The Need of Church-Schools

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Nothing is of greater importance than the proper education of our children and young people. The church should arouse, and manifest a special interest in this work; for now as never before Satan and all his host are determined to enlist the youth under the black banner that leads to ruin and death.

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God has appointed the church as a watchman to have a jealous care over the children, and as a sentinel to see the approach of the enemy and give warning of danger. But the church does not realize the situation. It is sleeping on guard. In this time of peril the fathers and mothers must awake and work as for life, or many of the youth will be forever lost.

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Schools should now be started, under godly teachers, that the church may properly educate the young. God is grieved that we have neglected this so long. He would have us repent and turn to Him with all the heart, and redeem the time. While we should put forth earnest effort for the masses of the people all around us, and push the work into foreign fields, yet no amount of labor in this line can excuse us for neglecting the education of our own children and youth. They are to be so educated that they will become workers for God. Both parents and teachers, by precept and example, are to so instil the principles of truth and honesty into the minds and hearts of the young, that they may become men and women true as steel to God and His cause.

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There is great need of educating the youth in the principles of health and temperance. The proper care and development of the physical powers can not be impressed too soon or too thoroughly on their minds. We are far, far behind our duty in instructing the children in this subject. We do not half realize the terrible danger that surrounds our young people. Many will forever perish, unless their feet are firmly planted on the rock of Christian temperance. «If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.»

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If, in the past, our youth had been properly educated in the principles of true health reform, so many would not to-day be reaping the harvest of wicked, careless sowing. They were not taught the truth of the words: «Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.»

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Parents and teachers do not estimate the magnitude of the work given them in training the young. The experience of the children of Israel was written for us «upon whom the ends of the world are come.» As in their day, so now the Lord would have the children gathered out from those who are teaching and practising evil. He desires us to gather them into our own schools, where the Word of God can be made the foundation of all their education.

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If ever we are to work in earnest, it is now. The enemy is pressing in from all sides, like a flood. Only the power of God can keep and save our children from being swept away by this tide of evil. The responsibility resting on parents, teachers, the members of the church, is greater than words can express.

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To train the young to become true soldiers of the Lord Jesus Christ is the most noble work ever given to mortal man. Only the most devout and consecrated persons are to be selected as church-school teachers. Only those who love the children, and can see in them souls to be saved for the Master, should have charge of this work. Teachers who study the Word of God as it should be studied will know something of the value of the souls under their care.

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Children who are receiving a true Christian education will be witnessing for Christ. And in the closing work of this earth’s history many of these children and youth will astonish the people by their witness to the truth in words of simplicity, yet spoken with spirit and power. They have been taught the fear of the Lord, and their hearts have been softened by a careful and prayerful study of the Bible. And in the near future many will receive the Spirit of God and act a part in proclaiming the truth to the world, that at that time can not be done by the older members of the church.

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The Lord would use the church-school to aid the parents to educate and prepare their children for this time. Then let the church take hold of the church-school work in earnest, and make it what the Lord desires it to be to the children and youth. Mrs. E. G. White. —