Philosphy Statement
WHY A CHRISTIAN SCHOOL?
The command of Jesus is, "Go ye, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you". (Matt. 28: 19-20.) In order to "teach them", Bethlehem Lutheran Church has maintained a Christian Day School since the beginning of the congregation.
God furthermore commands, "Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord," (Eph. 6:4) "These words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart, and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children."(Deut.6:6-7) and "Feed my Lambs." (John 21:15). He has also promised, "Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it." (Prov.22:6) "Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come." (I Tim.4:8).
Christian parents believe a Christian school to be essential in carrying out God's command with respect to Christian training.
PHILOSOPHY OF LUTHERAN EDUCATION
Two basic principles provide the foundation of the philosophy of Lutheran education: (1) the Doctrine of God, and (2) the Doctrine of Man.
With respect to the Doctrine of God, Lutherans believe that the one, true God, as revealed in His Word, the Bible, is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This Triune God created and preserves all things; redeemed mankind from sin, death and the power of the devil; and continues through the Word to guide and direct our lives preserving us in the true faith unto life everlasting.
With respect to the Doctrine of Man, we believe that man, who was originally created perfect by God, rebelled against God's authority and fell into sin. Because of the sin of Adam and Eve all human beings are now born sinful and by nature are opposed to God, unable to change themselves, and are destined to eternal separation from God.
But the Triune God is full of mercy and compassion and from the time of the fall into sin has promised to save mankind from eternal death. The Old Testament reveals God's plan of salvation through a promised One. The New Testament reveals Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of all of God's promises and the Savior of the world. Through faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God who became a man and died on the cross as payment for the sins of mankind, and who rose again conquering death, we have been forgiven and restored as God's dear children and given the gift of eternal life in heaven.
Since these two doctrinal principals indicate the centrality and relevance of God and spiritual concern for the whole life, it follows that Christian parents desire an education for their children in which religious instruction and spiritual nurture are the integrating factors in intellectual, moral, physical, aesthetic, emotional, social, civic, and vocational formation and growth.
Lutheran philosophy of education is based upon three sources of information: (1) the divine revelation of the Bible; (2) the findings of science and (3) human reason. God's revelation to man, Holy Scripture, is accepted as absolute truth. The postulates of science and reason are accepted as relative truth, subject to God's Word and to constant revision and correction as our understanding increases.
