Our Primary Purpose
By Brett King, RMCA Principal
Originally published February 2005
Questions demand answers. Answers communicate beliefs. Beliefs affect behavior. This is why exploring profound and even difficult questions about educational philosophy is delightfully intriguing and vitally important. The manner in which we educate our children does impact their lives. And whether we have thought deeply about it or not, each of us has formed a set of beliefs that influence our view of education.
What then is the purpose of education? That critical question has puzzled people for centuries, and is often a source of great controversy. But as we attempt to clarify this question for RMCA, it is critical that we first understand that beliefs influence educational practices. Beliefs about issues such as the fundamental purpose of education, the nature of the student, the role of government, and the role of the parent will knowingly or unknowingly influence key elements of a school—the curriculum designed, the books chosen, the teachers hired, the students served, the instructional methods used, and the priorities set. And in today’s society, one reason there are a myriad of educational options is because there are a variety of beliefs about why schools exist and what they should teach.
At RMCA, we believe that we serve a God who knows us and wants us to know Him. He is good. He is just. And this goodness and justice culminated in the person of his Son, Jesus Christ—who lived as our perfect example, died for our sins, and was brought back to life so we would have the choice to be forever reconciled with our creator. This truth is the foundation upon which we stand. It is the central message that we communicate to students. And helping students to understand, embrace, and apply this message in every aspect of life is our primary purpose. Guiding students through this process of spiritual transformation is what we are all about!
Spiritual formation is central, but not exclusive, to the purpose of Christian education. In fact, we can only claim this noble purpose as an extension of the Church and as a partner to the Christian home. Ideally, the home, the Church, and the Christian school work in concert to powerfully influence the spiritual development of students. However, as a part of this three-legged stool, the Christian school is uniquely positioned to impact students for Christ.
“We have the advantage of integrating the message of Scriptures into every aspect of instruction.”
After all, schools have students for thousands of hours. In that time, students will encounter ideas that, explicitly and implicitly, shape their understanding of the world around them and their place in it. At RMCA, we have the advantage of integrating the message of Scriptures into every aspect of instruction. We intentionally take advantage of this time to engage students’ hearts and minds, helping them view every aspect of life through the lens of God’s truth, goodness, and beauty. This is what drives us. It is what we tirelessly pursue.
This is an uphill pursuit in a downhill world. The pressures of preparing kids both intellectually and spiritually is often met with skepticism. But you can be confident that this purpose motivates us to join with you in battle. As it says in Psalm 79:13, “Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.” May the next generation be blessed by our obedience to His primary purpose.
