I stated in my last post that we are focusing this year on two areas 1) school culture and 2) the basics of classical, Christian and covenantal education. On School-culture we are talking much about “Gratitude, Sacrifice, and Excellence,” virtues that we are emphasizing schoolwide. The Grammar level students have learned three chants, one for each virtue. For the virtue of gratitude, the students have memorized, “Gratitude, Thankful for all that God has done for us” clap, clap. One of the Scripture texts for this virtue is Psalm 118:1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! The point being that our gratitude rests on God’s goodness and character, not on fleeting positive circumstances. The students are reciting this daily. Parents can reinforce this at home. Perhaps at dinner, after your prayer of thanks for your meal, dad could say “Gratitude!” and the children would respond, “Gratitude, Thankful for all that God has done for us” clap, clap! Amen! Gratitude is the culture of Veritas -by God’s grace!
 
On the second area of emphasis, the basics of classical, Christian, and covenantal education, this week I want to reflect on “Christian Worldview,” the first of our six Foundational Commitments.
 
Our statement says: Christian Worldview: We believe that every aspect of our children’s education must be intentionally founded upon biblical truth. We believe the focal point of all that is, has been, and ever will be is the person of Jesus Christ. We believe that the education of our children begins with this reality. God reveals Himself not only specially in His Word, but also generally in every facet of His creation. All knowledge is therefore interrelated and teaches us about God’s character, wisdom, and power. Ultimate reality exists only in Him, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, and therefore truth can be understood only as it relates to Him, the God of Truth and Sovereign Lord over all. The Scriptures teach that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. We believe therefore that every aspect of our children’s education must be intentionally grounded in and integrated with biblical truth.
 
There is much in these words, but the basic premise is since Jesus is Lord of all -all things were created by Him — and through Him — and for Him (see John 1:1-5, Colossians 1:15-20, Hebrews 1:1-4), we must then educate our children in light of His Lordship -the basis of all reality! Kind teachers, high moral standards, and safe hallways are wonderful blessings of Christian education, but they are not the reason we do what we do. We provide a Christ-centered education, because Jesus actually is THE CENTER of all things. He is the hinge pin of all history, the locus of all truth, and THE ONE who upholds the universe by the word of His power! Education without Christ is necessarily off-center. I thank God for this “foundational commitment” of Veritas Academy.