Back To Biblical Roots: More Churches Open Schools To Counter Secular Influence

Last month, the Associated Press reported on the notable growth in churches seeking to launch Christian schools. This is not groundbreaking information, as Family Research Council President Tony Perkins addressed on Monday's edition of "Washington Watch." However, it does beg the question: "What's fueling this groundswell, and how can other churches take advantage of this opportunity?"

According to FRC's Senior Fellow for Biblical Worldview and Strategic Engagement Joseph Backholm, "It's exciting to see the church ... recognizing the moment that we're in right now." He shared, "The world is changing quickly," and "the world of education has changed really quickly." But there seem to be "a lot of churches and pastors who are recognizing that ... the Great Commission, which is to go and make disciples, is a lot easier if the church superintends the 16,000 hours that children spend in a classroom between kindergarten and 12th grade."

Part of this wake-up call, Backholm went on to say, is also because the church is starting to see "the consequences of what happens when we allow pagans to be the leaders and the disciples of all of those hours." Perkins added, "When pagans are teaching and training" children in the education system, "you get pagans" as a result. "That's what happens," he contended. "We send our kids off to Babylon, and we wonder why they come back as Babylonians." But churches are waking up to this reality and "increasingly ... stepping up to take charge," Backholm said, which is largely fueling the growth in Christian schools.

Perkins pointed out that the efforts across the country to promote school choice are also playing a role. Backholm agreed, noting how Americans have noticed "there are partisan differences in the way states are being led," especially regarding the education system. There are now "dozens of states [that] have recognized that we want parents to be the guardians and the leaders and the shapers of their children's education," which in many cases has led to the "decision that we should not force children to be placed in a school that teaches only secularism."

Ultimately, Backholm emphasized, "All schools teach morals. All schools teach a worldview. All schools teach some form of functional religion." In recent history, he noted, there's been "this idea ... that the government schools, the secularism of the government school, is the only religion that should be taught." But as Backholm contended, schools are increasingly calling out how "that's a one size fits all form of education that doesn't work well" and that "parents want to do something different."

Additionally, Backholm observed, certain "elected officials are making that possible by saying, 'Hey, these are education dollars. They will be used for education, but the parents will be the ones who determine what's the best form of education for a particular child, not politicians.'" Perkins chimed in, "I am all for the churches launching these schools." But he noted that there is concern over the possibility of "the educational establishment, which ... is very politically potent," using "their tentacles to try and somehow choke out these church schools." So, "how can churches and religious institutions protect themselves from the long arm of the educational establishment?"

It's "a fair concern," Backholm stated, especially considering "that there are strings attached to government involvement in things, and there are better and worse ways to do school choice programs." However, he added, "We also know the Supreme Court, in a variety of cases in recent years, has made it clear that just because there are religious organizations taking advantage of ... a school choice program does not give the government the ability to tell them ... how they must exercise their religion."

As Backholm highlighted, "The current makeup of the Supreme Court and their understanding of the First Amendment" poses "no real risk" of them enforcing certain beliefs on these school choice programs. "That doesn't mean there's no risk in the future," he pointed out, which is "a reason why we have to remain vigilant." This is also part of why FRC's Center for Biblical Worldview has traveled across the U.S. to host biblical worldview workshops for pastors and ministry leaders. Backholm, alongside FRC's Center for Biblical Worldview Director David Closson, are currently in Alaska continuing this work.

"Each worldview workshop includes eight sessions," Closson told The Washington Stand. Some sessions use data points, such as Dr. George Barna's seven cornerstones of biblical worldview, "to more effectively teach and preach and disciple in areas where the church is most confused on basic issues of theology." Other sessions explain the framework of different worldviews and "the importance of understanding what the Bible teaches on the subject of abortion and the value of human life" as well as the Bible's teachings on homosexuality. 

A final emphasis of these workshops is the importance of being able "to surrender your reputation." When it comes to standing firm, Closson emphasized how Christians don't have to "worry about what the world thinks." Rather, he argued, Christians should "worry about what God thinks. If you do that, we'll be able to see change in the church."

Perkins urged, "We need to seize the moment and utilize this opportunity." What these efforts will look "like five years, 10 years down the road, we don't know. But we know what we have right now." And part of seizing this moment, Backholm explained, is recognizing this is a "battle between truth and lies." The goal of creating Christian schools is "to get kids out of government schools where they are being formed and shaped more by ... drag queens than they are by people who understand the truth and care about their souls," he contended. "This is an emergency."

"Let's get them out however we can," Backholm concluded. "But we still have to maintain vigilance into the future, because we've got to make sure this is done in the right way so we don't cause problems" down the road.

Originally published at The Washington Stand