The Place for Christian Education



by Ronnie Jeff Johnson, Ph.D.



The most important place for Christian education is not a theological seminary. Neither is it a Bible college or Christian school. It is not even Sunday School or other church services. Where is the most important place for Christian education? Basic instruction on Christian Education is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-7. To the Hebrews, this passage was known as the SHEMA, a primary confession of faith. It provides a clue to the most important place for Christian education.

Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! (4)

The first Hebrew word in verse 4, SHEMA, is "hear" or "listen and obey." These verses were read at the opening of synagogue services. They were to be said two times each day. They were held in such high regard that they were quite literally taken, in that, they were actually worn on the body and written on doorposts of houses and city gates.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. (5)

The Hebrews understood that personal relationship with God is essential. Christians today understand that a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is essential. The Jews recognized this as one of the most important passages in the Old Testament. Jesus called verse 5 the "greatest and first commandment" (Matthew 22:36-38).

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart; (6)

"These words" (verse 6) refer back to the Ten Commandments given in Deuteronomy chapter five. The Ten Commandments represent all of the instructions, commands, and promises contained in the Word of God. The Word of God should be in your heart. In the Hebrew understanding of physiology, the heart is the seat of the emotions, mind, and will. Whatever is in your heart, makes you the person that you are.

Therefore, it is important to have the Word of God firmly imbedded in your heart. Memorizationof the Word is important. Meditation on the Word is more important. Understanding the meaningof the Word to your life is most important of all. For an understanding of what the Word of God means to you will guide your actions, desires, and inner motivations.

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. (7)

The most important place for Christian Education is not a seminary. The most important place for Christian Education is not a Bible college or Christian school. The most important place for Christian Education is not even in the church or Sunday School. The most important place for Christian Education is the home.

It is a place of diligent instruction. Parents have a responsibility to religiously educate their children. It is a place that uses lifestyle instruction. "Do as I say, not as I do" just won't work. Your children see you when you go to church, study the Bible, and tell them what to do. The also see you when you get up in the morning, drive them to school, watch a video or TV program, and hit your thumb with a hammer. They see what is important to you and they see what you do after church service is over.

You shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorpost of your house and on your gates. (8-9)

This is the figurative language that was taken literally later on. The Word of God was written on parchment, placed into leather pouches called phylacteries, and worn on the forehead and on the back of the hand. It was a good idea at first, because every time a person looked at his hands to do something, there was a reminder that the Word of God was to guide their actions. However, like many good ideas, the philactories lost their meaning after a time and became like a good luck charm with no deeper meaning.

Do not neglect the meaning of these verses. The Word of God should be upon your hands, influencing everything you do with them. It should also be as "frontlets between your eyes," guarding what you look at and think about.

The Word of God was also written on the doorposts of houses and gates of cities. This served as an announcement to anyone who entered that God was a member of that household. Does everyone who enters your home recognize that it is the most important place for Christian education?






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