SCHOOL NEWS

NORWICH

The School Board of the Rehoboth Christian School, Norwich, Ontario, Canada, needs two teachers for the coming school year to teach in the higher grades, especially one teacher to teach history.

Applicants that are interested are requested to send in their application and resume to the Principal, Mr. Otto deLeeuw, R.R. No. 3, Norwich, Ontario, Canada NOJ-1P0, Tel. No. 519/863-6810, or the Secretary of the school baord Mr. John Honcoop, E. Main St., Norwich, Ontario, Canada NOJ-1P0, Tel. No. 519/863-2443.

LETHBRIDGE-FORT MACLEOD

Calvin Christian School of the Netherlands Reformed Congregations of Lethbridge and Fort Macleod invites applications from certified teachers for the Elementary and Junior High School levels.

The school hopes to begin its second school year in Sept. 1980, the Lord willing.

Presently, grades 1 to 7 are taught, and hopefully, kindergarten and grade 8 can be added this coming school year.

For information contact the principal, Mr. A.H. Verhoef at telephone number 430/328-0495.

Applications should be sent to Mr. Adrian De Wilde, Sec’y, P.O. Box 142, Monarch, Alberta, Canada, TOL-1M0, Tel. No. 403/824-3698.

TIMOTHY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Chilliwack, B.C.

The Lord willing, we plan to add the twelfth grade to our curriculum in the next school year. In doing so, we need to hire two more teachers for our high school program. Some preferance of subject area(s) and grade levels can be given. Anyone interested in applying or desiring more specific information concerning these positions is invited to contact our president or principal.

May the Lord graciously provide for our needs, and the needs of all our schools in this respect also.

The Timothy Christian School Board

Rev. A.W. Verhoef, President

Rev. A.W. Verhoef, President

26 Woodbine Street

Chlliwack, B.C.

Canada V2P5S4

(604) 795-9075

Mr. James W. Beeke, Principal

10435 McGrath Road, R.R. No. 1

Rosedale, B.C.

Canada VOX 1X0

(604)794-7109

ARE OUR OWN CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS REALLY NECESSARY?

PART V

Objection Number 5:

“There is a danger with learning all that
Biblical head knowledge.”

There is a danger involved with any possesion of knowledge; also with Biblical knowledge. The danger, however, is not in the learning of knowledge, but in the misuse of the knowledge acquired. There are still Scribes and Pharisees today (also in our own hearts) which desire to pride themselves in their Biblical knowledge which they have acquired and view themselves as prominent in the Kingdom of Heaven. Others have removed God from His throne, by teaching that good Christian instruction, of itself, will make true Christians. But, because some have misused Biblical knowledge does not mean that we should promote Biblical ignorance. Biblical ignorance is directly warned against in God’s Word and in the teachings of all the Reformers. We are diligently commanded to “search the Scriptures” (John 5:39a), but never are we told that it is acceptable to be lazy or to remain ignorant of the teachings of God’s Word. Study the revivals in Israel’s Old Testament history: so often a revival included a whole-hearted effort to instruct all the people in the truth of God’s Word. Think of the times of Moses, Joshua, David, Jehosophat, Josiah, Ezra, and several other God-fearing leaders: they certainly laboured diligently to instruct their people. How often God has shown that He delights to bless even the weakest means.

While the misuse of Biblical knowledge can be very dangerous; ignorance of God’s Word is even more alarming. The Lord instructs us in Hosea 4:6a “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:”. The Reformation was a battle to again bring the Light of God’s Word to all people. An all out effort was made to educate all people to read, that they might be able to study God’s Word. Our Reformed Fathers speak out strongly against Biblical ignorance and solidly promote sound religious education. John Knox felt this point so strongly that he even recommended the excommunication of all parents who do not provide a sound religious education for their children.

“Those who suffer their children and family and servants to continue in willful ignorance, the discipline of the church must proceed against them unto excommunication…”

—John Knox: Early Protestant Educators -

p. 294

John Calvin instructed his Consistory:

“…to discover whether he teaches his children constantly as a Christian should do and sends them to school. “

—Calvin’s Institutes 2:635

“…the home of every citizen, the most prominent as well as thè least, stand open at all times for the members of the consistorium… At least once a year…shall every residence in the city be visited, in order to gain information through questions, examinations, and observations in regard to the religious training.”

—Calvin: Institutes 2:634

Melancthon, Luther’s fellow-laborer, expresses his views concerning education:

“By our example we must excite youth to the admiration of learning, and induce them to love it for its own sake, and not for the advantage that may be derived from it. The destruction of learning brings with it the ruin of everything that is good—religion, morals, and all things human and divine. The better a man is, the greater his ardor in the preservation of learning: he knows that of all plagues, ignorance is the most pernicious… To neglect the youth in our schools is just like taking the the spring out of the year. They, indeed, take away the spring from the year who permit the schools to decline, because religion cannot be maintained without them.”

—Melancthon: History of Education p. 150 Our more recent Church fathers also spoke out against Biblical ignorance and strongly promoted good Christian education. A few examples are as follows:

“II. A second way to hell, in which multitudes are found hastening to their own damnation, is the way of affected ignorance. The generality of people, even in a land enlightened with the gospel, are found grossly ignorant of Christ the true and only way to heaven, and of repentance and faith, the only way to Christ; and thus the people perish for want of knowledge.” (Hos. IV:6)

—John Flavel: “A Treatise of the Soul of Man”

-Works 3:186-7

“Now these things hath God done, (revealed His Truth through prophets, angels, writers, and His own Son), not only for the instruction of ministers and men of learning; but for the instruction of all men, of all sorts, learned and unlearned, men, women, and children. And certainly if God doth such great things to teach us, we ought to do something to learn.” “…If God hath been so engaged in teaching, certainly we should not be negligent in learning; but should make growing in knowledge a great part of the business of our life.”

—Jonathan Edwards: “Exhortation to Gain Christian Knowledge” - Works 2:160

“You cannot make your children love the Bible, I allow. None but the Holy Ghost can give us a heart to delight in the Word. But you can make your children acquainted with the Bible; and be sure they cannot be acquainted with that blessed book too soon, or too well.”

-J.C. Ryle, “The Duties of Parents”:

The Upper Room - p. 290

Are our own Christian schools really necessary?

(to be continued)

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