The Education Idol

I was thinking about modern day idols, and the one that keeps popping into my head is Education. Yes, I believe that we tend to worship education. There are a few main categories that I would like to mention:

1. We offer our children up on the Alter of Education. We, as Christians, are willing to hand our children over to the state for schooling. It is clear in Scripture that we are meant to raise our own children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord- not let the world raise our children in the nurture and admonition of the state. Why are we willing to do this when the Bible tells us that we are to teach our children the laws of God at all times? Because Education has become our god. This society, and many Christians in it, believe whole-heartedly that schooling is the most important thing in life.

If a child misses worship for a game, recreation, etc., we are irritated. Yet, if the parent says that little Johnny has "so much homework to do" we turn a blind eye. After all, his homework is far more important than obeying God's command to worship. If a family misses Bible class for any other reason than sickness or school, they're considered wrong. When did homework become more important than Bible study and worship? If you place schooling above fellowshipping with brethren, worshipping God, and studying His Word, Education is your god!

2. We allow ourselves to be defined by our schooling. This covers so many areas. One of the first things someone will ask a child is "what grade are you in?" And a person's worth is dependent on how well they're doing in school. Do you get A's, B's....or F's???!! Are you "Special Ed." or "AP"? And then once someone is out of highschool he is defined by what school he's going to (or not) and what his major might be. When he's through with college, he is defined by his degree and what school he graduated from. But I believe that we are only to boast in Jesus Christ, and in no other thing. We are Christians first. Not Kindergarteners, or Seniors, or Phds, or Graduates of such and such. I'm Miranda Trujillo, and I belong to Christ.

Gal 6:14 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

3. We live a lifestyle contrary to God's Word in order to have a worldly Education. The Bible tells us how to live, but because of Education we are willing to throw God's way aside. He tells us it is not wise to be in debt (Prov. 22:7), but in the name of Education it's somehow OK and admirable to be in debt. He tells us that women are preserved through the bearing of children (1 Tim. 2:15), yet, because of Education, women put off bearing children until it's convenient for them. We are told to worship together on the first day of the week, and we are given an example of dedicating ourselves to the study of the Word. But, in order to do well in our schooling, we are willing to disobey. We are supposed to teach our children at all times about God's laws (Deut. 11:19), but we wait and try to shove it all in after school, or maybe just in Bible class (if little Johnny doesn't have homework, that is).

I am not down playing Godly education. But I don't believe that word ("education") is actually used in the Bible in the context of something we are to seek. The words that are used are "knowledge" and "wisdom".

Ps 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.

So we are not wise if we don't fear the Lord enough to put Him first. We have a good understanding if we obey His commandments, not when we save them for later so that we can pay off our college debt.

Prov 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. So, if we put off the study of God's Word in the name of homework, do we really have understanding at all?

2 Pet 1:2-3 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

God is the one who has granted us all we need to know pertaining to life. When we stop putting Education before Him, we'll be truly successful. When we stop labeling ourselves as something other than Christians (as if anything could be better or more amazing than being washed clean with Christ's blood), we'll have a real identity. When we stop disobeying His commands because we would rather serve the god of Education, we will be blessed.

Please, define yourself as a Christian. Put God's will first, not the will of the "educated" people around you. Seek education- yes- but make sure it is based on a knowledge of God and a desire for wisdom.