Christian Education: The Hope of the World
Mark Hood | Mountain Mission School
How exactly is Christian Education the Hope of the World?
First, a quick history lesson. The phrase “Christian Education: The Hope of the World,” was coined by Sarah LaRue, wife of Josephus Hopwood. He founded Milligan College (now Milligan University) and Virginia Christian College (now University of Lynchburg), and was the first President of Mountain Mission School in Grundy, Virginia. Hopwood attached his wife’s phrase to each institution he founded.
For many years I (mis)understood Christianity mainly as the means by which I avoided hell and went to heaven because “Jesus died for my sins.” Within that paradigm, there was no focus on what I would call the “here and now,” but only the “then and there;” hence, no hope for this world. This perspective is known as the Gospel of Salvation.
I would argue that Christianity is not about abandoning this earth in the pursuit of going to heaven. Jesus taught us to pray by saying, “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10, KJV). The essence of Christianity is to bring the Kingdom of God to earth. I have come to understand this as the Gospel of the Kingdom.
One way this makes sense is to think through the idea of salvation by considering the questions “What am I saved from, saved to, and saved for?” Through the lens of the Gospel of Salvation, I am saved from hell and saved to heaven. Through the lens of the Gospel of the Kingdom, with Colossians 1:14 as the basis, I am rescued (saved from) the domain of darkness and transferred into (saved to) the Kingdom of God’s beloved Son. This paradigm shift then leads to a position of what I am saved for; I am saved for bringing God’s Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
Paul says in Romans 12:2a, “Don’t be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (NIV). Christian Education is not a mentality that points students towards evacuation, but rather one of personal transformation. In “Surprised by Hope”, NT Wright discusses “evacuation theology” as the hope of Christianity that Christ will take believers away from this world to heaven. I don’t know about you, but there is no “hope for the world” within this thinking, nor does it seem to align with Paul’s thoughts in Romans 12. If Christian Education truly is the Hope of the World, it must have an impactful and lasting effect on this world.
Consider the following as I invite you to join me in this endeavour as we educate students through the lens of “Christian Education: The Hope of the World”:
- Does your understanding of Christian Education focus on getting students to heaven or encouraging them to be part of bringing heaven to earth?
- What can you do in your capacity to promote this idea?
Mark Hood, M.Ed., has been employed by Mountain Mission School since 1993. In those years, he has served as Middle and High School Teacher, a Residential Floor Supervisor, and School Principal. His current responsibilities include Middle and High School Assistant Principal, High School Health and Bible Teacher, and Athletic Director. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, enjoying a good cup of fresh roasted coffee, and reading. He has been married for 32 years to Rachel. They have three grown children.
