Series: Education and Worldview Formation
Scripture Focus: 1 Thessalonians 5:21
Imagine walking into your child’s classroom and realizing the lesson plan doesn’t just teach history, it pushes a single ideological narrative without space for questioning. Or a teacher is penalized for inviting students to think critically about a controversial topic, not because the student is disruptive, but because the viewpoint challenges the accepted norm. In West Virginia, Arkansas, New Hampshire, and so many states, classrooms are becoming arenas where only certain ideas are allowed. Critical thinking? That seems to be disappearing.
Take the example of Arkansas: a federal appeals court recently ruled that the state may enforce its ban on Critical Race Theory (CRT) in public school classrooms (Smith 2025). That means teachers may be prevented from teaching or even discussing certain historical perspectives. Or consider New Hampshire, where a law that restricted teaching “divisive concepts” related to race and gender has been struck down by a judge for being too vague and for limiting academic freedom (Johnson 2024). Then there are the tens of thousands of book bans recorded in the 2023-24 school year, over 4,000 unique titles removed because their content is deemed “objectionable” by district boards (Books Authority 2024).
All of this raises a serious question: are our schools teaching students how to think, or simply telling them what to believe? When Paul urges the Thessalonians to “test all things; hold fast what is good,” he doesn’t just mean passively absorbing whatever is presented (Bible 2004, 1 Thess. 5:21). He calls for discernment, evaluation, alignment with truth. In a culture increasingly content with conformity, this biblical mandate has never been more needed.
When Paul admonishes the Thessalonians to “test all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thess. 5:21), he isn’t offering optional advice. He’s giving a foundational command for Christian discernment and mental engagement. In context, this comes immediately after he warns believers not to despise prophecies (1 Thess. 5:20), showing that even purported spiritual or popular teachings must be evaluated (Precept Austin 2022; BibleRef 2023).
The Greek word dokimazete (translated “test” or “examine”) carries the sense of putting something to the test, as metals are refined by fire (Precept Austin 2022). Paul invites believers not to accept teachings simply because they’re commonly accepted, widely endorsed, or emotionally appealing, but to compare them against the standard of what is good, what aligns with Scripture, justice, truth, and the character of God (BibleHub commentary on 1 Thess. 5:21; GotQuestions 2022).
“Hold fast that which is good” (to kalon katechete) is not passive. It means to grasp firmly, to remain steadfast in what is true and noble. Christian belief isn’t about being tossed by every wind of doctrine, but anchored in what endures when tested (GotQuestions on “Hold fast…” 2023).
Theologically, this mandate reinforces several pillars of your framework: the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, the necessity of spiritual discernment, and the responsibility of believers to think biblically, not just conforming to cultural or ideological pressures. It assumes that truth is objective (Scripture reveals it), that human reason (renewed by the Spirit) plays a role in evaluating claims, and that following truth has moral, spiritual, and civic implications.
Furthermore, this framework refuses to abdicate parental and church teaching authority, it doesn’t allow us to hide behind claims of neutrality. Since every message, every curriculum, every ideology is capable of being tested, Christians must actively engage, not passively absorb. In doing so, we build “testers,” not parrots, for the next generation, people who will reject falsehood and embrace the good with purpose and courage.
Young people today are swimming in information. But many have lost the tools to discern what is good, true, or worthy. According to the American Worldview Inventory 2024, less than half of all adults use the Bible as their primary guide to morality, and a majority now accept abortion, lie-telling, unmarried sex, and the rejection of absolute moral truth as permissible (Cultural Research Center 2024a, 3). Among Gen Z adults, only about 1% hold what the survey defines as a biblical worldview, while likewise experiencing high rates of anxiety and fear (Cultural Research Center 2024b, 5).
Consider Arkansas. A federal appeals court has ruled that the state may enforce a law banning Critical Race Theory (CRT) in classrooms under the LEARNS Act, finding that the First Amendment does not compel schools to include every ideological perspective in their curricula (DeMillo 2025; AP 2025a). Meanwhile, in another recent ruling, two high school teachers and students won a preliminary injunction so that they may discuss CRT in class without penalty, even while broader bans on “indoctrination” remain in force (AP 2024b; AP 2025b).
These legal battles are not isolated—they reflect a broader cultural tension. Schools and policymakers increasingly shape what views are allowed to be taught, and in many cases, what must be conformed to. In the digital sphere, social media algorithms, influencer networks, and peer pressure often decide what ideas are circulated, not measured truth. Cultural narratives about gender, identity, justice, and morality are no longer optional content; they are foundational frames through which millions understand reality.
What’s at stake is not only curriculum but formation. When students aren’t taught how to test ideas, i.e. to ask whether they align with Scripture, they become susceptible to adopting worldviews by default, not by conviction. The very public policy and judicial decisions (e.g., DeMillo 2025; AP 2024a; Cultural Research Center 2024a) that limit open questioning or punish dissent are symptoms of this drift toward intellectual conformity.
Critical thinking isn’t an ornament for mature Christians, it’s essential to spiritual formation and faithful discipleship. If we want to raise children who test ideas rather than accept them blindly, we must teach them how to think, not just what to think. This requires intentionality from parents, teachers, and church leaders alike.
Parents can begin at home with small but regular habits. One useful practice is what some Christian educators call the “seven checks of critical thinking” before accepting any significant claim or teaching, ask: How does this align with Scripture? What assumptions underlie this idea? Are there logical inconsistencies? Who benefits if this is true or false? What do opposing arguments look like? Does evidence support the claim? Has this been tested in real life? (Engler 2020; see “The 7 Checks of Critical Thinking”)
Another tool is fostering a family culture of questioning: use dinner conversations or media consumption as opportunities to ask “Why is this claim being made?” or “What worldview underlies this story?” You might read a movie review together, examine its moral assumptions, and contrast them with biblical truth. These practices help children start thinking habitually in terms of evaluation, not passive absorption.
Churches should partner with parents in this formation. For example, offer workshops or youth group sessions that teach students how to differentiate between opinion, fact, worldview, and ideology. Encourage the use of apologetics resources, trusted Christian commentators, and mentors who can model reasoning grounded in Scripture. United Church of God’s “Biblical Critical Thinking for Christians: Living the Truth” is a helpful example, urging believers not to shy away from testing beliefs, inside and outside the church, as a spiritual discipline (United Church of God 2022).
We must also guard against two extremes: either neglecting critical thinking because of fear of offense, or overcorrecting into cynicism. Discernment works when it’s rooted in trust of God’s Word, humility, and love. As Proverbs warns, “The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps” (Proverbs 14:15).
In sum, discipleship that includes critical thinking shapes children not as parrots repeating what’s popular, but as people equipped for truth, able to engage ideas, reject what contradicts Scripture, and hold fast to the good.
The current moment demands more than concern, it demands courageous action. As legal rulings (such as Arkansas’ LEARNS Act decision) affirm, there is real opportunity for Christian parents, teachers, and church leaders to insist on critical thinking in schools, not indoctrination (Albarado 2025). The Executive Order Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling also signals federal priority on protecting ideological freedom in curricula (The White House 2025).
Parents: begin today forming habits in your home that test what your children hear. Ask your child’s teacher: Where in this lesson do students discuss multiple perspectives? How can my child express questions without fear of judgment?Make Scripture your benchmark for evaluating classroom content.
Teachers and educators: do not shy away from opening discussion, even when topics are controversial. Where policy allows, include alternative viewpoints to those taught as received wisdom. Help students develop frameworks for evaluating truth claims, logical consistency, evidence, biblical alignment, not merely whether ideas feel socially acceptable.
Churches: intentionally equip families in this task. Host workshops in critical thinking; provide resources that help children analyze cultural claims in light of Scripture. Support Christian teachers facing pressure to conform. Advocate (where you can) for policies that protect academic freedom and parental involvement.
If we act with conviction and clarity, we turn from a generation that receives ideas by default to one that evaluates them by truth. And in doing so, we uphold not only intellectual fidelity, but a deeply spiritual legacy, one that honors God’s command to test all things and hold fast what is good.
This article continues our September series on Education and Worldview Formation. Previously, we explored how education is a spiritual battle for children’s minds (Article 1) and saw that God has given parents the primary responsibility in education (Article 2). Last week we affirmed that Scripture alone constitutes the foundation for equipping the next generation (Article 3). In this installment, we’ve examined how critical thinking distinguishes genuine faith from ideological conformity. Next, we’ll conclude the series by celebrating Christian teachers as culture-shapers under Matthew 5:14.
Previous: Equipping the Next Generation with a Biblical Worldview (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Next: Redeeming the Classroom: Christian Teachers as Culture-Shapers (Matthew 5:14)
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Key Truths to Retain
- Test all things. The command of 1 Thessalonians 5:21 calls Christians not to accept ideas by default, but to examine them through Scripture’s standard.
- Indoctrination silences discernment. When schools or policies force a single perspective, students lose the opportunity to think, question, and grow spiritually.
- Discipleship trains minds, not parrots. Faith that lasts is not unthinking assent, but a life formed by truth, reason, and moral courage.
Live it out. Share the truth. Walk with courage. Teach your children to test all things, hold fast to the good, and never settle for forced conformity when God has given truth.
References
American Worldview Inventory 2024 Release #3. 2024. “Explaining America’s 40-Year Drop in Biblical Worldview — And How to Reverse That Decline.” Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University. May 28.
American Worldview Inventory 2024 Release #5. 2024. “Research Suggests Consequences of Anti-Biblical Worldview Often Misdiagnosed and Treated as Mental Illness.” Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University. September 24.
Arizona Christian University. 2024. American Worldview Inventory: Millions of Americans Embrace Common Unbiblical Perspectives, Survey Shows. Release #2, April 23. Cultural Research Center.
DeMillo, Andrew. 2025. “Appeals Court Backs Arkansas Law Targeting Critical Race Theory.” Education Week, July 18.
Albarado, Sonny. 2025. “Arkansas Can Outlaw Public School ‘Indoctrination,’ ‘CRT,’ Appeals Court Rules.” Arkansas Advocate, July 16.
“Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling.” 2025. Executive Order. The White House. January 29.
