“There are two classes of educators in the world. One class is those whom God makes channels of light, and the other class is those whom Satan uses as his agents, who are wise to do evil. One class contemplates the character of God and increases in the knowledge of Jesus, whom God hath sent into the world. This class becomes wholly given up to those things which bring heavenly enlightenment, heavenly wisdom, to the uplifting of the soul. Every capability of their nature is submitted to God, and their thoughts are brought into captivity to Christ. The other class is in league with the prince of darkness, who is ever on the alert that he may find an opportunity to teach others the knowledge of evil. . . .

“While the judgments of God were falling upon the land of Egypt, the Lord directed the Israelites not only to keep their children within their houses, but to bring in even their cattle from the fields. . . .

“As the Israelites kept their children within their houses during the time when the judgments of God were in the land of Egypt, so in this time of peril we are to keep our children separate and distinct from the world. We are to teach them that the commandments of God mean much more than we realize. Those who keep them will not imitate the practices of the transgressors of God’s law.

“Parents must regard God’s Word with respect, obeying its teachings. To the parents in this day, as well as to the Israelites, God declares: ‘These words . . . shall be in thine heart; and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates’ (Deuteronomy 6:6-9).

“Notwithstanding this plain instruction, some of God’s people permit their children to attend the public schools, where they mingle with those who are corrupt in morals. In these schools their children can neither study the Bible nor learn its principles. Christian parents, you must make provision for your children to be educated in Bible principles.”3

Lest we miss the point, what does God define as the counterfeit education? The public schools. Why? We need to understand the principles upon which this system is based. Using the book, Studies on Christian Education by E. A. Sutherland, we will briefly examine four principles of false education. We highly recommend reading the whole book, as well as the book Education by Ellen G. White.

As we study the time of the papal reign in the Old World, we see that its increase was dependent upon the people being held in a certain degree of ignorance, generally - and more specifically - regarding what the Word of God teaches. Only the priest was designated to be wise enough to be able to interpret the Scriptures to the common people and therefore they did not know its contents.

We understand enough of the Reformation history to realize that God was seeking to break through this darkness and grant light to the people in general and especially to those who really wanted to serve Him and walk in His ways. We can see throughout the Reformation that God raised up intelligent people, honest men and women, who were seeking His will, to study first the Bible for themselves and then make it available by word and pen to the common people. This made the devil tremble, for in the Word is truth - and truth makes us free from sin, from error, from darkness.

The success of the Reformation can be attributed to first of all, the power of God moving upon and through human instrumentalities. The other factor was the Word of God made available to the people. As people began to study the Bible for themselves, they gained the ability to reason from God’s perspective, to understand cause and effect, to see truth and the consequences of error and sin. From the viewpoint of the papacy, this had to be stopped or else they would lose all of their power.

A plan was devised. The Reformation had gained more and more success because the Word of God had become the textbook for educating, not only the adults, but also the children. As generations would grow with this as the basis for their understanding and practice, papal reign would cease. This type of education would have to be stopped. But how? They had not the power or ways to end it. A subtler way was devised. Masked with apparent sincerity and a form of truth, falsehood entered the educational systems of the Reformation. The methods were systematic, thought out by the master of falsehood, who we must remember has studied the human mind for thousands of years.

This educational deform spread quickly and became the accepted forms in the most prestigious educational facilities such as Oxford and Cambridge. From these highly respected institutions, the foundation was laid for the educational system that has prevailed to the present day.

On the other hand, in the time of the 1800’s, there were those who because of the enlightenment of God, sought a different, alternative method of education. They implemented different ways (which we will discuss more in detail) and they used the Bible as their textbook. Those who were educated differently were in a large degree better prepared to accept and give the third angel’s message.

We live now in the last moments of Earth’s history. We need to be prepared for the latter rain and the seal of God. Now true education is more important than ever. “Now, as never before, we must understand the true science of education.”

No wonder God gave plain counsel about bringing our children out of the public system, the counterfeit system of education. Let us see if we can understand a little more of the methods used by the papal arm, the Jesuit teachers.

Four characteristics of the counterfeit education and how it practically affects the student:

a. Vain memorization instead of reasoning:

“For ages education has had to do chiefly with the memory. This faculty has been taxed to the utmost, while the other mental powers have not been correspondingly developed. Students have spent their time in laboriously crowding the mind with knowledge, very little of which could be utilized. The mind thus burdened with that which it cannot digest and assimilate is weakened; it becomes incapable of vigorous, self-reliant effort, and is content to depend on the judgment and perception of others.

“Seeing the evils of this method, some have gone to another extreme. In their view, man needs only to develop that which is within him. Such education leads the student to self-sufficiency, thus cutting him off from the source of true knowledge and power.

“The education that consists in the training of the memory, tending to discourage independent thought, has a moral bearing which is too little appreciated. As the student sacrifices the power to reason and judge for himself, he becomes incapable of discriminating between truth and error, and falls an easy prey to deception. He is easily led to follow tradition and custom.”4

b. Taught implicit obedience to human’s word (because they have a degree) instead of being taught self-government and obedience to the Lord Himself. This prepares a person to easily follow the commandments of human beings and not the commandments of God. People are also prepared to reject truth because it may come from simple, humble vessels without position.

c. Emulations, honors, and degrees - sources of immense pride. We need to compare this syndrome with the wiser advice given in the book of Proverbs. As men and women are lifted up in their opinion of themselves and in the eyes of others, they are in a dangerous position. They do not feel the necessity of the Saviour, nor realize that to be like Christ may mean reaching the lowest position to serve others.

d. Use of classic literature which undermines moral values. Remember what David wrote in Psalm 101:3: “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes.” As the mind feeds upon fiction, romance, horror, occult or adventure, it is not only demoralized, but also desensitized to crime and violence as well as desensitized to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit. Error cannot lead to truth.

“Notwithstanding this plain instruction, some of God’s people permit their children to attend the public schools, where they mingle with those who are corrupt in morals. In these schools their children can neither study the Bible nor learn its principles. Christian parents, you must make provision for your children to be educated in Bible principles.

“Do our children receive from the teachers in the public schools ideas that are in harmony with the Word of God? Is sin presented as an offense against God? Is obedience to all the commandments of God taught as the beginning of all wisdom? We send our children to the Sabbath school that they may be instructed in regard to the truth, and then as they go to the day school, lessons containing falsehood are given them to learn. These things confuse the mind, and should not be; for if the young receive ideas that pervert the truth, how will the influence of this education be counteracted?”5

“Before we can carry the message of present truth in all its fullness to other countries, we must first break every yoke. We must come into the line of true education, walking in the wisdom of God, and not in the wisdom of the world. God calls for messengers who will be true reformers. We must educate, educate, to prepare a people who will understand the message, and then give the message to the world.”6

“Not all who profess to keep the Sabbath will be sealed. There are many even among those who teach the truth to others who will not receive the seal of God in their foreheads. They had the light of truth, they knew their Master’s will, they understood every point of our faith, but they had not corresponding works. These who were so familiar with prophecy and the treasures of divine wisdom should have acted their faith. They should have commanded their households after them, that by a well-ordered family they might present to the world the influence of the truth upon the human heart.”7

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

“In this time of peril we are to keep our children separate and distinct from the world.”8

“Christian parents, you must make provision for your children to be educated in Bible principles.”9

“In planning for the education of their children outside the home, parents should realize that it is no longer safe to send them to the public school, and should endeavor to send them to schools where they will obtain an education based on a Scriptural foundation. Upon every Christian parent there rests the solemn obligation of giving to his children an education that will lead them to gain a knowledge of the Lord and to become partakers of the divine nature through obedience to God’s will and way.”10

“Fathers and mothers, do you realize the importance of the responsibility resting upon you? Do you realize the necessity of guarding your children from careless, demoralizing habits? Allow your children to form only such associations as will have a right influence upon their characters. Do not allow them to be out in the evening unless you know where they are and what they are doing. Instruct them in the principles of moral purity. If you have neglected to teach them line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, begin at once to do your duty. Take up your responsibilities and work for time and for eternity. Let not another day pass without confessing your neglect to your children. Tell them that you mean now to do your God-appointed work. Ask them to take hold with you in the reform. Make diligent efforts to redeem the past. No longer remain in the condition of the Laodicean church. In the name of the Lord I call upon every family to show its true colors. Reform the church in your own home.”11

Remember:

What you sow, you will reap.

What you want to reap, you must sow

What you are reaping, has been sown.

Sow a thought, reap a habit,

Sow a habit, reap a character,

Sow a character, reap a destiny.

Today’s decisions bring eternal consequences!

“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it” (Psalm 127:1). True education is based upon the Word of God as its foundation.

“Satan is marshaling his hosts. Are you prepared for the conflict just before us? Are you preparing your children for the crisis? Are your children forming habits of decision, that they may be firm to principle? Parental duty has been sadly neglected. Will you not now repent, and take up your God-given lifework? There is no time to lose. Redeem the time, because the days are evil. Pray that your spiritual perceptions may be quickened. Strive to realize the importance of living in obedience to the Holy Spirit. When you do this, the heavenly angels will minister to you as teachers in the home, training you for the work of teaching your children.”12

Let us consider deeply and prayerfully all that is implied in the prophesied reform: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse” (Malachi 4:5, 6).