A Profoundly Troubling Statement

9 words Jesus uttered could turn one's concept of school on its head. 

Jesus made a profoundly troubling statement when He said, "He who is not with Me, is against Me." (Matthew 12:30)

What did He mean by this statement? Did He mean what it sounds like He said? If a person is not with (or for) Christ, is he or she against Him? 

What if a person is not a Christ-follower, but never says anything bad about Christ, never uses His name in vain, never criticizes or thinks poorly of people who follow Him? Is that person against Christ, because he or she is not for Him? 

It appears so. Jesus said a lot of difficult things.

What about schools? If an institution selling knowledge and understanding is not for Christ, is it against Christ? 

Are non-Christian schools (public or private) against Christ, if they never mention His name to a student, one way or another, for 13 years? 

We need to think about this. Deeply. 

Does a school have to announce that it is "against Christ" in order to be against Christ? Must it be written in the official handbook, "Our school is against Christ," or be posted on the classroom wall, or discussed at parent-teacher meetings in order for this to be the case?

Let's pose the question another way. "Are non-Christian schools for Christ?" 

What might happen if you asked your local public school principal (who is a dedicated Christian attending your church, and clearly called to serve in that capacity): "Is your school for Christ?" 

What if the answer is: "Our school is neither for nor against Christ. We have students who are Christians, and students who are not Christians. We take no position on the matter, pro or con, at school. We're neutral."

Would Christ say this school (which is an institution selling knowledge and understanding) is for Him or against Him?

Sometimes Jesus' words are profoundly troubling. 

They're meant to be. 

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