Judging from the online comments, Maureen Dolan's recent article about Reach America's video "The Thaw" raised questions in the minds of those unfamiliar with the tradition of Christian education. The comments suggest a number of local Christians are estranged from that tradition, which saddens because it is their tradition. These are their schools.

As a former board member of a Christian school and the husband of a Christian school principal, I would like to attempt to dispel some myths, most notably the misconception that dedication to both private-Christian, and public-government, education is somehow incompatible.

Christians believe that God established divine orders within Creation. Among them are government and family. Each order plays a specific role. Governments are (in the words of Saint Paul) "God's servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." They maintain order with armies, police forces, courts of law, prisons and the like. Families are formed to raise children - love, clothe, feed, shelter, protect and educate them.

Christian schools act in loco parentis, as agents of family. Governments - pursuant to their task of enforcing order and protecting innocent life - operate a social safety net, including things like food stamps, housing assistance and a system of free public schools.

The Christian world-view also encompasses the free system of schools, along with home-schooling, home-schooling co-ops (the closest existing parallel to Reach America) and any other methods that help parents fulfill their assigned task of educating their children. Christian education is not opposed to public education. Rather, it views public education as fulfilling an essential, separate and complementary role.

Let me be clear. The Christian educational tradition does not regard public schools merely as places for the children of unbelievers, but as legitimate alternatives for Christian parents unable to home school; or afford a Christian school; or who, for whatever reason, deem in accordance with their God-given authority that a public school best serves their child's specific educational needs.

The Christian educational tradition does not attempt to pre-empt the parent's prerogative with respect to their children. It was founded on the very principle of honoring it.

That said, "The Thaw" correctly points out that in recent decades public education has shifted from being non-sectarian (as required by the U.S. and Idaho Constitutions) to being secular. (The video might incorrectly leave the impression that it is more a matter of law than of the culture.) The video attempts to make Christian parents aware that the change is real, and it alters the equation for them.

Non-sectarianism was perfectly acceptable to Christians. Secularism, however, is a major problem. Whole chunks of the New Testament are devoted to cautioning Christians against the reckless practice of going "Jesus free" for short periods of time, or within limited compartments of life. As inconvenient as it may seem, the Bible acknowledges only the sacred and the profane. There is no consideration of a safe, secular "neutral zone" in between the two.

For Christians, secularism constitutes an additional factor to be taken into consideration when determining the proper place for their children, because the Bible says Creation belongs to Jesus. He owns it, all of it.

If you cannot visualize what "all of it" means with respect to a child's education, I can't describe it within this limited space. I urge you to visit any of the Christian schools operating in Kootenai County. They will welcome your visit. "All of it" can be perceived within minutes, if not seconds, of walking through the door. It is not uncommon for visitors to leave in tears.

When YOU see them in action, Christians, your schools are a breathtakingly beautiful thing.

Paul Matthews is a resident of the Rathdrum area and longtime advocate for Christian education.