Jesus Did Not Entrust the Education of the Children to Those Who Would Not Bring Them to Him

“Jesus does not send the children to the rabbis; he does not send them to the Pharisees; for he knows that these men would teach them to reject their best Friend. The mothers that brought their children to Jesus, did well. Remember the text, ‘Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.’ Let mothers now lead their children to Christ.” (Review and Herald, March 24, 1896).

Christ Adventist School Govindpur, located in Amrapara, Jharkhand, India, held a school dance on August 15, 2024. Adventist students danced to secular music, imitating the style of dance performed by people in the world. Because the church is called to be a reflection of God’s holiness, love, and truth, it is imperative that there be a clear separation between how the church lives and how the world operates. Unfortunately, there isn’t much of a line separating Christ from the world in many Adventist institutions.

The values and behaviors of the world have embodied many of our schools today, and we are forgetting the lessons Christ taught us about what it means to be set apart, distinct, and uniquely belonging to God. Tragically, as more and more of our institutions align themselves with the standards of the world in music and entertainment, this will mean that we will no longer be the light of the world.

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2: 15–17.

The church is called to a higher standard of love, one that is rooted in the word of God rather than in the fleeting pleasures and values of this corrupt generation. When we love the world, this will only draw our hearts away from God. The world is incompatible with the love of the Father because it fosters desires that are contrary to His will and will only lead us to the path of sin and death. By not loving the things of the world, the church remains focused on its divine mission, preserving its purity and distinctiveness as the body of Christ, and standing as a countercultural witness to the eternal, unchanging values of God’s kingdom.

Christian educators have a profound duty to train their students in the fear and admonition of the Lord because they are entrusted with shaping not only the minds but also the hearts and souls for God’s kingdom. We have a biblical mandate to raise our children in a way that glorifies God, teaching them to love, respect, and obey His commandments.

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6.

By instilling a reverence for God and His Word, educators should help students develop a moral and spiritual foundation that guides their decisions and actions throughout life. This training goes beyond mere academic instruction; it involves nurturing a relationship with God, encouraging students to live according to His principles, and preparing them to be godly leaders in this world. Christian educators are supposed to play a crucial role in helping students grow in wisdom and character, equipping them to live lives that will positively impact those living around us.

However, when our institutions do not fulfill God’s command, we are not obligated to send our children to their care because exposure to worldly principles conflicts with our Seventh-day Adventist beliefs. Such an environment will only undermine our children’s faith, mislead them, and cloud their understanding of right and wrong. Jesus never sent children to those who would not teach them the ways of God, and neither should we. God has given us the responsibility to keep our children safe because we will be responsible for them on the Day of Judgment.