Theme: CHRISTIANITY AND SECULAR EDUCATION
Text: “And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” – Habakkuk 2:2.
Comment: Writing and reading are activities that only formally educated persons can perform effectively. For the Lord to tell Habakkuk the prophet to write and record what he saw in “the vision” makes learning an important feature of God’s desire for man. Of course, what is written has to be read and only a lettered person can read. Moses gained from all the knowledge and wisdom of the Egyptians, and this helped him in the work for which he was chosen. (Acts 5:34) Paul was brought up in Jerusalem, the principal seat of Jewish learning, at the feet of Gamaliel, an eminent doctor of Jewish Law – Acts 22:3.
Because the Holy Bible emphasizes knowledge, children of God are enjoined to be studious so that they could be in a position to read and understand the gospel and to spread it as far as possible. The essence of education from the Christian perspective is for one to live a life that is in harmony with the will of God and that will lead one to eternal life. Any kind of knowledge that leads one to an opposite direction is useless. Scriptures say: “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein…” – Revelation 1:3.