Editor’s Note from April 10, 1981

To Christian parents, few things in this world are quite so important as the education of their children. Most evangelical Christians still enroll their children in public schools. But increasingly, they find their children subject to religious and moral influences of almost overwhelming force. To their dismay, they discover that the public schools are no longer the mother of basic morality and traditional values. Too often they are instead the spawning ground of ethical relativism, and secular humanism becomes the “established” religion providing the philosophical framework for these new anti-Christian values. Many evangelicals are convinced that private schools are the only long-term answer.

But many other evangelicals have elected to remain within the public school system and fight back. To their surprise, they discover that teachers and school administrators are often on their side. Secular humanism is a minority religion in America. And we must not permit it, falsely in the name of freedom, to destroy our freedom by imposing its religion and education and philosophy upon our public schools. In this issue, three articles (by Christenson. Freeman, and Crater) and an editorial point out our dangerous plight and to a way out of this educational impasse. You won’t agree with all of them. But as an evangelical, you can’t afford to shut your eyes to the problem and do nothing.

It’ Easter, and no Easter issue would be complete without an article on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. J. I. Packer draws some insights from our Lord’s post-resurrection ministry that are badly needed by us all. Also in this issue. Francis Schaeffer, with characteristic honesty, confesses mistakes from the past as he discusses with great delicacy and sympathy an issue that still deeply troubles the church today. Finally. David Seamands. Wesleyan pastor of the Asbury College Church, refutes “perfectionism” in a way that will delight the heart of any Reformed theologian in the tradition of Luther and Calvin. In so doing, he remains loyal to his Wesleyan tradition, for the kind of “perfection” he opposes. Wesley himself would have abhorred.

Our Latest

News

After Assad: Jihad or Liberty?

A coalition of rebel fighters promises to respect Syria’s religious minorities.

In the Divided Balkans, Evangelicals Are Tiny in Number, but Mighty

A leading Serbian researcher discusses how evangelicals have made a tangible difference.

Chick-fil-A Launches an App to Help Families Be Less Online

It offers the wholesome, values-centered content Christians expect from the closed-on-Sundays chain, but does the platform undercut its message?

Egypt’s Redemption—and Ours

The flight of the holy family is more than a historical curiosity. It points us toward the breadth and beauty of God’s redemption.

Being Human

Anxiety Is on the Runway in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’

Steve Cuss and his daughter, Kaylee, talk about the film’s relationships, patterns, and systems.

News

Ghana May Elect Its First Muslim President. Its Christian Majority Is Torn.

Church leaders weigh competency and faith background as the West African nation heads to the polls.

Shamanism in Indonesia

Can Christians practice ‘white knowledge’ to heal the sick and exorcize demons?

Shamanism in Japan

Christians in the country view pastors’ benedictions as powerful spiritual mantras.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube