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
There is, then, a distinction between the wisdom of God and that of this
world. How, then, can we attain unto the higher life,—to the real, the
true wisdom? There are things which eye hath not seen nor ear heard,
which eyes should see and ears hear, and these “God hath revealed unto us
by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things
of God.”
To man, then, if born of the Spirit, is given a spiritual eyesight which
pierces infinitude, and enables the soul to commune with the Author
of all things. No wonder the realization of such possibilities within
himself led the psalmist to exclaim, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for
me; it is high, I can not attain unto it.” And Paul himself exclaimed, “O
the depth of the riches both of the _wisdom_ and _knowledge_ of God!...
For who hath known the mind of the Lord?” “The things of God knoweth no
man, but the Spirit of God.” And “we have received, not the spirit of the
world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things
that are freely given to us of God.” Hence to us _is_ given the power
to commune with Him and to search into the mysteries of the otherwise
unfathomable.
Dealing with wisdom is education. If it be the wisdom of the world, then
it is _worldly education_; if, on the other hand, it is a search for the
wisdom of God, it is CHRISTIAN EDUCATION.
Over these two questions the controversy between good and evil is
waging. The final triumph of truth will place the advocates of Christian
education in the kingdom of God. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship
Him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
That education which links man with God, the source of wisdom, and the
author and finisher of our faith, is a spiritual education, and prepares
the heart for that kingdom which is within.
II
THE HEAVENLY SCHOOL
God’s throne, the center around which circled the worlds which had gone
forth from the hand of the Creator, was the school of the universe. The
Upholder of the worlds was Himself the great Teacher, and His character,
love, was the theme of contemplation. Every lesson was a manifestation
of His power. To illustrate the workings of the laws of His nature, this
Teacher had but to speak, and before the attentive multitudes there stood
the living thing. “He spake, and it was; He commanded, and it stood
fast.”[3]
Angels, and the beings of other worlds in countless numbers, were the
students. The course was to extend through eternity; observations were
carried on through limitless space, and included everything from the
smallest to the mightiest force, from the formation of the dewdrop to the
building of the worlds, and the growth of the mind. To finish the course,
if such an expression is permissible, meant to reach the perfection of
the Creator Himself.
[Sidenote: Angel teachers]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account