20170907 EITHER … OR …

Do I want my child to be discerning or judgemental?
Do I want my child to be wise or opinionated?
Do I want my child to understand or be ignorant?
Do I want my child to model grace or be unforgiving?
Do I want my child to be humble or egotistical?
Do I want my child to listen or speak first?
Do I want my child to speak with kind, or harsh, words?
Do I want my child to be known for conciliatory words, or divisive language?
Do I want my child to speak in love or speak in hate?
Do I want my child to be a peacemaker or argumentative?
Do I want my child to be known for caring, or for causing discontent?
Do I want my child to know when to speak, and when to remain silent?
Do I want my child to be Christ-like, or worldly, in their attitude and manner?

In partnership with families, for over 42 years, Donvale Christian College staff have sought to model and instruct the students of the school in the personal character traits that best model Christ to one another and society beyond our school gates.

There are times, when as followers of Jesus, we are challenged by how we respond to our fellow believers in fellowship; never is the challenge greater when we do not agree with one another. As people of intellect, the great opportunity God gives us within our school community is to study the Bible to understand God’s truth, as it is made known to His people; a book that is both rich in the context surrounding the writings, whilst being silent on a multitude of 21st century life challenges.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV).

We are a people of hope – with an eternal focus, an eternal reality – reliant solely on the graciousness of our God embodied in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. It means we are redeemed. It means we will ultimately be freed from the world’s wrongness and corruption. We are responsible to each other to live as people that shine as God’s light in the world. We are responsible to all humanity to embody the message of reconciliation the empty tomb outside Jerusalem two thousand years ago represents.

This week I have been in Darwin with six leaders from DCC; we have been surrounded by the leadership of Christian schools from across the country. I have been humbled by the words of grace, the unrelenting drive to live in unity, and the desire to see God glorified through our collective activity. I have been struck deeply by the call to leadership that we have.

Our College community is a community of leaders, a community that provides leadership, both within and beyond itself. Within our context, it is an ever-evolving process – children growing through their youthful years to the verge of young adulthood. These are formative years for them all. As the adults that surround them, parents and staff as partners have a continual responsibility to model Christ-like speech, attitudes and character to our children, the students of our school.

Whatever the circumstances, whatever the situation; whatever the debate, whatever the contention.

Our students will be the next generation of Christian leaders in this city. May our legacy of parenting and teaching them be one where they grow up to be wise, discerning, listening and gracious, using humble words that bring peace, reconciliation and Christ’s love to all people, believer and the yet-to-be-saved alike.