A Christian Approach to Chinese Classical Education

studying influential leaders, for God frequently directs the course of society and culture through people whom He has placed in special positions of authority. For Christians, this also includes great leaders of the church. Finally, students should also revere “the words of sages.” In His grace, God bestows a special measure of wisdom on a select few throughout history, and He calls us to seek this wisdom like gold (Prv. 2:4). Frequently, this wisdom is located in great thinkers who died long ago, which is why the classical tradition especially stresses studying the ancients. “The Master said, ‘I am not one who was born in the possession of knowledge; I am one who is fond of antiquity, and earnest in seeking it there.’”33 Confucius identified himself as “a transmitter and not a maker, believing in and loving the ancients.”34 However, this aspect of the Chinese classical tradition still needs to be redeemed by Christ, for in the past, it often veered off into ancestor worship. We ought to honor the ancients, but, as Augustine says, our love for them must be properly ordered. Our love for our ancestors must not exceed our love for God. Moreover, we must not treat the Bible as just another “classic” among many. The Bible is our ultimate standard to which all the words of the sages must submit.

Christianity also brings new meaning to the word “sage” or “holy man” (shengren 圣人), for according to Scripture, the holiest of men are not those endowed with much knowledge according to worldly standards but those who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit:

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards…But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise…Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit (1 Cor. 1:26–27, 2:12–13)

Therefore, “revering the words of sages” especially means revering the words of great Christian thinkers throughout history.

To summarize, the “three reverences” orient our hearts by instilling in us a proper respect toward our studies. They also provide guidance regarding what kinds of knowledge we should prioritize. We should revere the ordinances of God: “He who reveres the commandment will be rewarded” (Prv. 13:13). We should revere great men: “They stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him” (1 Kg. 3:28). And we should revere the words of the sages: “Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise” (Prv. 22:17).

Finally, besides joy and reverence, we must also approach our studies with humility. The Bible tells us, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom” (Prv. 11:2). Learning requires humility because to learn something new we must first confess that we do not know it. The man who refuses to admit his ignorance cannot learn anything. “The Master said, ‘Yu, shall I tell you what it is to know? To say you know when you know, and to say