The Power Of Spiritual Education Series

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." (George Washington)

“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV)

What does the Bible itself say regarding the importance of Education? A wisest king ever lived-in History, said in Proverbs 23:12 “Apply your heart to discipline (Education) and your ears to words of knowledge.” In another words Listen to instruction and do your best to learn. And “For the Lord gives skillful and godly Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding”. (Proverbs 2:6)

Education is the foundation for a good and fulfilling life, setting the individual on a path of personal fulfillment, economic security and societal contribution. Today the world of knowledge and competence is in a constant state of unrest. The same can be said for the life of visions, aspirations, and dreams. For many centuries it had been considered that education in general and academia in particular were responsible for the moral and social development of students and for bringing together diverse groups for the common good. Is this still the case? The key that unlocks the door to building of a better world is SPIRITUAL EDUCATION. But, not any education and surely not the education mostly on offer currently, but a truly different form of education, an education grounded in Holy Scripture. Let us consider to study and comprehend the power of Spiritual Education in this section.

Bible begins with one of the most profound statements ever made in the hearing of men. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) This verse begins with the greatest observable knowledge known to man: the existence of the two imperative realms, the heavens and the earth, (Genesis 1:1); and it links to that the greatest knowledge made known by revelation: the existence of a God who creates. There is thus brought together in this simple verse at the beginning of the Bible the recognition of the two great sources of human comprehension: Natural knowledge, which is discoverable by the five senses of our physical life; Jesus gave us a classical illustration about natural knowledge in Matthew 24:32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.”(ESV) and Revelation knowledge, which is discoverable only by a mind and heart illuminated and taught by the Spirit of God. These things "are spiritually discerned," says the Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 2:14).Both of these sources of knowledge are from God, and each of them is a means of knowing God.

The scientist who studies nature is searching ultimately for God. Nature is designed to teach us certain knowledge about God, but revelation is designed to lead us to the God about whom nature speaks. Thus the two are complementary. They are not contradictory in any sense, but complete one another. This is why psalmist says “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.” (Psalm 19:1) Dr. Frederick Arthur Filby , said “The material world is designed to produce parallels -- parables -- of the spiritual. There is indeed a spiritual law operating in the natural world, and God put us on a planet where light is separated from darkness for our spiritual education as well as for our physical needs. There is a spiritual, as well as a physical reason, for the pattern of creation and he who divorces science from true religion will never be able to come to a real understanding of the world

The first important passage about importance of learning is found in the Old Testament is Deuteronomy 6:4-9, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” (NIV) This verse starts with a command to hear what God has to say. This also points to the imperative of the next two verses that, in a nutshell, are about memorizing and knowing, teaching and applying God’s Word. God is commanding us to teach ourselves and our children His Word, so that it penetrates our hearts, minds and will—that is, every aspect of who we are. And, then, we are to write it down and bind it to all our daily aspects of life. That call is still for us today. Apostle Paul made it clear in his letter to Colossians.