INTRODUCTION
Christian education is one of the important instruments in the development of the Christian faith.
Therefore this paper discusses how Christian education can be a key to spiritual growth. In
achieving this task, I will first start by defining the key terms
DEFINATION OF TERMS
The word Christian is commonly defined as (1): 1. (Adjective) of, relating to, or professing
Christianity or its teachings. Having or showing qualities associated with Christians, especially
those of decency, kindness, and fairness. 2. (Noun) a person who has received Christian baptism
or is a believer in Jesus Christ and his teachings. Origin: Late Middle English: from Greek
Christianos.
Biblically the word Christian is used three times in the Bible (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1 Peter
4:16). In each instance the Greek word Christianos is used, which is defined Biblically as a
follower of Christ. Christian is the name given by the Greeks or Romans, probably in reproach,
to the followers of Jesus. It was first used at Antioch. The names by which the disciples were
known among themselves were "brethren," "the faithful," "elect," "saints," "believers." But as
distinguishing them from the multitude without, the name "Christian" came into use, and was
universally accepted
The word Christian can be summed up Biblically as someone who is a follower of Jesus Christ
or “belonging to the party of Christ.
According to Yount (2008:5) asserts that “the term education has its etymology in Latin roots:
educare, which means “to train or to mold,” and educere meaning “to lead or draw out.” Educare
emphasizes the preservation of knowledge and the shaping of the next generation in the image of
their parents and that calls for direct instructions, subject mastery, and becoming good, reliable
worker. Educere calls for questioning the givens, and creating new ways of seeing the world. He
further submits that maybe education was supposed to draw out the natural gifts from students.
In this sense education is an endeavor of drawing something out of students. It is defined as an
endeavor that leads or draws the student out of something. That “something” could be ignorance,
poverty, lifestyle, attitude, unhappiness, and even sin. Nigel Lee (2001:2), however, argues that”
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the word education is often used today with an expanded meaning to cover the opposite process
as well. According to him, today, by education, it does not only mean what is drawn out of
someone. It also means what is put into someone who could be called indoctrination or
“inducation” as coined by Nigel Lee. This means that they are both addressed to the whole
person, not to only part of the person concerned. Kelly (1999:9) also defines Education as “an
action exercised by the child generation on those who are not yet ready for social life, it is a body
of knowledge to be acquired. A total of structure whether in the country or a group of countries
or a particular time whose purpose is to educate pupils, which functions according to more or
less precise rules and which at a given moment history, reveal characteristics having a certain
ability . It can also be seen as a product stresses the result of education as action applied to
education as content within as flam work of education as institution. Therefore, education is the
only way of passing information to the next generation whether it is through guided learning or
unguided learning.
Nevertheless, we shall use the word education in a broader sense to cover both that which is
taken out of someone which God had previously put into them as well as that which is being
implanted in someone from God’s world. Education, therefore, is a process of encouraging the
development of knowledge and virtues in human beings and by incorporating them into his
personality from outside. Thus, from these definitions, we might assume that the purpose of
education is to develop the knowledge, skill, or character of students. The central task of
education is to implant a will and facility for learning; it should produce not learned but learning
people.
In trying to define Christian education, it’s important noticing that Very often when the words
“Christian education” is mentioned, people think automatically of “Sunday school,” and
education for children. Christian education may mean more than that. As cited by Taylor
(1976:11) Shinn describes Christian education as “the effort to introduce people into the life and
mission of the community of Christian faith.”
Christian education according to Anthony (2001:13) “is the process by which those who have
experienced a personal spiritual rebirth in their relationship with God partner with indwelling
Holy Spirit to grow in the image of Christ.” It farther requires lifelong learning and is best
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accomplished in the content of a caring community that makes periodically in both small group
and large assembly.
Christian education has its roots firmly planted in the teaching or traditions of the Old Testament.
According to Anthony (ibid) it seeks to radically alter the path of fallen humanity and reconcile
man kind to the Creator. This is to say that the church being Christian in nature it has to be
involved in the work of the community where public schooling takes place, hence the need for
the church to be active and be part of public schooling.
Furthermore Sema (2005: 1) also argues that “Christian education is understood as the
intentional and systematic teaching ministry of the church in order to transmit the biblical
content to men and women, inclusive children, youth and older adults, with its focus on nurturing
them to become Christian and to help them grow into Christian maturity”. This means that
Christian education is a life-long process that involves teaching-learning about Christian faith
and beliefs in the lives of individuals that is the children, youth and adults.
Christian Education in my view is the “Formal or informal training and nurturing of Christian
into the likeness of Christ.” This definition emphasizes that Christians need to be like Christ in
terms of character, conduct love. As Christianity is driven by love (God is love), Christian
education should not just be about actions but must produce fruit that will have an impact in the
environment in which the Christian lives
spiritual growth includes: (1) increasing in your knowledge and understanding of God's Word,
(2) decreasing in your frequency and severity of sin, (3) increasing in your practice of Christ-like
qualities, and (4) increasing in your faith and trust in God. Perhaps the best summary of spiritual
growth is becoming more like Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul says, "Follow my
example, as I follow the example of Christ." Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of what it truly
means to be spiritual.
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HOW CHRISTIAN EDUCATION CAN BE A KEY TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH
Vieth (1957:17) submits that “Christian education introduces the learner to knowledge about
God, man’s relationship to God, the Bible, the Church and the meaning of Christian living. But
this does not end with knowledge. It seeks to touch the learner’s whole life that it may become
his purpose to do the will of God”. Considering Vieth’s point of view, we can affirm that
effective Christian education aims at life transformation which can results in spiritual growth. It
can be a key to spiritual growth when it engages people in the understanding of Jesus’
commandment to love God and to love our neighbor so that one will be responsible to his
environment.
Going by Megill (1998:4), definition of Christian education in more holistic terms, in which he
said “it is a process of nurturing the total family of the Church in the Christian faith, taking into
consideration the needs of the whole person, his unique situation, and his total environment and
family”. It is worth noticing that specifically, in the local Church Christian Education should
encompass every activity, which attempts to spiritually uplift the members of the congregation.
Christian education should involve prayer, singing, Bible study, and virtually all activities that
can take place in the congregation. Christian Education therefore should involve events that form
and transform people and their environment. Our definition of Christian education expands to
include activities and events that call together communities for the purpose of strengthening the
Church through the strengthening of individuals and groups spiritually and in their daily walk
with Christ.
Christian education should provide a proper understanding of Jesus Christ, who he is, why he
came, what he did, what he will do, and what he is like. It should include the understanding of
the lordship, his deity and humanness, as well as his roles as servant, savior, creator and king.
Furthermore Christian education should teach the Bible, apply the Bible and to provide nurture
and support for one’s faith journey. It should help to transmit the Christian heritage to the next
generation.
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Christian education should promote and ensures adequate understanding of the great affirmations
of the Christian Faith. It should relate personal and community life of Church members to
Christian moral standards so that ultimately our children may be brought to believe in the Lord
Jesus Christ and grow into Christian maturity. It should ensure that Church members receive
relevant programs on burning socio-political and cultural issues. It should help people to grow in
relationship with God, fellow human beings, and the environment as well as the self (self-
transformation). It should play a vital role in bringing up the children in the Church in a Christian
way so that morally they would be upright to do what is expected of them when they grow. It is
very important to catch them young so that they would not depart from the word of God but be
abreast of time in the word of God.
Wyckoff (1955:23) asserts that the aim of Christian education is to nurture the Christian life. For
him nurture involves Christian instructions, the redemption of the individual, and the redemption
of the society. Christian education therefore, it should instructs the people in the basic aspects of
the Christian faith. In our view, we could not be satisfied with instruction alone, to live Christian
education at the intellectual level. It should aim at formation of Christian character. This involves
three concerns: developing lives of integrity; developing lives that are socially aware; and living
lives in full awareness of God.
The Bible should the basis and the foundation of Christian education and its philosophy as well.
It should teaches us that before a man can be truly educated, he must be born again. It
should give us authority and a God-given basis for discipline.
In Christian Education, the educator must emphasize the great importance of good human
relations. There is the tendency for many people to be so concerned with their relationship with
God at the neglect of their relationship with their neighbors or other human beings. The religious
educator must point out that Christianity is not only about one’s relationship with God. Rather, it
is also the relationship with fellow human beings (man-man). The Christian religion, therefore,
has a horizontal as well as vertical dimension with respect to the ontological nature of Christian
education. This form of education is therefore geared towards the critical development of the
human society. This characteristic of Christian Education is highly revered in almost all human
communities that seek to promote cordiality and proper living conditions (co-existence).
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Christian education it should be about teaching and learning skills and knowledge from the
perspective of Christianity. The purpose is to: Return to God’s honor in life (of Christians,
educators and learners), for the purpose of education is to build character, to mould a life that
honors the Lord; to be God-cantered, to love God with all the heart, mind, soul, and body
(Matthew 22:37-39). We should desire to produce young people with the kind of character and
conduct that will be a godly influence wherever they go. Their lives are to be evident in their
devotion to serving the Lord Jesus Christ.
CONCLUSION
In summing up on the question which states that “how can Christian education be a key to
spiritual growth” It’s imperative to note these points its Purpose, Content and Control of
Education are the key elements that should be observed. Christian education it should be a
Religious Instruction, It should be bible centered (Biblicism). It should aim at transforming or
reforming people to the image of Christ (Christocentric). It should instruct people in the
knowledge and practices of the Christian faith.
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BIBIOLOGRAPHY
Aggarwal J. C, (2010). Theory and Principles of Education. New Dehli: VIKAS Publishing
House
Anthony, M. J (2001). Introducing Christian education: Foundations for the Twenty-First
Century. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic
Ellis, A. K., Cogan, J. J., & Howey, K. R. (1991). Introduction to the foundations of education
(3rd ed.). New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Kelly, M, J.(ed). 1999. The Origins and Development of Education in Zambia from Pre-colonial
Times to 1996. A book of notes and readings. Lusaka: Image Publishers.
Megil, E. L. 1981. Education in the African Church. London: Cassell. Nashiville: Abingdon
press.
Tye Karen B. 2000, Basics of Christian Education, Chalice Press, MA USA.
Sema, A. 2011. Understanding the nature and purpose of Christian religion education. Dheli:
ISPCK.
Seymour, J. L & Milner, D. 1992. Contemporary approaches to Christian education. Nashiville:
Abingdon press.
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