Education Standards
Public educators talk a great deal about standards. It has become commonplace for departments of education, both state and federal, to flex their authoritative muscles about how children should be educated.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke all tell the story of a confrontation between Jesus and the chief priests and the elders. This incident occurred in the temple during the week when Jesus was crucified. These Jewish leaders wanted to know by what authority Jesus did what He did.
Jesus responded by asking them whether the baptism of John the Baptist was from heaven or from men. Realizing that they were in a no-win situation, they decided to be cowards and punt. They told Jesus they didn’t know (Matthew 21:25-27).
The main issue in this conversation was authority. The Jewish leaders weren’t willing to submit to God’s authority, but at least they knew that His authority mattered. They knew that if they said the baptism of John was from heaven, Jesus would ask them why they didn’t believe him.
Even these Jewish leaders knew that teachings from heaven matter and teachings from men are just, well, from men. I’m pretty sure that many people in modern society have forgotten, rejected, or never knew that standards from heaven matter much more than standards from men.
The letter to the Colossians also contrasts the traditions of men and the authority of Christ.
See to it that no one takes you captive
through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men,
according to the elementary principles of the world,
rather than according to Christ.
For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
and in Him you have been made complete,
and He is the head over all rule and authority.
Colossians 2:8-10
God painted this beautiful river scene one evening last week.
I’ll zoom in so you can see the heron standing at the water’s edge.
Like the stork, the turtledove, the swift, and the thrush, this heron was doing exactly what God created him to do.
Even the stork in the sky
Knows her seasons;
And the turtledove and the swift and the thrush
Observe the time of their migration;
But My people do not know
The ordinance of the Lord.
Jeremiah 8:7
It’s our job to make sure our children know.