What makes education 'Christian'

Abstract

Calling education ‘Christian’ doesn’t necessarily make it so. Over the years, many words and expressions have become part of the rhetoric of Christian educators as they seek to define the essence of Christian education and what it means for schools to function as genuine communities of Christian faith. Two particular concepts are foundational in defining their character: first, genuine Christian schools are Christ-centred in their focus; and, second, the Bible provides the orientation, foundation, and frame of reference to determine their identity, their reason for existence, and their values and practice. But questions remain: what does all this mean, and how does it translate into the reality and practice of schooling as we know it, especially in those aspects commonly regarded as mundane and secular? In this chapter, the author seeks to explain how Christ-centredness and biblical sensitivity provides the answers to such questions, and how the knowledge gained is able to transform the understanding and practice of Christian schools as communities of faith.