Editorial

Above the entrance to a major public library in the centre of Edinburgh are found four words engraved in the stone: Let there be light. Inside the building one may see other Scripture texts decorating a wall in the main stairway; teaching us the relation between the worship of God and wisdom. Similar things may be seen on other public buildings in our country.

We do not know who was responsible for the design of this particular building, but how instructive for us! What may we learn from it?

Firstly, these words from Genesis displayed in such a public place are a memorial, a witness, a reminder of an age when the State was unashamed of the gospel of Christ and willing to fulfil its appointed duty of maintaining piety. Sadly such days are long since gone, and now government in general is embarrassed at the idea of an authority greater than its own and will not testify publicly to it. From supporting the true religion as David did ("Thy law is the truth" - Psalm 119: 142) our rulers have moved to a position of supposed neutrality like Pilate ("What is truth?" - John 18: 38). Is a day coming when they will actively oppose godliness and persecute the faithful as did king Herod (Acts 12)?

The Highland Christian Schools Trust has been criticised for advocating separate Christian schools: it has done so however against the background of the situation and trends observable today. If the Bible and the teachings of the Shorter Catechism formed the basis of our national education system then our concern would not be so great. Some who oppose separate Christian schools as "divisive" seem to see no such difficulty in supporting Christian churches which are separate from the National Church! Is that not "divisive"? Yes, undoubtedly so, but for good reason - for the sake of truth. Likewise we desire schools where there will be education for the sake of the truth: the truth of God's works in creation and providence, man's purpose and destiny, and Christ Lordship over all things.

It was encouraging for us as a Trust to see approximately eighty people attending the meeting on Christian Education in Stornoway last December: such interest in what is to many today a revolutionary idea bodes well for the future. We pray that there will be lasting fruit to the glory of God.

Secondly, the words themselves in such a setting teach us that learning ought not to be an end in itself but a servant to piety. Our forefathers understood that a knowledge of the universe and all its contents, pursued apart from a personal knowledge of God, is ultimately vain and leaves us in darkness. The world must be studied in the light of the Word, because the latter is the only infallible source of knowledge: - "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." (Psalm 119: 130).

In the original creation God made light before He made life. This finds its echo in our salvation: "For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Cor 4: 6). The "light of life." We should take this first utterance of God and make it into a constant pray in all our study: "Lord let there be light!" Then we shall be walking in the steps of Solomon and all those who have sought out and discovered the wonderful works of God. Finally these words are full of hope and promise. The verse continues: "and there was light." An exercise of sovereign power and the decree is executed. "So is everyone that is born of the spirit" (John 3: 8) Despite the entrance of sin, God's saving purposes are not hindered, nor indeed any work that He begins, however fierce the opposition. The world (and sadly much of the church) may mock and say of those promoting a truly Christian approach to education, "What do these feeble Jews?" (Neh 4: 2): But our strength is in God, whose cause it is, and we believe that this work can only help to hasten that time when "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11: 9).

As children enter by the door of life into the room of learning, to begin a lifetime of study, it is good for them if these words are written over there lives by God - and by their parents: "Let there be light."

[Back to Reformed Christian Pages][Back to the Education Witness]