools and colleges?

Question

I have mixed feelings on this one. Sure, I understand parents wanting to protect their children from the myriad of negative influences in the world, and one would hope that Christian schools and universities would have considerably less of that. However, as Christians, our most important mission is the Great Commission that was given to us by Christ - that is, to preach the Word and save the unsaved. How are kids going to do this if they are kept only around other Christian kids their entire childhood and early adult lives? I totally understand wanting to protect your kids, but don't they have a responsibility as Christians to go into the world and lead people to Christ?

I'm a bit surprised at the answers thus far. One guy throws out something about 5 year olds, an obvious exaggeration since I never said anything about toddlers or pre-K. And this person needs to understand that kids and teenagers are absolutely capable of leading others to Christ. In biblical times teenagers led nations and armies into war.

Then somebody actually made the horrific statement that "there's a life time" to save people. Are you sure you understand the Great Commission? Do you know how many people die everyday without knowing Christ? Do you REALLY believe it's a leisure activity to been done at some point in the future when you're good and ready?

Take a look at this calculator if you want to see an estimate of the people who are passing away right now:

http://www.livingwaters.com/m_equip.shtml

C'mon people. Be honest with yourselves. Most parents don't send their kids to Christian schools in the hopes that they'll possibly run across an unsaved person.

Answer 1

I partially agree with your viewpoint, but not all the way. I think it depends on the spiritual maturity of the kid. I have watched a lot of Christian raised kids get out into the "real world" and get completely destroyed. They don't have the strong foundations in their faith yet and they are influenced by the world instead of being a light and influencing others. I've seen that happen more often than not.

I would prefer a Christian school for my future kids in their formative years for sure. I live with my nieces right now and I see how they just imitate everything they see with no understanding of right and wrong. I can tell them, but they really don't get it yet. In those years, I think it is extremely important for parents to protect the kids and control what kinds of things they're exposed to.

At what age do kids reach a maturity level of understanding right and wrong? I think it's different for everyone. I remember around 11 all of a sudden realizing what I was doing. I don't think I was fully mature by any means, but I do remember when it hit me. Some kids aren't ready til they're well into their 20s, others may be ready by high school. It's an individual parent's decision.

Answer 2

Know where u r going with this - but is a 5yr old really ready emotionally, physically, spiritually to fulfill Great Commission. I think kids need to be built up and nutured - then they can go fulfil God's purpose for their life.

When u plant young seed, you might start inside, or in shed, greenhouse to protect it from the elements - you later - when it's ready transplant to outside. Same with kids.

Also kids can fulfill great commission as not everyone will be Christian in Christian school. Think at young age they don't have the ability to reason/argue, they know what they know 'cause that is what they have been taught.

Home ed kids another prime example - but they will socialise with friends - normally some christian and some not.
Surely better for kid to be more grouned, know what they believe and why before 'sending them out!'

Answer 3

You are talking about two different issues. We are in the world but not of it. Odds are better to keep you on the straight and narrow if you are trained by Christian teachers, in a Christian enviornment. No guarantees, but ideally better. Christian colleges/schools give all lessons/subjects from a Christian perspective. It backs up science/history/math/etc. with Biblical truths and questions, even disproves, the humanistic arguments that have infiltrated public education. We prepare our youth to meet the world by instilling truth in them. Then, they have a perfect measuring system (the Word) rooted in their logic to battle Satan's temptations. Jesus simply quoted the Word to defuse and rebuke Satan and He is our example.
As for witnessing to the world......you have a lifetime to do that, but without being prepared, you might find yourself a poor witness and even poorer example for others to see Christ through you. Youth is the time to learn and we learn where we are. Young people are not equipped to take on the world and not be touched by it in a negative way. Going off to college is the first step in separation from mom and dad and the safety of the nest. It can prove fatal, spiritually speaking, under any circumstances, so why not strengthen the odds by sending them where they have spiritual support? Seems to me a better way all the way around.
Children in Christian schools have a better chance of learning morals simply because morals are reinforced at school. Not like the public schools where anything goes.......and, unless a kid gets violent to the point of hurting someone badly, nothing is done. Sex in the bathrooms, bullying, cat fights, inappropriate dress, talking back and disrepect of authority, foul language. vandalism as a sport, and on and on. American public schools are a disgrace.......yet we are penalized severely if we pray publicly in Jesus' Name, or display a cross or Bible, pray at a football game, or mention your faith in a Valdictorian speech. How can being in that enviornment help youth? An adult who is a seasoned Christian would have a hard time being an effective witness in that setting.
Back in the 70's when home schooling was frowned on by society and even pastors of reputable churches, the argument was that children need to be exposed to the world to be able to deal with it. They since learned that God, as always, was right when He told the chosen to be separate from other nations who are pagan because they will influence your children to worship false gods. I had a pastor, and a very dedicated and faithful man, tell me that. This pastor is now deceased, but he regretted sending his children to public school later. He completely changed his mind. You see, parents ALWAYS think public school stays the way it was when they were there. Not so. Each generation pushes the envelope and becomes more tolerant of the wrong behaviors and the ungodly philosophies of their times. You don't really know what our children's world is like unless you do some serious investigating.....and I mean serious.
All in all, private/Christian schools/colleges hold the students accountable and also teach values along with the lessons. If the student successfully goes through this mind and spiritual training, the chances are far better for being prepared to share their testimony of Jesus Christ with a lost and dying world without being sucked in themselves.
Great question. God bless.

Answer 4

It so much depends. Some Catholic and CofE schools do not go for too much brain washing.

Where as those run by fundies are doing a job that Hitler would have been proud of. They will leave their children unable to function in any part of life that has any science involved because they teach such a perverted form.

Answer 5

You asked two different questions:

1. Separation from the World.
2. Evangelization of the World.

One does not have to be worldly in order to win the world to Christ. One must simply know the Word of God.

Biblical examples - Abraham & Lot chose different paths. That did not work out so good for Lot.

John the Baptist was very effective. It was the believers immersed in the world that were afraid to come forward and openly declare their faith on the other hand.

There is nothing wrong with keeping your kids from exposure to Evil.

Answer 6

Just because it says Christian on the door does not mean its Christian in the heart. Case in point Texas Christian Univeristy my alma matter wasnt the most Christ loving university. God puts us here for a reason and we share His truth with whoever we find. I think Christian universities are good in a world that has its educational institutions constantly turning from HIm

Answer 7

Many parents believe that if their kids are not trained in a Church sanctioned school that they might depart from the faith.

Although there is no guarantee that they would either way--I´ve met many atheist who went to religious schools while growing up--at least in the parent's view, they feel it is their duty to do so.

Answer 8

I used to feel the same way as you do about Christian colleges, until my niece went to one. She came out a screaming liberal who wanted to go out and do good things to help people. Probably helped that the Christian college also offered courses through the University of Oregon, one of the most notoriously liberal schools in the country......

Answer 9

Christian schools and colleges are wonderful institutions. It is up to the child or children involved whether or not they want to believe the religious teachings and instructions in these schools. As far as Christian colleges go, obviously those students Chose to go there out of their own belief.

Answer 10

In my experience, the majority of christian schools from k-12 are crappy for youth student cause they don't prepare you for the reality of college life. But christian colleges are good and very open minded but are expessive.