Jack Fennema, in his book Education-in-the-Truth discussed The Mandate.

He

started by stating two foundations. First, there is no such thing as Christian Education,

there are only Christian Educators. Second, only part of Gods story is being told,

christian educators need to hear the rest of the story. Then, he showed the two

educational goals: to know the sovereign and loving Father(Revelation) and to seek

the coming of Gods kingdom(Response). He discussed further through giving the the

three reasons God- glorifying education is a mandate. These reasons are God is God,

education is a testament of truth and the covenantal responsibility of believing

parents to their children. Finally he ended by giving the Vision and Mission. The

visions are Love God with all their heart, mind and strength and Glorify God in all

things. The missions are Know the Sovereign and Loving Father in fullness and Seek

the coming of Gods Kingdom by living life in fullness.

In reflection to this chapter, I have three points to share. These are my response

in the educational goal, the risk of being fallen and the integrity of Fennemas

writing.

To start, my response in the educational goal has positive and negative side. I

both agree for the revelation and response statements. It is because as a future

christian teacher, I aim to reveal God to my students and prepare them for Gods

service. Moreover there is a question in my mind, how about the secular schools?

How to present this goals to them if their curriculum is different? The negative side

for me is that I did not see Fennema giving a say in applying this to non-faith based

school. He may not give a direct answer to my personal question but he enlightens

me to his statement, no christian education - only christian educators. Then I realize

that the application of these two goals would not depend to secular or christian
education, but to the perspective of educators. As a christian educators, I would

strive to perform these goals with courage and bravery wherever God put me in.

Then, on the second foundational statement, it says only part of Gods story is

being told. It is our duty to find the rest of the story. For me, there would be

problem because man tend to be fallen. We are bound to be tempted from our

thoughts and have a limited thinking. The risk here is we may possibly have a limited

educational progress. Yet, it is an imperative for us to study the Bible for it will help. I

may be struggling in having a direct focus but I believe that the Holy Spirit will reveal

to me the understanding I needed. Being a christian teacher is a good news for I may

be fallen before, but I was redeem by God. And that redemption has given me

wisdom to seek for the rest of the truth.

Lastly, as a reader I would give an applause to Fennema in his way of writing.

What gives truth in his book is that he did not miss to relate every ideas he provide

to the Scripture. He consider the Bible as the foundation of education just like what

we had before on Redemptive Teaching.

In conclusion, reading this chapter made me think of my actions when I became

a teacher in the future and application to my reflection. I will hold my class in a

christian perspective that is rooted by the scripture. I may stamble along the way but

Gods guidance is with because I was redeemed through Jesus Christ.