The wrongs of Integrated Education for Bible Believers

Adapted from 'The Quiver', the e-newsletter of Newtownabbey Independent Christian School

A number of state schools in Northern Ireland are moving to 'Integrated' status. For some it is purely a mechanism to remain open and it is not that there is a strong conviction about the principles that underpin integrated eduction. A state primary with the Newtownabbey area is planning to move to be an integrated school in September 2015 for the sole reason of remaining open.

It is worth remembering that there are serious issues with integrated schools for Bible believing Christians:

1. These schools are profoundly ecumenical in character and ethos. They may profess to be 'Christian' in character, however, in reality, they are ecumenical schools.

They profess to treat all beliefs and traditions equally. Yet special sacramental provision will often be put in place to facilitate Roman Catholic children. Herein lies the problem. This is ecumenism at work! Protestants abandon the principles of the Protestant Reformation, which rejected Romanism, for a system of education that refuses to promote or defend true Bible religion, while at the same time special provisions are made for the safeguarding of Roman Catholicism.

These schools are just the next development in the ecumenical trend that has been engulfing this society for many years.

There can only be one outcome of a system of education like. The demise of Bible religion will invariably follow, along with the embracing of false religions such as popery.

What would happen in the teaching of the second commandment, if it was ever taught in the first place? Would it be conveniently passed over that Romanism presently removes this commandment and persistently breaks it by her use of images and holy pictures?

2. These schools encourage a sinful attitude in children. Integrated schools desire to "encourage an open minded attitude to the perspectives, cultures and traditions that exist in today's modern society in Northern Ireland". This policy of open-mindedness invariably includes our Gospel heritage.

Again this poses serious problems for the Bible believer. There are issues in any age which are not open to question or dispute and where an open mind is expressly forbidden for adults and children alike. According to the Word of God there are limits to open-mindedness.

Those doctrinal, moral, ethical and social issues, which the Word of God speaks clearly upon, are not to be questioned but rather readily obeyed.

This is what has brought about the moral and social quagmire that present society finds itself in. It is the willful failure to accept the historic, orthodox, teaching of the Word of God, and live accordingly, that blights society today.

These integrated schools are encouraging more of the same philosophy that presently harms children, their families, homes and wider society.

3. These schools are pupil centred instead of being God/Christ-centred. They boast "a child centred approach" as being something commendable.

Is this type of an approach honouring to God and acceptable to Bible believers? It cannot ever be! Everything in a Bible believing Christian's life is to be God-centred and specifically Christ-centred. Self-centred living is in reality a form of atheism. Child-centred learning is therefore an humanistic approach to education.

Any form of education that does not have God in Christ at its core and centre is not worthy of the name. It can never claim to be true education, agreeable to the Word of God. We are taught, for example, in Colossians 1:17,18, that all things 'consist' or are 'caused to stand together' in Christ and that Jesus Christ is to have the preeminence in all things: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

To set up a system of education that puts the creature at its centre and not the Creator is not giving Jesus Christ His rightful place and should not and could never have the support of Bible believing Christians.