Attaining True Knowledge

Education (part 54)

Only a godly education has the ability to attain to true knowledge. The emphasis of the Bible is so much concerned with the moral aspects of training that it almost seems that this is the whole of education. Man's most fundamental need is a right or moral relationship with God and his neighbor. We rightly infer from this that every person owes both God and his neighbor skilled, knowledgeable labor. He must therefore apply himself to various educational tasks or fields of study. Moreover, all of these pursuits must be in the context of moral and religious training.

The Bible does not consider any education as sound that omits the Word of God. Abraham was instructed to instruct his children: "For I have chosen him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice..." (Gen 18:19). "Man lives not by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4). Robert L. Dabney (1869) said: "Every line of true knowledge must find its completeness in its convergency to God, even as every beam of daylight leads the eye to the sun. If religion be excluded from our study, every process of thought will be arrested before it reaches its proper goal."

On what basis does the unbeliever, or his school system, teach morality? He is attempting to build in the void—no foundation. Yet, the Bible says that the teaching of righteousness and justice is central to the child's education. Consider this stern warning from Hosea 4:6, "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest, since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children."

True knowledge resides in God alone. Man was created with a right knowledge and understanding. Fallen men have abandoned God's Word and perverted knowledge. Fallen men suppress the truth in unrighteousness (Rom. 1:18). True knowledge is a gift of God. Redeemed men are being renewed in the spirit of their minds. Children must be taught true knowledge from the Word of God. God requires an education that is rooted in His righteous standards.