The Challenge of Christian Education in the Laodicean Church Age

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It's no doubt that this is the final church age. We've had passed through the six other church stages namely Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, and Philadelphia. This would be the Laodicean church age where Jesus warned vehemently against false converts.
Revelation 3:14-20 
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

This is the challenge of a materialistic, lukewarm church age. There are many today who are in church but are actually lukewarm. Does this verse talk about a loss of salvation? Rather, it talks about false converts who will eventually be spewed out. 1 John 2:19 talks about people who were once in the fellowship but were not truly part of the fellowship. They were just sit-ins and not genuine converts.

So the challenge today is all about how to pursue Christian education in the Laodicean church age. The urge for Christian education to be more vigilant and militant has never gone so hard. It's because the world is preparing itself for the end. "The end of the world is coming! Be ready to meet your God!" but how can people be ready if they don't hear?

I. The challenge of evangelizing the lost through Christian education

Evangelizing the lost today has never been so challenging especially in the final church days. The statement in Revelation 3:17 shows that many people today think that they have everything. You can think of people who say that they are materially rich but they are in fact deprived of spirituality. This is the case of people who aren't poor in spirit - they never see the need for God in their lives. They may have their material needs met but what about their spiritual needs? A Christian school can welcome non-believers. I remembered the statement from my high school history teacher who said, "Even if you are a Muslim - you still have to study the Bible classes in order to pass when you are in a Christian school." I remembered having entered into a Baptist Christian academy where sadly, many of the students were Roman Catholics. At least 70% estimated were Roman Catholics in a Baptist school. The saddest part was when they were told, "Roman Catholics aren't Christians." - it caused a massive outrage because Roman Catholics are taught they were Christians. Hmmmmm but nowhere in the Bible did Jesus call the Church as Roman Catholic or told us to be Catholics? So why even raise the question of "Where did Jesus say you will be Baptists or born again?", right? 

The challenge of Christian schools is to set up the windows of opportunity. Here's a chart to help explain these windows of opportunity by age:
  • Age 5 - the greatest time of learning
  • Age 6 - moral values are most likely set for life
  • Age 9 - worldview is most likely set for life
  • Age 12 - most likely to celebrate adulthood even when one has to prepare for the teenage years
  • Age 13 - religion is most likely set for life

The golden windows start to realize that from ages 1-14 - it's the ripest opportunity. The older the person gets - the less the person may be responsive to the Gospel of Christ. This isn't to say that some won't get saved in their adulthood but the likelihood is getting lesser and lesser. It's no wonder why it's easier for Christian parents to win their children in their younger years than for Christian children to win their non-Christian parents.

Christian schools would have their Bible classes. Teachers shouldn't be afraid to talk about how unbiblical doctrines abound such as Roman Catholicism, Mormonism or the Iglesia ni Cristo. However, there's the risk of getting ire. If the apostles weren't able to escape the ire of the world for preaching against their religion - how much more can people who carry out the apostolic work escape such an inevitable outcome? I remembered how my world was shattered when I was told that Mary couldn't save. I was shocked at how the Israelites were ordered to destroy the Canaanites until I realized God passed down His divine sentence towards the wicked. The Bible was full of harsh reality. I really nearly became an atheist and once planned to become a Muslim. Then I thought about how the Bible lessons started converting a few people. A former enemy of mine was a devoted Roman Catholic who became a Christian later in his life. Others though did show interest but they were shallow seekers. But better that there would be a few converts than none at all. Didn't Jesus say that many are called but few are chosen (Matthew 22:14)? 

The challenge today also has that Generation Z has growing atheism. Atheists claim they joined the movement to appear smarter when they actually become dumber. However, the late D. James Kennedy who wrote "Why I Believe" said otherwise. I remembered reading that book last 2002 and I do find it not surprising that atheists join atheism because of conviction. They know God is real but they hate Him because it goes against their lifestyle (Romans 1:19). They would want to dismiss doctrines such as a resurrected dead man who saves with blood as "mentally unhealthy" because it's humanly speaking absurd. Yet, the Gospel itself is an unpopular truth but the truth will hurt. It's disturbing how atheists say the truth will hurt yet they don't want the truth about God known or how they insist on telling and sticking to the truth while saying that there's no such thing as moral absolutes? The challenge is to give them the Gospel. If they don't believe in the Gospel then it's their problem - at least they have been warned!

Christian education focuses on godliness. Character is more important than knowledge. What you do with your knowledge is more important than that you know. Sure, you do need knowledge but character determines what one does with what they know. Subjects like sciences that are used to advance society can also be used to destroy society. Remember how science discovered various cures for various diseases would soon later allow wicked people to create germ warfare with diseases or how the atomic bomb is a misapplication of science? Science without a godly conscience is meaningless and won't bring the promise unlimited human progress. Rather, science that ignores God will only bring nothing more than destruction and chaos.

It's also educating people to trust God rather than man. Psalm 118:8 says it's better to trust God than man. This doesn't mean to teach not to trust anyone. Rather, it's all about developing godly trust while putting God above it. Trusting God's preachers is a must but remember to trust God more. Sometimes, the best of God's pastors can fall into sin and need to resign from their posts. Putting godly men on the pedestal can be a disaster. Remember the godly kings David and Solomon? Both of them fell into so much sin later in life. David would later commit adultery with a woman young enough to be his daughter. Later, Solomon in his older years would marry several heathen women that drove his heart far away from God. The pastor is not exempt from such a fall either. Pastors are after all only men. That's why religions that teach that their pastors (or priests ) save souls or can damn them are not teaching biblical doctrine.

It's also about pointing people towards trusting God in doctrine. John 7:17 has Jesus pointing out that His doctrine is of God. Whoever says doctrine isn't important is mistaken. The wrong doctrine can have disastrous results. What makes Christian doctrine superior is that it's based on truth. It also differentiates the motive of doing good works. Buddhists do a lot of good works but their doctrine is wrong about one thing - salvation. Christians do good works and for the reason that they have been saved. I was told, "Who's better between an honest Buddhist and a rapist Christian?" My answer is that a rapist "Christian" is just a nominal Christian - a Christian in name only. A true Christian would no longer be in such a sinful lifestyle even if they do still sin - but no sin gives them any prolonged pleasure as much as the unsaved man. The honest Buddhist is still lost in spite of whatever morality the person has. 

This is also all about building on the power of God's Word. If you claim to be saved but your life is still the same as before - I have every right to question it! Titus 2:11-14 and Ephesians 2:8-10 says God's grace is life-changing. 1st Corinthians 9:11 says that "and such were some of you" - meaning that salvation delivers from godlessness to godliness. Romans 4:5 says that faith counts for righteousness yet many use it as a license to ungodliness. Only fake converts would think that they have a license to sin. those who are truly redeemed in God would not want to live the same old rotten lives anymore!

II. The challenge of equipping and encouraging the saints in every area of life

The problem is that many people don't know how to witness or have given up on witnessing to their loved ones. The reason has to be with rejection and relying on one's own ability. Did they forget in Acts 2 that before Peter preached - it was God's power at work? That's why God has set authority figures over the Church. Ephesians 4:11 has God sending apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers, and pastors. Not every teacher is a pastor but every pastor is a teacher. The pastor preaches and teaches the Word of God. Teachers are there to assist. The pastoral ministry traces itself back to the apostles. Peter acted as the first pastor (and not the first Pope) of the Church. Peter preached his first Sunday sermon and continued his apostolic work and encouragement.

But where does it start? You have to have a godly Christian family that is strong in going to a truly Christian assembly on Sundays. That's why we don't allow Christians to marry non-Christians. Amos 3:3 says that can two people walk together except the two be agreed at first? How can you have a godly home when one parent is an unbeliever. It would be badly needed to have a Christian marriage because education starts at home. The Church is also an important place

What do pastors, parents, and teachers need to teach in a Christian setting? Everything starts with godliness. People may say godliness is more important than religion but how so? I'm not talking about man-made religion but true religion. The Christian religion is the only religion in the world that talks about having a personal relationship with Jesus. How can one be truly godly if one doesn't have this loving and saving personal relationship with Jesus? Isaiah 64:6 says even the best of one's good works are just filthy rags before God. Hebrews 9:14 mentions that one must be saved from their dead works before they can serve the living and true God. The only reward for the unsaved who were worldly righteous is less punishment in Hell - but even that is but cold comfort. Hell is still Hell and it's still a place of eternal torment.

The very first thing a child must learn to hear is the word no. Many people today have a Vitamin No deficiency. They are forced to carve into the world's stupidity. Why I wouldn't recommend enrolling children in their growing up years in a secular school is because the world values are different (John 15:18-19). I remembered how children measured their popularity by what they have. But a Christian parent must say "No! You must earn it yourself!" and explain why they aren't giving him or her everything he or she wants. They also need to explain the consequences of spoiled brats. Giving the firm word, "No!", whenever it's appropriate helps the child to be more satisfied later in life. It also prepares them to prioritize their needs instead of their wants. It's also to teach children never to follow their deceitful hearts but to follow what God wants. 

There's the recent reality that spanking is outlawed in schools. Isn't it any wonder why children are getting more spoiled? While a teacher beating up a student black and blue isn't called for but we do need spanking as a form of discipline. Spare the rod and spoil the child is one big problem in homes and schools. Some can say that they don't do discipline in the name of love and freedom. But guess what the Bible says whoever spares the rod hates their child (Proverbs 13:24) - not hatred in the loathing sense but hatred because true love tolerates no error (1 Corinthians 13:6). The rod of correction is there to correct errors from the child. If we don't even start to discipline right now as children then how can we expect them to grow up right? It's like how you get mad at your child who you spoiled so much for being ungrateful. How can you expect a child to be grateful when all spoiling does is teach the child to take things for granted? If they never learned to follow rules as a child then how can you expect them to follow rules as an adult? Schools and parents must still spank within reason even if the world says no to it. 

They must be taught to give their best to the LORD. Colossians 3:23-24 says that whatever you do whether in eat or drink - do it for God's glory. It's a sad thing that menial work is often looked as insignificant. Yet, Jesus warned in Luke 16:10 that one who can't be trusted in little can't be trusted in much. Why do you think children should learn tasks such as cleaning one's own room, sweeping the floor and cleaning the toilets? It's because it teaches godly character such as badly needed humility. Jesus even cleaned the feet of His disciples. Sadly, you've got people who say, "There's a janitor. Why should we pick up the garbage?" Yes, there is a janitor but they are only there to help but not to do all the cleaning. Students learn godly values by doing janitorial work. Janitorial work is all about cleaning up the mess! I remembered getting mad when I was called a janitor. Now, I can take pride in mopping and sweeping especially when I see my authorities above me do the same not for recognition but because they value cleanliness. There's a saying after all that cleanliness is next to godliness. If they can be trusted to keep the area clean then they can be ready to be trained for bigger things.

This is because they must be ready in every little detail to bigger detail. They are but human and are going to faint. Training in godliness will help them prepare to march against the evils of the Laodicean church age. Without godly training then how can they fulfill the Great Commission in the final age when godliness is run amuck?