It's time for a pop quiz. Why do students attend your Christian school? Is it for a better educational experience, smaller class sizes, college preparation, better test scores, or a more rigorous curriculum? Hint: this is a trick question. The answer is none of the above. Parents choose to enroll because they want their children to be taught a faith-based education with Christian values and morals.

According to the Council for American Private Education, "Eighty-one percent of private school children were enrolled in religiously affiliated schools in 2007-2008 in the United States."

At AOP we believe parents enroll their children in Christian schools to further develop Christian faith. Because of this, we believe that schools need to ground every subject and every activity in the saving message of Jesus Christ.

Is prayer time, chapel, or Bible class enough time to teach students how to be solid Christians? If students don't see a complete Christian worldview, will they know why they should to make the Lord their Savior? It's every Christian school's goal to help students be filled with the Holy Spirit, make godly decisions, and defend what they believe. If teachers aren't given the time or resources to teach a strong foundation, what will happen to students? Perhaps we should place God in the heart of every schedule instead of allowing Him a forty-minute time slot.

Matthew 7:24-25 says, "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which build his house upon a rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock." Is your Christian school teaching students to build their house upon the rock?

Questions to Ask

Do you incorporate God and biblical principals into every subject area?

Do you use a Bible-based curriculum that demonstrates a complete Christian worldview?

Do you use everyday situations to teach godly morals?

Do you encourage and support teachers and staff in their walk with the Lord?

Do you and your staff portray and promote Christ-like values in all your actions?

Does your curriculum or your teachers clearly explain Creationism and God's hand in the origin of the universe and mankind?

Making Your School Stronger

As Christian educators, it's easy to get caught up in the academics, the activities, the fund raisers, the tests, and the grading. Intentions are good, but you're faced with crisis after crisis of shrinking budgets, limited teachers, extra duties to get done in the same amount of time, or even the threat of closure. You're pushed daily to your limits.

It's precisely in times of trial that we must show a godly example and fully integrate Christ into life and learning. Students will notice. Errors will happen as each of us is fallen and sinful. If good examples aren't shown, then how can we fault students for not living a Christian lifestyle?

Parents make financial sacrifices to enroll their children in Christian school; it's their children, the students, who deserve to have Christ infused within their lives. If families want to put faith first, Christian schools should as well.

Matthew 7:26-27 continues with a word of caution, "And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which build his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell; and great was the fall of it."

Please share the ways your Christian school incorporates God into daily living in the comment field below.