5 Myths of Education
Myth Four

Christian Children Should be Missionaries in the Secular School

This myth has its roots in the scriptural mandate that we, as Christians, are called to be salt and light in the world. The Great Commission further urges Christians to “go and make disciples of all nations…”

With this said, should Christians be sending their children into the secular school as missionaries? Children are childlike. The Webster-Merriam dictionary defines “childlike” as “resembling, suggesting, or appropriate to a child or childhood; especially: marked by innocence, trust, and ingenuousness.” Children are extremely impressionable due to emotions affected by growth and hormonal change and the fact that their brains are rapidly absorbing information and developing.

According to an MIT Young Adult Development Project, the human brain does not fully develop until at least the mid-twenties. The study goes on to say,”The specific changes that follow young adulthood are not yet well studied, but it is known that they involve increased myelination and continued adding and pruning of neurons. As a number of researchers have put it, “the rental car companies have it right.” The brain isn’t fully mature at 16, when we are allowed to drive, or at 18, when we are allowed to vote, or at 21, when we are allowed to drink, but closer to 25, when we are allowed to rent a car.

Missionaries are supposed to be fully trained before they enter the mission field. This training prepares them to “give an explanation of scriptures and withstand the abuse and rejection that Jesus promised from the world.” Children themselves are still being taught by educators and their parents how to conduct themselves socially and therefore cannot effectively endure persecution by their classmates. The Bible clearly teaches us that children lack maturity.

“Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child.” – Proverbs 22:15

We are in a spiritual battle; a battle for souls. So Michael Lee of Cherokee Christian Schools gives us two illustrations:

“First, let us examine a military example because the Bible gives us so many analogies of the Christian life to warfare. When have we ever thought that we should send a 6, 10, or 14 year old child to Iraq to disarm roadside bombs or negotiate with terrorists? Or let us ask a less militaristic question of how we use our children. Why do we not have our children driving cars at 10 years old or running for political office when they are 12 years old? Yes, these questions are somewhat ridiculous because the answers are so obvious! Children must have an opportunity to grow up to an age where they have both physical and mental preparation before we thrust them in such situations.”

This lack of maturity can result in our children being negatively influenced by secular philosophy and peers who don’t know Christ as their Lord and savior.

Michael Lee states it this way:
“The Bible contradicts the thinking that a well-mannered, sweet child can be a spiritual change agent. In fact, the teaching of the Bible tells us that every child is born with a sinful nature that is bent toward sinning and is not prone to honor and obey God. Rather than a sweet, young person changing those around him for the good, the Bible tells us that it is more likely that those who don’t obey and love God will change that sweet, young person for bad.”

The scriptures support this:

“Do not be deceived. Bad company corrupts good morals.” – 1 Corinthians 15:33

“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” – Proverbs 13:20

“The devil is like a roaming lion looking to devour someone.” – 1 Peter 5:8

Many of our myths were inspired by and taken in part from Cherokee Christian School’s “10 Most Popular Myths Christian Parents Believe” Used with permission.