Out of His great compassion and love for us, God devised a perfect plan “to restore in man the image of his Maker, to bring him back to the perfection in which he was created, to promote the development of body, mind, and soul, that the divine purpose in his creation might be realized—this was to be the work of redemption. This is the object of education, the great object of life” (Education, p. 15, 16).

Since the day Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden, God has been engaged in the work of redemption—the work of education. The garments of skin that God provided for their clothing were the first great object lesson of His redemptive and substitutionary act on their behalf. The covering of their shame came through the shedding of blood.

From generation to generation, this object lesson was repeated at the altar of sacrifice. The plan of salvation was later more fully revealed through the lessons of the temple services. These object lessons—His revealed law—along with their experiences with Him were to be passed on by the parents to their children.

“Be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them” (Deuteronomy 4:9).

The role of passing on the faith has always been a partnership between God and parent. Later in Israel’s history, education provided by the parents was augmented by the “church” in what came to be known as “the schools of the prophets.”

These schools were first established by Samuel as “missionary seminaries, designed to maintain a higher standard of morals and religion at a period when the deplorable condition of degeneracy and corruption called loudly for such reformatory effort” (Signs of the Times, June 22, 1882).

These schools were established specifically for the student who wanted to advance in knowledge of the scriptures and to engage in deeper study of the mysteries of life and the kingdom of God in preparation to become a teacher in Israel. The institutional school was to provide beyond what was available in the home.

Adventist education was founded for similar reasons. The home school has always been the first and foremost source of instruction for the student. The church school was provided to augment what could be provided in the home for the purpose of preparing young people for advanced service.

Somehow, over time, many wrongly concluded that all education was the work of the church school. Many expected the school to work independently to educate and train young people, not only in advanced studies, but in the basic teachings of faith and practice. Others, sensing their God-given responsibility as described in Deuteronomy, have neglected the advanced training and opportunities afforded by the school.

A number of our dedicated educators are calling us back to the original plan, which in some circles is considered to be innovative and ground-breaking stuff. As parents resume their God-given roles as primary educators, and as church schools embrace their role as supporters and partners in the work of redemption by providing advanced studies for service, the true object of education will be realized.

Gary Burns is the Lake Union Conference communication director and Lake Union Herald editor.