作者：卡罗琳·凯恩斯
如果我学了基础知识，
每分钟可以读600个单词，
写一手漂亮的书法，
却不知道如何跟所有语言的设计者交流，
那么我还没有受过教育。
如果我能发表动人的演说，
能用严密的逻辑使人信服，
却没有受到上帝智慧的点拨，
那么我还没有受过教育。
如果我读了莎士比亚和约翰·洛克的文章，
能对他们的作品发表深刻的见解，
却没有读懂那本最伟大的书——《圣经》，
不知道《圣经》的重要性，
那么我还没有受过教育。
如果我会做加减乘除，
会背化学公式，
却从来没有把上帝的圣言藏在心里，
那么我还没有受过教育。
如果我会解释万有引力定律
和爱因斯坦的相对论，
却没有学习过宇宙创造者那亘古不变的定律，
那么我还没有受过教育。
如果我能分清动物的科、属、种，
会写能够获奖的长篇科学论文，
却不晓得造物主创造这一切的目的，
那么我还没有受过教育。
如果我会背诵《葛底斯堡演说》
和《宪法序言》，
却没有看到我们国家历史中上帝之手的运作，
那么我还没有受过教育。
如果我会演奏钢琴、小提琴和其他六种乐器，
会写催人泪下的乐章，
却不听从宇宙的掌管者，不敬拜祂，
那么我还没有受过教育。
如果我能参加越野赛跑，当篮球明星，
连续做一百个俯卧撑，
却不知道如何使自己的心灵顺服于上帝的旨意，
那么我还没有受过教育。
如果我能鉴别毕加索的画，
描述达·芬奇的风格，
甚至画出得A+的肖像，
却不明白这一切和谐和美丽与上帝的关系，
那么我还没有受过教育。
如果我以4.0的成绩毕业，
获得全额奖学金，
在最好的大学学习，
却没有从事上帝为我选择的事业，
那么我还没有受过教育。
如果我是一个好公民，
每次选举都投票，
为道德和正义而战，
却不晓得人的罪恶和没有基督的悲惨境况，
那么我还没有受过教育。
然而，如果有一天，
我像上帝那样看待世界，
开始认识上帝，
晓得在祂里面有永生，
藉着实现上帝造我的目的来荣耀上帝，
那么我就已经受过教育了！
本诗选自荷兰改革宗（NRC）教育协会编制：《基督教教育》，基督教改革宗出版社，第12页。诗作者为华盛顿州朗维尤市哥伦比亚基督徒学院督学。
To Be Educated
By Carolyn Caines
If I learn my ABCs, can read 600 words per minute, and can write with perfect penmanship, but have not been taught how to communicate with the Designer of all language,
I have not been educated.
If I can deliver an eloquent speech and persuade with my stunning logic, but have not been instructed in God’s wisdom,
I have not been educated.
If I have read Shakespeare and John Locke and can discuss their writings with keen insight, but have not read the greatest of books—the Bible—and have no knowledge of its personal importance,
I have not been educated.
If I have memorized addition facts, multiplication tables, and chemical formulas, but have never been disciplined to hide God’s Word in my heart,
I have not been educated.
If I can explain the law of gravity and Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, but have never been instructed in the unchangeable laws of the One who orders our universe,
I have not been educated.
If I can classify animals by their family, genus and species, and can write a lengthy scientific paper that wins an award, but have not been introduced to the Maker’s purpose for all creation,
I have not been educated.
If I can recite the Gettysburg Address and the Preamble to the Constitution, but have not learned about the hand of God in the history of our country,
I have not been educated.
If I can play the piano, the violin, six other instruments, and can write music that moves listeners to tears, but have not been taught to listen to the Director of the universe and worship Him,
I have not been educated.
If I can run cross-country races, star in basketball, and do 100 push-ups without stopping, but have never been shown how to bend my spirit to do God’s will,
I have not been educated.
If I can identify a Picasso, describe the style of daVinci, and even paint a portrait that gains acclaim, but have not learned that all harmony and beauty comes from a relationship with God,
I have not been educated.
If I graduate with perfect grades and am accepted at the finest university with a full scholarship, but have not been guided into a career of God’s choosing for me,
I have not been educated.
If I become a good citizen, voting at each election and fighting for what is moral and right, but have not been told of humanities sinfulness and hopelessness without Christ,
I have not been educated.
However, if one day I see the world as God sees it, and come to know Him, Whom to know is life eternal, and glorify God by fulfilling His purpose for me,
then, I have been educated!
- The End -
