THE TRUE EDUCATIONAL BASIS.
By H. A. St. John
It appears to me so evident that no person of whatever age is prepared to make substantial progress in Christian education until fully converted to God. I would impress the same truth upon the mind of every educator in the school of Christ. Certainly no one would think for a moment that an unconverted person would be at all fitted to teach in a school intended to impart a Christian education. Such a teacher would lack an absolutely essential qualification for such a responsible position. If, then, it be so necessary that a teacher be truly converted, and have a living experience in the things of God, in order to impart truth to the learner, then why should it not be deemed just as important that the learners be likewise converted, that their minds and hearts be in a condition to receive the truth into good ground, where it will spring up and bring forth fruit unto eternal life? Until the pupil is converted, the teacher, with all his faithfulness, energy, and efficiency, is surely building on the sand. And some day all such structures will fall. All true education is character building, and all character building not founded on hearing and doing the sayings of Christ rests upon a sandy foundation. It must needs be taken down by repentance, or some day, when the time for repentance is forever past, it will fall, and great will be the fall thereof. Now if these things be true, and I verily believe they are, then should not every teacher in all of our schools see, sense, and realize the importance of this matter? If it be true that the teacher of Christian education must be in Christ, and that such education can be obtained only in Christ, then why does it not follow irresistibly that the pupil must also be in Christ? And to be in Christ is to be converted—born again, from above. Hence it appears that the first, the highest, and the constant concern of the true teacher should be to have every pupil a member of Christ's body, and growing into Him in all things; otherwise all effort in their behalf will prove as wood, hay, or stubble, or a structure founded on the sand. It is recorded in the Word of God that, once upon a time, when a company of divinity students were engaged in building a place for a school on the bank of the river, under the direction and instruction of Elisha the prophet, the ax of one of the workers came off the handle and fell into the stream. Now the great teacher did not say to the unfortunate student, "Never mind; go ahead and do the best you can with the ax-handle." No, no; the ax was the important part and must be restored, tho a miracle were necessary, before the student could go on with his work. Likewise in the Christian school of to-day, the miracle of conversion is necessary; it is the important part, and must be wrought before the student can properly begin, or successfully prosecute, the glorious work of restoring the moral image of God in himself. And when the student is brought to see and feel the need of Jesus, and cries, "Alas! Master, I am undone and lost; I am helpless; have mercy upon me, forgive my sins, cleanse me from all unrighteousness, and give unto me Thy Holy Spirit," he will find Elisha's God just as ready to work a miracle in his behalf as He was to work in behalf of the student of long ago. For, upon confession, He is faithful and just to forgive sin, and to cleanse from all unrighteousness. Every teacher in a school of Christian education should realize that carnal-minded students are not only incapable of making progress, but are a constant source of evil influence. Hence, from whatever standpoint we view the matter, we clearly see the importance of conversion as the basis of a true Christian education. It is recorded of Dr. Adam Clarke that, up to the time of his conversion, he was a dull and listless student, but after conversion he learned more in one month than in a whole year before. And, best of all, what he learned was, by the Holy Spirit, interwoven into his character, never to be lost. Let us, therefore, insist more upon the new birth from above, filling the soul with divine love, as the only true basis of an enduring Christian education.