Why
is the Public School System Such a Mess?
A
look at the history of education explains how
we got to the state education system today. We'll
start all the way back to Greek philosophy. Yes,
the Puritans did attempt to get back to a godly
education. We'll cover that later in this article.
Follow this look at education through history
to see how education got to where it is today.
Greek philosophies are alive and well in today's
American educational system. The word philosophy
is from the Greek word philosophia, which means
"love of wisdom" (from phileo, "to love,"
and sophia, "wisdom"). As used originally by the
ancient Greeks, the term philosophy meant the
pursuit of knowledge for its own sake. Every
Christian should know about the differences between
the pagan Greek philosophies and the education
of the Bible. The Greek philosophies are
not only in the public school system but are also
creeping in our churches. See
The Roots of Modern Education: Ancient Greece:
.
The
Bible Speaks to the Dangers of Greek Educational
Philosophies
True
knowledge cannot be gained by unaided human reason.
Canst thou by searching find out God? canst
thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? (Job
11:7) O the depth of the riches both of the
wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable
are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
(Romans 11:33).
Teachers of philosophy give their lives to examining
convictions by which people can live in order
to develop a consistent world view and way of
life based on reliable evidence. The Bible
warns against philosophies whose highest
realities and concerns are atoms, energy, cosmic
laws, or humanity-those founded on the basic
principles of the world, and not according
to Christ.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy
and vain deceit, after the tradition of men,
after the rudiments of the world, and not after
Christ. (Colossians 2:8).
Christians ought to beware so their minds will
not be taken captive by such philosophies
as secular humanism, communism, and capitalistic
materialism. These philosophies are best
fought with spiritual weapons. (For the weapons
of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through
God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing
that exalteth itself against the knowledge of
God, and bringing into captivity every thought
to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians
10:4-5). For ye see your calling, brethren,
how that not many wise men after the flesh,
not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But
God hath chosen the foolish things of the
world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen
the weak things of the world to confound
the things which are mighty; And base things
of the world, and things which are despised, hath
God chosen, yea, and things which are not,
to bring to nought things that are (1 Corinthians
1:26-28).
Paul
Speaks to the Students of Philosophy
The chief biblical example of how to help students
of philosophy who do not accept biblical
authority is found in Paul's ministry to the Epicureans
and philosophers at Athens. Paul commended
their zeal, quoted them favorably on a point
of agreement, declared the truth about the living
Lord of all, announced their accountability
to Christ (not to Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus,
or Zeno), and called on them to repent and trust
Jesus Christ.
Now
while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit
was stirred in him, when
he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with
the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in
the market daily with them that met with
him. Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans,
and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And
some said, What will this babbler say? other
some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange
gods: because he preached unto them Jesus,
and the resurrection. And they took him, and brought
him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this
new doctrine,
whereof thou speakest, is? For thou bringest certain
strange things to our ears: we would know
therefore what these things mean. (For all
the Athenians and strangers which were there
spent their time in nothing else, but either to
tell, or to hear some new thing.)
Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and
said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that
in all things ye are too superstitious. For as
I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I
found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.
Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare
I unto you. God that made the world and all
things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven
and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with
hands; Neither is worshiped with men's hands,
as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth
to all life, and breath, and all things;
And hath made of one blood all nations of men
for to dwell on all the face of the earth,
and hath determined the times before appointed,
and the bounds of their habitation; That they
should seek the Lord, if haply they might
feel after him, and find him, though he be not
far from every one of us: For in him we live,
and move, and have our being; as certain
also of your own poets have said, For we are also
his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring
of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead
is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven
by art and man's device. And the times of
this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth
all men every where to repent: Because he
hath appointed a day, in the which he will
judge the world in righteousness by that man whom
he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance
unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the
dead. And when they heard of the resurrection
of the dead, some mocked: and others said,
We will hear thee again of this matter. (Acts
17:16-34:11).
Most of us had this Greco-Roman education. Modern
education tried to change
the liberal arts in order to fill the gaps, but
ended up destroying the true principles discovered
by the Greeks. There were several philosophies
in the classical world directed at gaining
knowledge about our world. The Greeks wanted
to conform to the good and natural things of the
world, but without God. This is not possible.
NEXT:
The Greek Foundation
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