Theme: CHRISTIANITY AND SECULAR EDUCATION
Text: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” – Romans 12:2.
Comment: The Holy Bible, the inspired word of God, is not opposed to secular education for worshippers of God. The Bible itself is replete with records of well-known men of God who applied their learning in secular fields in His service. Mention can be made of Moses the Prophet, Ezra the Scribe, Luke the Physician, Paul the Apostle, whom H. G. Wells described in his book A Short History of the World as “a man of great intellectual vigour”, among many others. So too, Christians of today are not discouraged from receiving College or University education but the warning has always been there against the danger in believing in vain philosophies and preferring academic knowledge to spiritual knowledge.
The fact that must be borne in mind is that academic knowledge is of secondary importance knowing that it does not even make one what the world calls a “perfect gentleman” let alone a qualification for righteousness. What is of primary importance is spiritual knowledge – the true knowledge of God as revealed in the Holy Scriptures – which brings one both material and spiritual blessings and salvation in God’s perfect Kingdom by His grace. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” – 2 Timothy 3:16, 17.