The Beginning and End of Education

“…But they’re still getting a good education,” I overheard a grandmother say about her grandchildren’s non-Christian education.

When I heard the word “good,” it made me pause and ask, “What is a good education?” I am sure, after all, that the school this grandmother spoke of could disseminate information as effectively as any other comparable school. But was what this school was accomplishing truly good?

Jesus as the Beginning of Education

In recent decades, we seem to have created this mythical neutral space for education. It is in this space that we find Christians saying things like “but it’s a good education” about the schools that do not teach explicitly from a Christian worldview. If we look for neutral spaces in Scripture, we will instead find places like where Jesus says to the Beloved Disciple in Revelation 22:13, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” “Jesus wasn’t talking about my kid’s school here,” some might reply. However, if Jesus is the beginning and end of all things, then education is not exempt. According to this verse, Christ has everything to do with how we educate our children.

Christians believe that God created the world through Jesus (Gen. 1:1; John 1:1–3; Col. 1:15–17). If Jesus is the origin of all things and holds all things together, then nothing can be taught to its fullest without being rooted in Him. Wisdom and knowledge begin with God (Prov 1:7, 9:10).

So then, if Jesus is the beginning, then what we teach about biology matters. Teaching that God created us in His image is vastly different from teaching that we are the products of purposeless chance. In psychology, we are not just another animal driven by instinct; we are slaves to sin without Christ and need His freedom. In math and physics, we see that order and laws of the created universe are given to us by a Good Lawgiver. In literature, we see that all stories are but subplots and imitations of the Greatest Story. When we acknowledge Jesus as the beginning of all things and teach accordingly, we join the song all of creation is already singing rather than attempting to rewrite it.

Jesus as the End of Education

Jesus also identified himself as the “end” (telos). The telos word group often refers to more than a conclusion. Telos can be an end goal; becoming whole; reaching fullest potential; fulfillment; being filled full (Matt 5:48; Luke 1:45; John 19:30; 2 Cor 12:9; Eph 4:13; Heb 10:14; Jas 1:4; Rev 10:7). Jesus is the culmination of a good education, and all knowledge and wisdom become whole in Him.

Everyone is headed somewhere. Where is your child’s school taking them? Would you place your child on a bus that you knew was going off a cliff? Absolutely not. The direction of all history is toward Jesus. All of history will reach its end and fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ as every knee bows and every tongue confesses that He is Lord (Phil 2:9–11). We are heading in the wrong direction when our educational goals do not align with God’s purpose. When our educational goals swim with the current of His Story, everything else falls into its rightful place. Grades, extracurriculars, college scholarships, and technology are not ultimate; only the glory of God is ultimate.

Education that does not recognize God as the foundation of reality is a fundamentally broken education. Good education begins and ends with knowing God and connecting all subjects and concepts back to His character and deeds. People often describe education as a journey. If education is a journey, then not acknowledging God as Creator and Sustainer is like navigating a dense forest with the wrong map and a broken compass.

Practical Encouragement

Christian teachers, your students are sinners who need a Savior. In a million years, your students will not remember the Pythagorean theorem. Getting that one kid to sit still and listen will not determine your fate at the Great White Throne. Both you and they will be judged on what you did with Jesus. Giving them the gospel is of utmost importance. Public-school teachers, intentionally share the gospel and biblical wisdom in personal conversations with students. Before- or after-school programs, as well as student-led clubs, are excellent opportunities. Christian-school teachers, make sure you aren’t just tacking Jesus on to the end of a lesson like an afterthought. Since you have the freedom to speak of Scripture and Christ within the classroom, permeate every subject and conversation with the gospel. All teachers have the responsibility to uphold Jesus as the beginning and telos of education to offer a truly good education.

Christian parents, God has given you the mandate to educate and disciple your children. Schools and churches are partners with us to achieve this goal. Assess your child’s school and teachers. What is the beginning and end of education for your child’s school? Does it align with Scripture, the person of Jesus Christ, and the direction of history? If not, then you, as the parent, will have to be proactive. If you decide for your child to remain in that environment, your conversations with him or her should center around what they are learning and how it all finds its beginning and end in Jesus. The public-school family will be teaching that as a corrective. The Christian-school family will be teaching it as reinforcement.

Good education begins and ends with knowing God and connects all subjects and concepts back to His character and deeds. Students receive the most effective education when the home and school teach the same view of reality. That ideal is not possible in many circumstances. However, whether you’re the teacher or the parent, teach Christ as the beginning and end of all things. Images of God will be restored, and God will be glorified when you do.