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 wrong. 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.
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 earn money… then what?
- I can give them a comfortable life… 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 the landfill.
Romans 14:23 says,
“Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.”
This means 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. It’s a fundamentally different approach to learning.
Psalm 24:1 declares,
“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.”
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’d miss its origin, its meaning, and its 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.
The Role of the Teacher
At OSNAS, our teachers are more than instructors—they are guides. Their mission is to show how each subject helps us know God and make Him known.
Let’s explore how this plays out across disciplines:
Science
- Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God…”
- Romans 1:20: God’s invisible qualities are clearly seen in creation.
- 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.
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.
- Studying language is studying theology in disguise.
History
- History is the record of God’s faithfulness through time.
- It builds trust in His sovereignty and dependability.
Math
- Math reflects invisible, unchanging laws—just like God.
- It teaches fairness, precision, and truth.
- Music, built on mathematical ratios, becomes math for the ears.
Classical Christian Education at OSNAS
At Our Savior New American School, we embrace a classical Christian model that integrates faith and learning. Students are taught to see every subject as part of God’s creation. They learn through the classical trivium—grammar, logic, and rhetoric—developing wisdom, virtue, and eloquence.
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.
Keep Christ in Education
So don’t just keep Christ in Christmas.
Keep Christ in education.
Keep Christ in everything you do or study. Don’t forget your purpose.
We are here to know God and make Him known.
Jesus said,
“This is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” —John 17:3
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
