Education as Response: Rediscovering the Glory of God in an Information-Based Universe

“The heavens declare the glory of God… day after day they pour forth speech” (Psalm 19). This familiar passage reminds us that education is more than the transmission of knowledge—it is a response to a world that is already speaking.

At the heart of biblical creation is not merely matter, but word. “And God said…” introduces a universe built through divine speech—through information, intention, and order. This insight aligns strikingly with contemporary scientific thought: we now recognize that the universe functions on an informational level. The genetic code, for instance, is not just biological—it is linguistic. Richard Dawkins, though an atheist, concedes:

“What lies at the heart of every living thing is not a fire, not warm breath, nor a ‘spark of life’. It is information, words, instructions...”

We live in a universe crafted by the Word of God. This foundation invites us to view education not as man’s attempt to impose meaning, but as an invitation to uncover the meaning already embedded in creation—Truth, Beauty, and Goodness.

Truth: Aligning with Spoken Reality

Truth is not merely about data or facts; it’s about correspondence to God’s Word. Jesus, in John 17, declares, “Your word is truth.” Education, then, must help students align their thinking not with opinion or consensus, but with the reality God has spoken into being.

Without truth, education loses purpose. If nothing is self-evident, nothing can be proven. If there is no objective truth, there is no meaning in learning. If there is no intelligent, relational Creator, there is no reason for our own rational capacities.

Truth gives education direction—it roots it in something eternal and objective, outside of myself.

Beauty: The Elegance of Ordered Information

Beauty reflects God’s character—it’s not subjective sentiment, but the elegance of ordered reality. Psalm 27:4 expresses the desire to “gaze upon the beauty of the Lord.” Beauty is not a bonus feature in education—it is an essential component of creation and cognition.

C.S. Lewis observed, “We do not want merely to see beauty… we want to be united with it.” Beauty draws us outside ourselves. In The Abolition of Man, Lewis critiques modern detachment from beauty’s objectivity. When we call a waterfall “sublime,” we are describing the waterfall—not just our feelings about it.

Beauty matters in education because it invites awe, humility, and a posture of worship.

Goodness: The Moral Structure of the World

Goodness is not simply about kindness—it reflects God’s moral character. Lewis warned that “education without values… seems rather to make man a more clever devil.” Goodness anchors education in moral responsibility and right relationship.

When we teach goodness as objective, we empower students to evaluate actions not by preference, but by alignment with God's nature.

Education as Worship and Formation

If reality is worded—spoken into being—then education is an act of reading. Every discipline becomes a way of discerning the fingerprints of God in the world: mathematics as the language of order, science as the investigation of design, literature as the echo of the Word.

Romans 12:2 calls for transformation “by the renewing of your mind.” Education is not just about information acquisition—it is about formation. It shapes desires, affections, and moral imagination.

So What? 

As Christian educators and school leaders, we must ask:

• How does viewing education as a response to God’s speech reshape your leadership?

• Are your teachers helping students read the world in light of God’s Word—or merely moving through curriculum?

• What would change if every subject were seen as revealing some facet of the divine Logos?

Conclusion:

Colossians 1:17 reminds us, “In Him all things hold together.” This includes the educational process. Education is not just preparation for life—it is participation in the life and glory of God. When we teach in light of His Word, we prepare students not only to succeed in the world—but to live well within it.

About the Author

Paul Madsen is a husband, father, teacher and learner who has lived in 4 countries and many cultural contexts. He has taught in Christian schools in the US and abroad for many years. He now works as an educational consultant with ACSI Europe developing professional resources, providing training for both teachers and students and directing the annual Student Leadership Conference. He can be reached via email at paul_madsen@acsi.org.