The Purpose of Education
The Purpose of Education
By Dr. Wil Stelzer, Principal of Our Savior New American School
As a principal, I care deeply that my students receive a good education. But before I can shape curriculum, hire teachers, or set goals, I must answer one foundational question: What is the purpose of education?
Is it to:
- Prepare kids for college?
- Set them up for a good job?
- Position them to make money and be productive members of society?
These are common answers—and they’re not entirely wrong, but they don’t hit the bullseye either. At Our Savior New American School (OSNAS), we do prepare students for college. We do equip them for meaningful careers. But if these goals become the ultimate purpose of education, they fall short.
This is because everything done outside of Christ is done in vain.
- I can prepare kids for college… then what?
- I can set them up for a good job… then what?
- I can help them achieve financial security… then what?
Eventually, you die. And if your education was built on temporary goals, it ends in emptiness.
The True Purpose of Education
The purpose of education is no different from the purpose of life:
To know God and to make Him known.
Any education that does not help students know God and make Him known is missing the point. Everything gained apart from Christ ends up in the grave or in the landfill.
Psalm 24:1 declares,
“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.”
This means that nothing is neutral. Subjects like Math, Science, Art, Music, Language Arts, Latin, and History are not secular—they are sacred. A Christian school is not just a public school with Bible class and chapel time. It’s a fundamentally different approach to learning.
Colossians 1:16–17 reminds us,
“All things were created by Him and for Him, and in Him all things hold together.”
Every subject was created by Christ. The ultimate purpose of every subject is Christ. And the only way to truly understand a subject is in the light of Christ.
A Godless Education Misses the Point
Imagine someone using the Declaration of Independence just to learn their ABCs. They would miss out on understanding its origin, meaning, and power. In the same way, studying a subject without the purpose of knowing God and making Him known leaves us in darkness.
Proverbs 9:10 says,
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
If God is not in the picture, your education hasn’t even begun.
We don’t add Christ to education like a garnish. He is the reason we study. He is the origin of every subject and the goal of every lesson.
The Role of the Teacher
At OSNAS, our teachers are more than instructors—they are ministering servants of Christ. Their mission is to help students know God and make Him known no matter what subject they are teaching.
Let’s explore how this plays out across some specific academic disciplines:
Science
- Science reveals God’s order, consistency, teamwork, creativity, beauty, and vastness.
- From the intricacy of a cell to the infinity of the cosmos, science points to a divine Designer.
- Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God…”
- Romans 1:20: God’s invisible qualities are clearly seen in creation.
Language Arts
- Language is a gift from God, not a human invention.
- Grammar reflects divine order.
- Language allows us to read God’s Word and share His truth.
History
- History is the record of God’s faithfulness through time.
- It builds trust in His sovereignty and dependability.
Math
- Math helps us recognize the invisible, unchanging, universal laws that govern the material universe. These are the very characteristics of God.
- It teaches fairness, precision, and truth.
- Pythagoras found that harmony in music is not a random matter, but determined by precise mathematical ratios.
Keep Christ in Education
So don’t just keep Christ in Christmas.
Keep Christ in education.
Keep Christ in everything you do or study. Let us not forget our purpose. We are here to know God and make Him known.
“This is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” —John 17:3
