Seek Ye First "All These Things"

by Dr Leong Tien Fock

Most Malaysian Christians would, and should, support the recent emphasis on English even if some would oppose the way it is implemented. But we need to be aware of the assumption that comes with this emphasis.

The official reason given for the emphasis is that Malaysians need to be competitive in the global market. In itself, there is nothing wrong with this. What is questionable is the accompanying assumption that the goal of education is basically economic. Thus tertiary education must be market-driven, not just market sensitive, and most tertiary students think only of pursuing an economically rewarding career. There is nothing wrong with a Christian having a materially rewarding career. What is of concern is when Christians also have the assumption that the goal of tertiary education is to find a well-paid and well-respected job.

Traditionally the goal of higher education is the quest for truth, including scientific truth. Most of the early universities in the West began basically as Bible colleges and most of the early scientists were Christians. In fact Sir Isaac Newton wrote more on theology than on science and his passion for science was driven by his Christian faith. Industrialization has changed all that.

The current emphasis on English, and the teaching of Mathematics and Science in English, assume as well as promote the materialistic view of education. If Christians support the emphasis (which they should, for a higher purpose) without being conscious of its assumption, they will likely be further influenced by this materialistic view, without their permission.

What are the practical implications of Christians (consciously or unconsciously) having such a view? One concrete consequence has become a crisis for the Malaysian Church: Christian teachers in the public schools are fast becoming an "endangered species". The public schools are where almost every Malaysian has his foundational and formative education. The influence of the schools, for the better or for the worse, is so encompassing (touching most Malaysians) and so far reaching (for the rest of their lives) that it is frightening to think of the future of the Malaysian Church if current trends persist.

According to Prof. Awang Had Salleh, the "modern, western-type of education began in this country about thirty years after the coming of the British to Malaya. The first English school was the Penang Free School, established by the Reverend R. S. Hutchings, in 1816. For about 100 years education was left in the hands of missionaries until the [British] government took over in the early 1900s". The Christian impact of this aspect of Malaysian history is still being felt today. But not for very long more unless there is a dramatic turn in how Christians view education.

Christians are commanded to "seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness", i.e., God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. To set us free to obey the command, Christ promised, "all these things shall be added to you". Our common calling as Christians is to contribute in one way or another to the extension of God’s Kingdom on earth. Our specific calling ("vocation") is the means through which we accomplish that.

Depending on the natural talents and spiritual gifts God has blessed us with, and in line with our passions, personalities and experiences, we may be called to be engineers, businessmen, doctors, or pastors, ... or teachers. It is also through our vocation that the Lord adds "all these things" (and often much more) to us. But the materialistic view of education tells us to seek first "all these things" ... and much more.

This has serious consequences not only on the mission of the Church but also on the well-being of Christians. Unless our work is somehow in line with our calling we will always be a square peg in a round hole. We cannot be truly fulfilled no matter how prestigious our social status is. And we cannot really enjoy life no matter how much money we make.

Influenced by the Christian concept of calling, even non-Christian career counselors are beginning to talk like spiritual advisers. According to Richard Leider and David Shapiro a "perfect job" is one in which "you’re applying the talents you enjoy most to an interest you’re passionate about, in an environment that fits who you are and what you value". They affirm that "people do find, or invent, or create these jobs".

For someone who is talented in teaching and is passionate about little children her perfect job is found in a kindergarten. Think of the long-term impact such a Christian can have on successive generations of children in their early formative years. Besides, since she is doing what she naturally loves and is successfully touching lives she will experience a sense of fulfillment that no amount of prestige or money can give. But Christians called to be kindergarten, or even public school, teachers will miss their calling if they seek first "all these things ... and much more".

Currently, teaching in the public schools is not at all attractive to Christians. The "prospects" are not much while the problems are many. Further, it may require them to first endure the STPM to get into a Science or Arts with Education course, offered only in a public university. Going to a private college right after SPM is so much more appealing and "rewarding". But if we are called to be teachers, teaching is our mission.

If the missionaries had looked at the prospects and the problems in the mission field and the need to first endure learning a foreign language, how many would have come? If they had not come, barring God’s intervention, how many of us would be Christians today? When we find purpose and fulfillment in what we do, prospects and problems do not matter. Even Nietzsche (who coined "God is dead") said, "he who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how".

Dr Leong Tien Fock is Research coordinator of Malaysia Campus Crusade for Christ.