Living Fountains or Broken Cisterns: An Educational Problem for ProtestantsSutherland, E. A. (Edward Alexander)
Religion
Living Fountains or Broken Cisterns: An Educational Problem for Protestants
Sutherland, E. A. (Edward Alexander)
Church and education; Education -- History; Religious education
Of Christ as a teacher it is written, “He raised Himself above all
others whom millions to-day regard as their grandest teachers. Buddha,
Confucius, Mohammed, to say nothing of Greek and Roman sages, are not
worthy to be compared with Christ.” Says Paroz: “Jesus Christ, in
founding a new religion, has laid the foundation of a new education in
the bosom of humanity.”
“In lowliness and humility,” writes Dr. Schaff, “in the form of a servant
as to the flesh, yet effulgent with divine glory, the Saviour came forth
from a despised corner of the earth; destroyed the power of evil in our
nature; realized in His spotless life, and in His sufferings, the highest
idea of virtue and piety, lifted the world with His pierced hands out
of its distress; reconciled men to God, and gave a new direction to the
whole current of history.”
It is the education which He taught, which was His very life even in the
courts of heaven, which Protestants are now entreated to accept. “To-day
if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.”
Where are the Protestants who are true to the name? Where are the schools
which will teach the things of God? Where are the teachers who forsake
secular methods, as did the Reformers, to become teachers for Christ?
Earth with its inhabitants is to the heart of God the most precious
part of the creation. As a recreant child draws harder on the parent’s
sympathy, so the world, because of the sinfulness of sin, has brought
heaven and earth in touch. The universe sees streaming from the throne
rays of light and love, pointing to the one spot in all creation where
sin abounds. They tell the story of the cross. The perfect harmony which
forms the “music of the spheres,” which was marred when man fell, will
again pervade all space when the plan of salvation is complete, and our
earth again joins in the great chorus of the sons of God.
[Sidenote: Truth revealed in the last days]
For six thousand years creation has groaned, waiting for our redemption.
The completion of the plan draws nigh, and for the final struggle
everything is now assuming an intensity never before seen. Principles
of truth, for centuries hidden, or known only in part, will again shine
forth in their original splendor. The wisdom of the ages will be manifest
in the closing era of the world’s history. True, this wisdom will often
appear but “foolishness” in the eyes of those who oppose truth; but
spiritual things are spiritually discerned, and the Spirit of the Holy
One will once more brood over the whole earth, taking up its abode in
those hearts which beat in unison with the strains of heaven. Christian
education binds earth to heaven. The wise in heart will return to the
God-given system of education, choosing “the fountains of living waters”
instead of hewing “them out cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no
water.”[193]
FOOTNOTES
[1] Job 28.
[2] 1 Cor. 2:6, R. V., mar.
[3] Ps. 33:9.
[4] Eze. 28:12-14.
[5] Eze. 28:14, 17.
[6] Isa. 14:13, 14.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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