p. 24 | The World's Education Versus Christian Education

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 9, 1908

The World's Education Versus Christian Education

By Nora B. Ammon

The Japanese government began, a number of years ago, to send its young men to the schools of other nations. A few years later they returned to it as teachers, doctors, lawyers, statesmen, warriors, architects, and civil engineers. As the result of the work of these students, railroads have crept over their land; buildings have grown higher; navy yards have taken their place along the coasts; schools have been built; and Japan now stands, as the result of education, a world power. The army which the United States sustains in the Philippines is not accomplishing more, perhaps, to bring civilization with all its benefits to those islands than is the system of public schools which is being introduced. Worldly education leads to worldly citizenship, and there is no other logical result. But if we as Christians depend upon worldly education, our altars will be robbed, our sanctuaries deserted, our ministers will lack power, and our missionaries zeal. We shall transplant to the beds of the world's conservatories our rarest plants to blossom for a master who will use them for his own pleasure.

“God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him.” And though that image has grown faint and marred, our Father has never lost sight of his own. “Render . . . unto God the things that are God's.” We can render to him nothing but that which is his own—all our children. He asks us to plant them in the vineyard of the Lord, where the Heavenly Gardener can care for them, where in the great harvest day their fruit will be after its kind—in the image of God.

The apostles and prophets claimed their citizenship in the world to come. They looked for a city whose builder and maker was God. They taught the faith of Jesus; they studied to show themselves approved unto God; they stood between the inhabitants of this world and their ruin, pointing them to a better country. They taught all to behold the beauty of their Father's kingdom. Joseph and Daniel, though engaged in the busy marts of Egypt and Babylonia, did not join in the intrigues of the politicians around them. Their political views were changed by the views which they entertained of the better country, and they were true citizens of that land, though abiding for the time being in this. They so conducted the affairs of this world's kingdoms that they led men to acknowledge their God as the King above all kings.

Which shall we choose for ourselves and our children, worldly citizenship with its temporal reward and peace, or the heavenly with an everlasting habitation in an earth made new? Which shall we trust to bear its fruit in our families? For remember its seed is in itself, and the harvest comes surely to the sower. Surely we will choose that education which leads to the everlasting citizenship of heaven.

Mrs. Nora B. Ammon.