Written by David Seibel | 9.20.19
This helpful article on choosing education for your children has been a blessing to many Christian parents, and I commend it. You should also see my article on choosing the best educational option for your child. It has helped me better understand the limitations of the schooling option that I have chosen for my children, namely Classical Christian education at an independent school.
What’s the Biggest Drawback?
Here on the podcast Basecamp Live, Monica Whately shares Nine Reasons Why Classical Education May Not Be for You.
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Many people are not excited about the cost, the lack of athletic opportunities, the lack of diversity, lack of buildings and funding, etc. Those are easily overcome, given some time and perspective. But Christian parents often overlook the biggest drawback of Classical Education.
In most Christian schools, there is not much opportunity for students to tell their unbelieving friends about the good news.
Evangelistic opportunity to outsiders typically lacks at Christian schools during the school day, and this is a drawback. In most Christian schools, there is not much opportunity for students to tell their unbelieving friends about the merciful message of Jesus Christ for sinners. Although it is evident that not all students have saving faith in Jesus, every student has ample opportunity to know and grow in the grace of Christ. Within a Classical Christian school, you are not going to hear many questionable stories about what took place over the weekend, or how they attended a mosque for worship, etc. As someone who became a Christian at age 21 through a campus ministry, I long for students to want to share this message.
“Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell. I want to run a rescue shop, within a yard of hell.”
World-class athlete turned missionary C.T. Studd once said, “Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop, within a yard of hell.” My hope is that parents take the call for all Christians seriously to witness personally and to involve their kids in witnessing to their unbelieving neighbors and family for the glory of God. I love the idea of taking risks with the Gospel, and the Gospel could appear less risky for those who attend a Classical Christian school – things do feel pretty safe most days!
Families who are evangelistically-minded will need to think strategically if Classical Christian education is for them. It is definitely not going to feel like a rescue shop within a yard of hell. I don’t have a great short-term solution to this reality, but I know that in the long-term, the aim is to form the hearts of students in such a way that they want to set up their own rescue shops within a yard of hell.
As Head of School at Coram Deo Academy, Dave Seibel aims to cultivate a generation of scholar-disciples who are passionate about learning. He is husband to Brooke and father of four future Coram Deo students. He is a graduate of Wabash College, Marian University and in final Master of Divinity course at Southern Seminary.
