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GUEST ARTICLE
Christian Schools
and the “Hothouse” Issue
You’ve seen them,
those semi-translucent glass or plastic structures called “hothouses” or “greenhouses.” They
are specifically designed to protect seedlings from the
extremes of freezing cold or the scorching heat of a burning
sun. Without greenhouse protection, young plants destined
for vital food production would be stunted, gnarled, or
even burned or frozen out of existence. One Christian educator
describes the hothouse issue as follows:
Picture a tomato
seedling that you plant in your greenhouse in hopes that
it will become strong and healthy enough to transplant
into your garden (the “real world”) in the spring. You
want it to bear fruit next summer, and you know it is
better to start the plant in a protected place. It would
be foolish to set it out in the harsh elements, subject
to cold and wind. Of course, you don’t want “greenhouse
tomatoes.” You are simply preparing the seedling for
transplantation at the appropriate time. In the same
way, a child will be much better prepared to make his
way in the world and stand firm in his faith if he’s
had a chance to develop in a protected environment.1
There are two “comeback
arguments” we often hear when we suggest that children
from Christian families should be educated and trained
in Christian schools. The first argument is:
1. “I
don’t want my children protected. I want my children
educated in the “real world.”
Let me give you
a few talking points should you encounter people using
what I call the “real world” argument.
A. If I may coin
a word, a school is a “conformatory.” Students in school
are conforming to other students, to their teachers, and
most certainly to the school’s philosophy. Luke 6:40 reads, “everyone
who is fully trained will be like his teacher.” The
clearly stated mission of a Christian school is to inspire
students to conform to Christ, the Master Teacher. Some
schools claim to have a “neutral philosophy,” especially
as it pertains to Jesus Christ. According to Christ Himself
this is impossible. He said, “He who is not with me
is against me...” (Matthew 12:30). Therefore, since
neutrality is impossible according to Christ, schools which
do not declare themselves to be for Christ are,
intentionally or by default, against Him. How then
can Christian parents enroll their children and young people
in schools that are against Christ?
B. Many parents
and all too many pastors claim that children will grow
spiritually stronger if they are educated in non-Christian
educational institutions. To the surprise of some, there
is no known Scripture supporting this view. The Apostle
Paul said, “...be wise about what is good, and innocent
about what is evil” (Romans 16:19). On this important
matter I commend to you the good counsel of Dr. D. James
Kennedy, who said:
I would say to
you, dear friends, it may require some sacrifice, but
I urge you to send your children to godly schools...
to Christian schools that they might receive a godly
Christian education. Train up a child in the way that
he should go, and, my friends, if we don’t, in our old
age, that will be our greatest heartbreak. I have never
seen any people more unhappy than fathers or mothers
who have come to me and said, “Where did we go wrong?
We gave him everything, and now he’s turned his back
completely on everything we believe.” Yes, they gave
him everything but a Christian education!2
C. Exposing Christian
children to non-Christian schools sponsored by the “real
world” is like teaching non-swimmers to swim by throwing
them into a lake and saying to them, “now swim.” Some may
actually learn to swim that way, but common sense tells
you that is a risky way to teach swimming. Non-swimmers
are not prepared to face the obvious dangers of water until
they are knowledgeable and fully prepared for the inherent
dangers. When a swimmer or student is “fully trained,” then
and only then is he or she ready to swim in the real water
of the real world.
2.
But what will happen to non-Christian schools if Christians
abandon them? Shouldn’t we send our Christian children
to non-Christian schools to witness for Christ?
Again, the following
counterpoints may be helpful:
A. Christians should
not abandon any part of society, including non-Christian
schools. The question is, are children who are not “fully
trained” prepared for the task? Dr.
D. James Kennedy says, “You don’t send an eight-year-old
out to take on a forty-year-old humanist.”3 Not
all humanists, of course, are forty years old, not all
teachers and administrators in non-Christian schools are
humanists, and not all opportunities to witness are limited
to adults. It seems to me, however, that the best strategy
for an effective witness in non-Christian educational institutions
is to call on adult professional peers who are strong Christians
to do the job. We don’t send children to evangelize any
other segment of society, so by what logic do we assume
that children are the appropriate ones to evangelize the
religion-hardened world of non-Christian education?
B. We need to recognize
that the task of evangelizing non-Christian schools is
a formidable one even for adult professionals who are Christians.
There are more Christians per capita who are teachers,
principals, or superintendents in the non-Christian school
world than in almost any other secular profession. [We would very much
question this assertion! RH] But no other secular
workplace has more intimidating regulations against aggressive
evangelism than non-Christian schools. Two things emerge
from this: 1) We need to pray earnestly for Christian educators
in secular schools, and 2) we should not expect children
to do an adult job.
I don’t know about
you, but I believe strongly that Christian parents should
send their children to Christian schools!
[Since most so-called “Christian
schools” are not really Christian and most classes are
not taught by truly Christian teachers, we believe that
home schooling is a viable option and perhaps the preferred
one, in this day of apostasy! RH]
1 Harris, The
Christian Home School.
2 D. James Kennedy, “Training Your Children,” a sermon.
3 Ibid.
--Dr. Paul A. Kienel
http://www.northchristianschool.com/about/76/?print=true
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