Category Archives: Christian Education

In previous posts we determined that character education must be evaluated in light of these questions:

What constitutes good character? – Is it defined by God’s character or self-determined?

How do we acquire these character traits? – Is it performance-based or developed as we grow in our relationship with God through His grace and power?

Finally, if we want to know if character education is a good thing, we must also ask, What is the ultimate purpose in developing good character? – Is it for self-promotion and “what’s in it for me?” or for the glory of God?

Character Education Must Have the Right Purpose

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.  (2 Pet. 1:8-9)

While godly qualities lead to effectiveness and productivity, there’s a greater purpose than that.

What is the purpose of being effective? — “whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31)

What is the purpose of being productive (fruitful)? — “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit …” (Jn. 15:8)

—- If the goal of character development is simply to become better people, it misses the mark.  Or, if it is with the end of being more accomplished in order to gain the applause or favor of others, it falls short.

God should ultimately be the focus in any character development.  We become more Christ-like so we can let the light of our lives shine more on Him than us.

“let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16)

Remember, for character education to be good, whether teaching traits from the pulpit, in the classroom, or in a discipleship relationship …

1. God and His character must be the standard.  Guard against anything that makes it self-determined.

2. God’s power and grace are essential for character development.  Guard against anything that makes it self-effort.

3. God’s glory is the end result of character change.  Guard against anything that makes self-promotion the goal.

If you don’t guard against these pitfalls, look what you are left with: — “self”

Resources:

Previously we determined that in order for character education to be good, it must be based on an unchanging standard if we are going to maintain integrity and always have a point of reference. God character must be defined by God’s character, not self-determined. We must also ask how we acquire these character traits. The means makes a difference.

The Means of Acquiring Godly Character Traits

To determine how we acquire these character traits, turn to 2 Peter 1:3-8.

1)  We are inadequate to live up to the standard of who God is.  We are to be holy as He is holy.  We are to love as He loves.  Yet, we will never develop that extent of quality of character within ourselves.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness”  (2 Pet. 1:3)

Character education must emphasize the role and work of the Spirit in making it happen.  God has given believers the Holy Spirit to live within them so they have the power to become who He has called them to be in Christ Jesus.

— If the plan for character education is based on self-effort, reconsider.  Only the Holy Spirit can develop true Christlikeness in us.

2)  It all begins with knowing God.  Don’t expect people without a relationship with God through Christ, resulting in the indwelling of the Spirit, to have a moral compass.

“through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Pet. 1:3)

Life in Christ is based on grace and relationship, not performance.  Out of that, all else flows.

— If a plan for character education doesn’t emphasize getting to know God, it is merely a humanistic, performance-based effort.

3)  It continues with knowing God.  Don’t expect believers who remain spiritual babes to have Christ-like character.

“make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; … self-control … perseverance … godliness … brotherly kindness … love” (2 Pet. 1:5-7)

Acquiring Godly Traits is a Growth Process

Remember, though we are to “make every effort to add” these traits it is HIS divine power that makes it happen (2 Pet. 1:3).  — “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Pet. 3:18)

Just prior to writing those words, Peter warned, “be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.”  Growing in our relationship with Him is our safeguard for maintaining Christ-like character and not being drawn into the ways of the world.

— If a plan for character education is a short-term effort, it will likely produce short term results.  Becoming Christ-like is a life-time process of becoming more and more like Him as we grab hold of His grace and power.

Resources:

The Teacher’s Role in Discipling Students Toward Christ-like Character & Conduct

Tips for Teaching About Character Traits

Steering the Church Toward Christ-like Character Leadership Guide

A previous post posed three questions to be asked in order to determine if character education is a good thing.

1)  What constitutes good character?
2)  How do we acquire these character traits?
3)  What is the ultimate purpose in developing good character?

Let’s begin by asking, What constitutes good character?

Character Educations Must Use the Right Standard

2 Peter 1:3-9 lists faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.  We find some similarities in this list to those provided in Galatians 5:22-23 — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  1 Timothy 6:11 exhorts us to “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”  And, Colossians 3:12-14 describes the character of our new life in contrast to the old which is to be put off or gotten rid of — “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Notice how LOVE is a common thread in all of these lists.  2 Peter 1 puts love as the ultimate quality to which our growth should take us.  Galatians 5 begins its list with love.  Colossians 3 raises love above all other virtues.  This should not be surprising since Jesus identified love as the greatest commandment (Matt. 22:37-40).

—— If a trait doesn’t grow out of, look like, and result in love, you had better examine your list of traits.  As Colossians 3:14 explains why.  Love is what binds all the other traits “together in perfect unity.”

None of these lists are identical. Perhaps we do not have one comprehensive list because God is so great and can’t be contained in a single list of traits.  Yes, God … His character … is the standard for what constitutes good character.

—— Beware of character education based on any ethical or moral code that is self-determined or governed by society.  It is doomed for failure as “there is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death” (Prov. 14:12). This kind of character will easily lead to justification or rationalization as it becomes relative to the situation, constantly changing to fit the circumstances.

As we see in 2 Peter 1, God wants us to “participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”  We have a God whose character does not change.  And so, we are always honest because our God is truth.  We remain pure because our God is holy.  We always extend compassion and kindness because our God is love.

—— If your character education is not based on the character of God, you have some major problems.

Resources:

• The Teacher’s Role in Discipling Students Toward Christ-like Character & Conduct
• Tips for Teaching About Character Traits

At first glance the title of this post might make us wonder why that would even be brought into question on a Christian site. Of course character is important.

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. (Prov. 4:23)

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. (Lk. 6:45)

What Qualifies Character Education as Good?

We may need to reserve our determination of whether character education is a good thing based on our responses to some questions. We should look at our curriculum or agenda in light of these questions.

Clicking on the above links will take you to posts that give thoughts on these qualifications. Before you read those responses, however, take a look at 2 Peter 1:3-9. Therein you will find guidelines against which to measure character education. You should be able to answer the above three questions by examining this passage.

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

I graduated from college with a B.S. in Bible Christian Education.  My Master’s Degree is in Christian Education.  I’ve served in the church’s Christian Education Ministry for many years and was even a Director of Christian Education at a church.  Yet, I don’t know the best approach for you!  Now, before you think I slept through school and didn’t do much of anything when working for a church, let me explain.

1. There are various models for Christian Education ministry that can be used, each with pros and cons.
2. There are many variables from church to church that could make certain models fit better at one church from the other.  Just as teachers must consider the group factors when determining the most appropriate method for a lesson, so must ministry leaders look at a variety of factors to determine what approach is best.
3. There are varying results God might want to accomplish through different churches.  Decisions on what approach to use must therefore be born out of prayer.  Weighing the pros and cons for your situation won’t always bring you to God’s desires.  Sometimes God wants us to stretch outside of our comfort zones, doing what doesn’t always make sense to us humans, because of what He wants to do through our particular church body.

Best Approach: What Direction Does God Want Your Christian Education Ministry to Go?

When asked what is the best approach for your church’s Christian Education program, I must therefore say, “I don’t know.”  Even if I were to do an assessment of your church, though I could probably let you know what would best fit your situation, I would still guard against telling you that it is what you must do.  What I would strongly urge you to do, is to pray over it.  What direction does God want you to go?

If we arrive at our methodology purely based on logic or analytical thinking, then the Church may as well be any other kind of organization.  The Church, however, is different.  The Church is a living organism whose Head is the Lord Jesus Christ.  We must always remember that it is HIS church, not ours, so we must get the final decision from Him.