Ethics in Christian Education

Why do Christian schools exist? Perhaps we assume that we must create a learning environment where the knowledge of God is presented to students because it will not be taught elsewhere. Perhaps it is because we believe, like Solomon, that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," and that no knowledge is true without being undergirded by the Christian worldview. These are good motivations. However, I believe in their execution we Conservative Evangelicals have gone wrong.

We are not following the ethical standards for teaching put forth by the American Association of University Professors. Before you respond by saying that this body is a worldly organization and therefore its opinion is fundamentally flawed, let me say that their conclusions are based on a thorough understanding and conviction regarding the role of the institution for higher learning in society. Their views are informed by thousands of years of educational history keenly driven by the Christian ideals of Western culture. The university exists to seek out and disseminate knowledge for the benefit of all mankind. That purpose is a good and right one from a Christian perspective. Therefore, any ethic which serves that end should be accepted by the Christian institution so long as it does not otherwise conflict with Biblical principles.

Academic freedom is a prerequisite for the investigation of truth. The free exchange and apprehension of ideas is an essential part of building a keen mind. I believe we have fallen short in this area. Rather than fostering an environment which promotes free thought and debate, we have created a system of indoctrination. Most often we simply train students in the systematic theology of our particular denomination. Even if conflicting viewpoints are presented, the teacher's influence of authority is used (unintentionally) to create an environment wherein students must accept the "right" view or risk being labeled as irrational or heretical. Are we really so arrogant as to think we have perfect knowledge of all the subject matter with which we deal? If we teach as if that were true, we train our students to follow our example.

Much of this can be attributed (as usual) to good motives. We do not want to lead our students astray. We want to be a force for good in their lives and we do not want our teaching to result in their adopting false beliefs. We fear that if we expose them too much to the false views, they will be lured away. We take it upon ourselves to "train them in the way they should go." I believe this to be the ROOT cause of the backsliding of so many young people after they get out into the real world. Without the influence of authority to hold them onto the correct path of doctrine, they are led astray by the first free-thinking person or book they read that asks, wrestles with, and answers the tough questions we never addressed. This is fundamental to human nature because people are drawn to thoughtfulness more than they are to facts, since we ourselves know deep down that we can never know anything with 100% certainty. We are helped more by thoughts than we are by conclusions because we can assimilate them into our own unique thinking. Conclusions cannot be assimilated into the human mind without the thoughts to support them - only temporarily assumed, and people don't like basing their lives on assumptions. They always fall away eventually, and usually during hardship when they are needed most.

In our effort to take it upon ourselves to educate, we may have actually been doing harm. The fact is that a person's ability to find truth (and remain in it) rests within the purview of God's grace. We never had a say in the matter. We can only help or hinder. If we wish to help more and hinder less, it is time we stopped indoctinating and started teaching students to THINK. We must create a classroom environment where questioning, debating, exploring aberrant views, are all encouraged and supported. As teachers we must be able to argue strongly for views with which we disagree and talk about the weak points of our own views (have we always help that view?). We must withhold nothing and enlighten always. We must reward insight instead of replication. In all this we can have a pervading sense of optimism because knowledge was created by God, as well as the human capacity to grow in it. We must educate and let God do the rest.