Tim White, Interim Deputy Principal
Abraham Kuyper, after whom our school is named, believed that we live within the parameters of God’s kingdom. He famously said,
“There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Soverign over all, does not cry, ‘Mine!’”
This statement emphasises ownership and rule. It proclaims that this creation is God’s kingdom!
In light of this, we do well to consider who we are and whose we are. What we as a community believe shapes the people we become.
The ‘ethics’ of any environment will shape the people within it. Every group in every society has an idea of who or what people should be like. There is always a perfect ‘goal’ or ‘ideal’ in mind. Look at our Australian oath of allegiance and citizenship expectations, as just one example.
Sometimes, our example of the ‘ideal’ is someone specific like a political leader or national hero. Sometimes, it is more obscure, such as the ideal of ‘my truth’. However, everyone on this earth worships something they want to be like – something they esteem as ‘perfect’.
To a Buddhist, it would be Buddha. To a fashion designer, it would be Pierre Cardin.
To a Christian community, it is Jesus.
We can choose to worship and honour God, or we will honour and follow another god. Our choice is not simply to serve God or to be neutral. Our choice is to serve our Creator-Saviour or serve any number of other gods to whom we choose to commit ourselves.
Money, prestige, comfort, recognition, and power are just some of the gods who compete with Jesus’ place as King. We can devote our lives fully to God or serve an idol (or ideal) such as money, pleasure or self.
There is no such thing as neutrality in God’s kingdom. For God knows that any area we see as neutral is in fact an area of life where we refuse to acknowledge that he is King. In that area of life, another king is ruling. If our commitment is not wholeheartedly to Jesus, it will be to something else.
Our goal as a Christian school community is to truly acknowledge Jesus as King, and to achieve this, we must truly know Jesus.
God reveals Himself to us in His creation and in His Word, the Bible. In His Word, we read about God’s plan to free people from the guilt and shame of sin in the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. We read about God’s expectations for His people to live a life that seeks to spread healing in a hurting world. We understand that Jesus is God’s Word to us about how to be right with God and how to treat our neighbours.
As a Christian community, it is our goal to know God as He has revealed Himself and let Jesus reign!
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for people … It is the Lord you are serving.”
Colossians 3: 23-24