Some years ago I made a decision to retrain and take on a new vocation. I decided to become a teacher because there was a degree course available in our regional center and although it would be a challenge, with dedication and determination it could be achieved.
The course included a strong emphasis on child development, educational psychology and the basics of secular humanism. The normal option in the course was replaced with a focus on education from a Māori perspective because of the large percentage of Māori in our region.
Moving on to the professional placements I embarked on during the teacher training. I found that the general classroom focus was on tolerance and diversity of learning. Things had changed a lot since I was a school in the seventies. The three R’s Reading, Riting and Rithmatic had moved over to make room for writing genres, science, topic studies, inquiry learning, information technology, health and physical education and Māori Culture and Tikanga and more. The issue here not being the diversity but how the teacher could implement such a diverse curriculum. How to do justice to all of this diversity in the time frame allowed.
Most classrooms had to accommodate children with high needs or learning disabilities. These needs could be behavioral issues, autism, down syndrome or otherwise physically disabled children. Support could be significant or negligible. Help was not always available to the teacher. Without that help some students could derail much of the learning in a classroom and there was not much the teacher could do about it.
Over the last twenty years I have come to see the impact of secular humanism and naturalism as a negative in our schools. As we have shifted from a Christian moral and spiritual center and moved to a secular humanist one. The very fabric of society has begun to unpick and this is clear to see in the lives of the children that attend our schools.
The more stable and affluent students are guided by well educated parents where the structure of their families is cohesive. So regardless of their lack of spiritual knowledge they tend to be well supported and have more success at school and in life. However, the less advantaged students who have an unstable home life. Who may live with people who are relatives or people who are not but who allow them to stay with them. These children are often impoverished and at the whim of the adults in their lives. Clothing, food and school supplies tend to be in short supply. Exposure to drugs is becoming a major issue and addiction is not uncommon. Dysfunction in their lives is often the norm.
The worst consequence of this move toward secular humanism is that teacher’s hands are tied. We can’t comment on the carnage that we are privy too and we are unable, and not allowed, to share our faith or our opinion with the students. We have shifted in schools over the past four decades from a Christian emphasis on the ten commandments, and faith in Jesus Christ, to emphasis on the single Satanic commandment “Do what you will.” Students are being encouraged to have self esteem and told that they can achieve what ever they set their minds too. This regardless of the consequences to themselves or to others. Despite the harm that this can do to all concerned.
What is becoming evident in society as a whole is that we have lost our moral compass. To compound this the Christian Church has come under attack from within and without. The Jesuits have launched an assault on many Churches discrediting many ministers of the faith and damaging congregations. The Catholic Charismatic movement and the Pentecostal movement have caused mayhem within the greater Church. The mainline Churches have become diluted with their indulgence in the ecumenical movement and now have signed up to return to Catholicism. Secular groups are determined to destroy Christianity. Science and naturalism are purported as a type of faith. Reestablishing the Church means starting from the ground up. Not that this would present a problem to Jehovah. If this is what is needed then this is what will happen.
It is important to realise that the battle for the faith is going to be fought in the hearts and minds of our children. Secular humanism and Old Earth Evolution are taught as the standard in curriculum in our schools. So Christianity must take aim at the hearts and minds of our youth to implant the gospel and the literal truths written in the scriptures.
In that vein, scripture has some very relevant truths about secular humanism. For instance, Colossians chapter 2 verse 8 says “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” NIV This verse describes the philosophies of secular humanism and naturalism with precision. Our children are being taken captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy which they have no defense against. The sin which results often leads them to self destruction, misery, loneliness and hopelessness. Separated from God they have no way out. Is it any wonder that so many of our youth turn to suicide.
Our Lord Jesus of Nazareth was once asked which were the most important of the ten commandments. These are the ten commandments given to Moses by Jehovah as described in Exodus Chapter 20. In answer to the question Jesus had this to say about the most important commandments. Mark chapter 12 verses: 30 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ 31“The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
A summary of the ten commandments follows.
- Do not have any other god before God
- Do not make yourself an idol
- Do not take the Lord's name in vain
- Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy
- Honor your mother and father
- Do not murder
- Do not commit adultery
- Do not steal
- Do not testify or fear false witness against your neighbor
- Do not covet
Our nation’s children (people), need to know these commandments in their hearts. Only by knowing them and applying them in their lives can God begin to heal society and bring hope and confidence back into the lives of our people. This combined with a saving knowledge of the grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord could bring our nation back into a correct relationship with God. It could bring to fruition the scripture from II Chronicles chapter 7 verse 14 which says “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
My message is quite simple. Oust secular humanism and naturalism and turn back to Jehovah. Put the ten commandments and the gospel back into our schools and lets get this nation turning back to God. If you doubt that God can do this or you feel that the Church is not up to it. Remember that in old Israel in the time of Elijah that God had a remnant of people who had not bowed knee to an idol. We his people need to bow in prayer to the Lord our God and ask for an outpouring of his spirit upon New Zealand - Aotearoa, to bring about a great revival in our nation.
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