The Christian in the School-Room

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 4, 1907

The Christian in the School-Room

The following was printed in the Ram’s Horn a few months ago. Surely this is suggestive of our duty as Christians:—

“EDITOR Ram’s Horn: Is church-membership decreasing? That was the plain question you asked recently, and the answers, coming from different parts of our land, were in the affirmative. As to cause and remedy the opinions differed somewhat. A thought that the Sabbath should be kept more sacred; B wanted the simple, true gospel preached; and C regarded a general repentance to be necessary. I, too, agree with these brethren; their advice is good, but according to my opinion they do not come down to the root of the matter. None know: those are worthy questions.

“The old Christians pass away, and there is no coming generation to fill their places.” “What may be the cause?” “How is this to be remedied?” Indeed, those are questions worthy to be considered.

“It is my firm belief that at least one cause is this, that the American Christians neglect the spiritual training of their children. ‘Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.’

“If we, Christians of America, want our children to follow us in the path of righteousness, we must not only pray for them, but also do everything in our power to lead them to Christ. It is not enough to take them along on Sabbath to Sabbath-school and to church. It is the instruction given them during the week which counts.

“Let me ask you, Christian parents, who is your child’s teacher in the public school? Is he a Christian? Or perhaps a pantheist, an evolutionist, a Catholic, or an atheist? Who is it that transplants his ideas into your child’s mind? A child has faith in its teacher, and there in the schoolroom is the tender soul of your child cast into a fixed mold.

“There are those who say religion has nothing to do with education. Is this true? Can we teach physiography without taking God into consideration? Can history be taught by a Christian without showing the mighty hand of him who rules the nations? Christians, is it not our duty to take care that our children receive a Christian’s instruction.

“The name of your blessed Saviour, Christ Jesus, may not be named as such in your child’s schoolroom, for there are children also of Jews and unbelievers who hate him. Do you dare to account for this when he comes?

“Luther has said, ‘Give me the children, and the future is mine.’ Give your children into the care of the world, and you see the result.”—Selected.