The Real Battle: Worldview, Not Politics
The future of Christian education rests on clarity of worldview.
“Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.”
— John 17:17 (NLT)
Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing
If we’re honest as Heads of School, whether stewarding a $1 million budget or a $50 million budget, our focus often drifts toward the spreadsheets: enrollment numbers, donor lists, capital campaigns. These are important and necessary, but they are not the main thing.
The main thing, as our shared mission statements declare, is to see a child, together with their parents, become a follower of Jesus Christ and grow in a biblical worldview. That worldview is simply learning to see the world the way God sees it.
Not Politics, But Worldview
In our current cultural moment, we must be clear: Christian schools are not fighting a political battle.
Dr. J.P. Moreland, recognized as one of the world’s top 50 philosophers and longtime professor at Biola University, has been saying this for decades: “The issue in our time is worldview.”
Not politics.
Not sexuality.
Not gender.
Worldview.
Politics, sexuality, and gender are real and pressing issues, but they are not the root issue. The battle is worldview. If students are not taught to see the world the way God sees it, they will simply become products of whatever cultural influence is trendy at the time.
Barna’s 2025 research reveals that only 4% of American adults hold a biblical worldview. That number should both sober and motivate us. The real crisis is not cultural pressure from outside; it is whether Christian schools will hold fast to their mission on the inside.
Knowing and Defending What We Believe
The first step is clarity. Every Christian school must know its statement of faith and lifestyle statement and stand firmly upon them. These are not legal documents tucked away in a handbook. They are confessions of truth and anchors for our mission.
Does your school affirm the biblical view of marriage, sexuality, and gender? Then teach it.
Does your school uphold the sanctity of life? Then support it.
Does your school promote a biblical view of creation? Then hold strong to it.
If you’re not willing to teach the items in your school’s statement of faith, doctrinal statement, or lifestyle statement, I strongly encourage you to look in the mirror and have an honest conversation with yourself and your stakeholders.
Notice what is not on this list: political platforms. Schools may not take official positions on partisan issues, but every faithful Christian school must teach the Bible without compromise. “Your word is truth.” (John 17:17)
Rejoicing in Our Cultural Moment
Should we be alarmed by cultural hostility toward the Bible? No. We should rejoice. This is our opportunity.
Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:3–4 (NLT): “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.”
Dallas Willard said in The Scandal of the Kingdom: How the Parables of Jesus Revolutionize Life with God that Jesus’ teaching style was to “take whatever cultural balloon was floating by and let the air out of it.”
Jesus wasn’t crucified for being nice or feeding the poor. He was crucified because He made radical claims of truth and challenged assumptions. He declared Himself the Son of God, freely forgave sins, and confronted the motives and power systems of His day.
Likewise, our schools should not retreat from culture but engage it by teaching truth, forming disciples, and equipping students to live in freedom under Christ’s authority.
Teaching Faculty and Students to Communicate
If we are to stand faithfully, our staff and students must learn how to communicate truth with both courage and humility. This might be the number one “soft skill” needed in our contemporary culture.
Christian school leaders—if you haven’t experienced it already, be prepared for increasing scrutiny about what is taught in our chapels, assemblies, and curriculum. Scrutiny will come from both within and outside voices. The question is not if it will come, but how we prepare our people to respond.
How are we teaching our staff and students to engage with information? First, our security and identity must be anchored in Jesus Christ. The Bible must guide our thinking. Let’s train our stakeholders to expect disagreement. That’s okay. In fact, it is part of the learning process.
One of my favorite aspects of Charlie Kirk’s ministry is not whether I agree with every position he holds, but how he engages with ideas. Even with his “Prove Me Wrong” ministry, he listens. He lets people talk. He stands his ground while remaining rooted in his identity in Christ. Whether or not I agree with him on issues like the size of government, importance of college, or the roles of a husband and wife is beside the point. What matters is that he models the courage to listen without being easily offended or quick to cancel those who disagree.
This is the posture we must cultivate in our schools. Help our stakeholders listen to understand, not to destroy. Teach them to stand in truth with conviction, but also to show patience and mercy in dialogue. Exchanging ideas is not to “win” the argument; it is a ministry to help others grow in Christ.
At the end of the day, we know the Kingdom of God is at hand. Despite the evil or disagreements we encounter, God has placed us here to minister to those in our midst. Let’s commit ourselves to leading in the way of Jesus—in our character, in our assumptions, and in the daily exchange of ideas. This begins with leadership.
Final Word
The Apostle Paul reminds us in Colossians 1:13–14 (NLT): “For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.”
This is why Christian schools exist. Not to grow enrollment charts or balance spreadsheets, but to raise up students and staff who live in the Kingdom of God, who see the world through His truth, and who proclaim His gospel in word and deed.
Christian school leaders, let’s be dedicated to our calling. Our mission is not political positioning but biblical formation. The real battle is worldview.
Let’s recommit to:
Knowing and teaching what our statements of faith affirm.
Training faculty and students to listen, speak, and stand with grace.
Engaging culture without fear, confident that God’s Word is truth.
We do lots of things as school leaders, but let’s not miss the mark on this topic. Souls are the ultimate focus. Our mission is discipleship. And that mission is worth everything.
Articulated with wisdom.🙂