Education
Christian Education and the Biblical Worldview
Education is never philosophically neutral.
Every educational system operates from assumptions about reality, truth, human nature, morality, authority, and the purpose of life. Even when a school claims to teach only “facts,” decisions about which facts to teach, how to interpret them, which values to promote, and what kind of person a student should become necessarily involve a philosophy of education.
A Christian philosophy of education begins with the recognition that God is the source of truth and that Jesus Christ is Lord over every area of life. Education should therefore not merely prepare students to earn a living. It should help them understand God’s world, develop wisdom and discernment, cultivate character, and learn to exercise their God-given responsibilities faithfully.
Christian education also recognizes the responsibility of parents to train their children. Scripture commands parents to teach God’s truth diligently to their children (Deuteronomy 6:6-7) and instructs fathers to bring their children up in “the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).
The resources below address Christian education, homeschooling, educational philosophy, parental responsibility, school choice, educational freedom, worldview formation, and research concerning education.
The Christian Philosophy of Education
Foundation for American Christian Education
The Foundation for American Christian Education develops resources based upon the Principle Approach®, a distinctly Christian philosophy and method of education. FACE emphasizes biblical principles, the Christian history of America, and the integration of biblical truth throughout the curriculum rather than treating Christianity as merely one subject among many.
The Biblical Thinker
The Biblical Thinker, led by Max and Margie Lyons, provides Christian education and worldview resources for families, homeschoolers, Christian schools, churches, and educators. Its resources emphasize biblical thinking, Christian character, self-government, and the application of biblical principles to education and culture. Max Lyons has extensive experience as a Christian school teacher and administrator and previously served as Director of Teaching Services at the Foundation for American Christian Education.
Nehemiah Institute
Nehemiah Institute provides biblical worldview assessment and training through its PEERS™ Test, which evaluates beliefs in five areas: Politics, Economics, Education, Religion, and Social Issues. The Institute’s resources are particularly useful for examining whether students are developing a coherent biblical worldview rather than merely acquiring academic information. Its current PEERS program has been used by more than 125,000 people in more than 1,000 Christian organizations.
Christian Education Initiative
Christian Education Initiative serves Christian educators, schools, families, and ministries seeking to strengthen biblical education. It provides a network for Christian education organizations and resources for developing distinctly Christian approaches to education.
Homeschooling and Home Education
Home School Legal Defense Association
HSLDA is a national homeschool advocacy organization providing legal assistance, legislative advocacy, and resources for homeschooling families. Its primary mission is protecting the freedom of parents to homeschool. HSLDA currently serves more than 90,000 member families and maintains legal resources concerning homeschooling requirements in all 50 states.
Christian Liberty
Christian Liberty provides Christian education through Christian Liberty Academy, Christian Liberty Homeschools, Christian Liberty Press, and educational testing services. Christian Liberty Press offers curriculum and educational materials for preschool through high school and explicitly describes its materials as rooted in Scripture and a biblical worldview.
Teaching the Trivium
Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn’s Teaching the Trivium presents a classical Christian approach to homeschooling centered on the traditional trivium of grammar, logic, and rhetoric. Trivium Pursuit continues to make the book and a substantial collection of educational articles available online.
Family Renewal
Family Renewal, founded by Israel Wayne, provides resources concerning biblical family life, parenting, education, homeschooling, and the development of a Christian worldview. Its educational philosophy emphasizes the responsibility of parents to disciple and educate their children according to Scripture.
Beginning Homeschooling
Beginning Homeschooling provides introductory information and encouragement for families considering home education. It can serve as a starting point for parents who are unfamiliar with the practical aspects of beginning a homeschool.
Homeschool Research and Educational Data
National Home Education Research Institute
NHERI is an independent research organization specializing in research, statistics, scholarly articles, and information concerning home education. Founded in 1990 by Dr. Brian Ray, NHERI produces and collects research intended to inform parents, educators, policymakers, and the public.
NHERI remains an important source for current homeschool research. In 2026, NHERI published a major systematic review covering decades of homeschool research and estimated approximately 3.408 million K-12 homeschool students in the United States during the 2024-2025 school year.
Gen 2 Survey
The Gen 2 Survey examined the relationship between educational choices, church involvement, and worldview among Christian millennials. It remains a useful historical resource for considering questions about the spiritual and educational outcomes associated with different educational environments.
School Choice
Israel Wayne has compiled a great list of articles, podcasts and other resources to explain how to think about school choice, Education Savings Accounts (ESA’s), school vouchers, school tax credits and more from a Biblical Worldview.
Christian Schools and Educational Alternatives
Exodus Mandate
Exodus Mandate is a Christian ministry encouraging Christian families to consider Christian schools or homeschooling rather than government schools. Its stated purpose is to encourage Christian education and assist families seeking educational alternatives. The ministry continues to operate under Frontline Ministries, Inc.
Christian Liberty Academy
Christian Liberty Academy is a private Christian school serving preschool through grade 12 students in the Chicago area. It is part of the broader Christian Liberty educational ministry.
The Biblical Thinker
The Biblical Thinker also provides resources for Christian school leaders, including professional coaching and resources for establishing and operating Christian schools. Max Lyons has extensive experience in Christian school administration and curriculum development.
Educational Freedom and Parental Authority
Home School Legal Defense Association
HSLDA’s work includes legal defense, legislative advocacy, and protection of parental freedom in education. Its current work emphasizes the right of parents to direct their children’s education without unnecessary governmental interference.
Separation of School & State
Separation of School & State advocates for educational freedom and a separation between government and education. Its work focuses on parental choice, educational liberty, and alternatives to government-controlled schooling.
Homeschool Freedom
Homeschool Freedom was included in the original ChristianWorldview.net resource collection as an educational-freedom resource. Because its current activity and usefulness are less clear than major active organizations such as HSLDA, this resource should be reviewed periodically before being treated as a primary recommendation.
Education, Worldview, and Cultural Formation
Nehemiah Institute
Nehemiah Institute is particularly useful for understanding the connection between education and worldview. Its PEERS framework treats education as one of five major areas in which worldview assumptions become visible. The organization argues that what students believe about education is inseparable from what they believe about politics, economics, religion, and society.
The Biblical Thinker
The Biblical Thinker emphasizes the development of biblical thinking across multiple areas of life, including education, government, economics, history, and culture. Its current resources include the Student Worldview Dictionary and other materials designed to help students and families think biblically.
Historical Christian Education Resources
Samuel L. Blumenfeld Archive
Samuel L. Blumenfeld was a prominent critic of government education and an advocate for phonics, homeschooling, educational freedom, and Christian education. The Blumenfeld Archive preserves a substantial collection of his writings, lectures, interviews, audio programs, and videos. It should be regarded primarily as a historical archive rather than a current educational ministry.
IndoctriNation
IndoctriNation is a documentary examining public education from a Christian perspective, produced by Joaquin Fernandez and Colin Gunn. It is best understood as a historical Christian documentary resource concerning education, worldview, and the public-school system.
Deconstructing the Coliseum
Deconstructing the Coliseum, associated with Kevin Novak, was developed as a Christian critique of modern education and educational philosophy. Because much of the original resource appears to be archival rather than a major current educational organization, it is best treated as a supplementary resource rather than a primary recommendation.
Biblical Principles for Education
A biblical philosophy of education should begin with several foundational principles.
God is the source of truth.
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”
John 17:17
Parents have a God-given responsibility to teach their children.
“And you shall teach them diligently to your children.”
Deuteronomy 6:7
Education involves more than the transfer of information.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.”
Proverbs 9:10
Children are to be trained in the ways of the Lord.
“Bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
Ephesians 6:4
Christ is Lord over every area of knowledge.
“In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Colossians 2:3
Christians must evaluate competing philosophies rather than accepting them uncritically.
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit.”
Colossians 2:8
The goal of education should include wisdom and righteous living.
“The purpose of a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.”
Proverbs 20:5
What Makes Education Christian?
Christian education is not simply education with a Bible class added to the schedule.
A distinctly Christian education begins with a Christian understanding of reality.
It asks:
Who created the world?
What is truth?
What is a human being?
What is the purpose of knowledge?
Who possesses ultimate authority?
What is the purpose of education?
What virtues should education cultivate?
Who has primary responsibility for educating children?
What should children be prepared to do with the knowledge they acquire?
These questions demonstrate why education belongs within Christian worldview studies. Mathematics, history, science, literature, government, economics, and the arts are not isolated compartments of knowledge. Each discipline contains assumptions about reality and meaning.
A Christian education seeks to bring every area of learning under the lordship of Christ.
Education, Schooling, and Discipleship
Schooling and education are not identical.
Education is the broader process of forming knowledge, character, habits, beliefs, skills, and affections. Children are educated constantly through parents, churches, schools, peers, media, entertainment, technology, and culture. The important question is therefore not whether children will receive an education, but who will educate them, what they will be taught, and what kind of person that education is forming them to become.
For Christians, this makes education a discipleship issue.
The ultimate goal is not simply academic achievement. It is the development of people who know God, understand His world, love what is true and good, and are equipped to serve Him faithfully.
Studying Education from a Christian Worldview
A Christian evaluation of an educational system should examine more than test scores.
Consider:
What does the educational system teach about God?
What does it teach about human nature?
What does it teach about truth?
What does it teach about morality?
What authority does it recognize?
What view of family does it assume?
What does it teach about human origins?
How does it define success?
What virtues does it reward?
What worldview assumptions are embedded in the curriculum?
What role does it assign to parents?
What role does it assign to government?
Does it distinguish knowledge from wisdom?
Does it train students to think critically and logically?
Does it equip students to recognize false ideas?
Does it cultivate love for God and neighbor?
The goal is not merely to determine whether an educational institution is “good” or “bad.” Christians should learn to examine educational philosophies carefully, identify their underlying assumptions, compare those assumptions with Scripture, and make wise decisions about how children should be educated.