24 Years in FIRST Grade?
June 23rd, 2010Recently Richard May mentioned in a sermon that if we spent the same amount of time in our formal schooling that we do in our formal church Bible classes, we would be in First Grade for twenty-four years! As I heard that I thought, “What would happen if our public schools could help us with our Bible study? How much quicker could we grow if we had at least one class per day in Bible study as well as our church time, family time, and personal time?” That is a reason that many people choose to send their children to Christian schools or home school.
Then it hit me. That is EXACTLY what the Founding Fathers intended for our education system. They knew the power of knowledge. They knew that America was established, as Patrick Henry said, “not on religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.” America was to be a FREE country and it was to be a CHRISTIAN nation. People needed to be able to read so they could study the Bible.
I read that Connecticut once passed a law for their citizens where the authorities would send inspectors to each home in their state. The inspectors would test the children in each household to be sure they could read at the level they were supposed to. If not, the parents were fined. What was their reasoning? They knew that legislators need accountability. They determined that if the people could read, they would be able to read the laws that were being passed by Congress. If those laws did not match the Bible, the people could protest and have the laws removed.
The New England Primer used the Bible to teach children to read and write. It was written in 1690 and used in one form or another until the early twentieth century. The children learned stories and doctrines from the Bible at an early age. Some were so adept at learning that they were able to enter schools like Harvard and Yale (once Christian schools) while in their early teens!
How far from our moorings we have drifted as a nation! How amazing the wisdom of our ancestors! How can WE get back on track?
Beginning where we are, we must make a more concerted effort to learn and to learn. Most importantly, we must learn the word of God from Genesis to Revelation. We must see His hand in the history of the world and our country. America did not happen by accident. Even men like George Washington realized that Providence established the nation, not the military or political skills of the citizens (see also Zechariah 4:6).
Turn off the TV and slow down. Take time to read the Bible daily. In the words of Jesus, “Could you not tarry one hour?” Knowing the Bible will make all the difference on all the levels!
Keep The Light Burning!
Perry Greene
