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The arguments in favor of language education have proceeded largely from perspectives that have failed to critically examine the marketplace ideology pervasive in the field. These ideological influences not only hold our endeavors in tension with stated objectives, but influence language education in Christian settings in ways that are inconsistent with a broader responsibility to fellow humans. The author explicates the contexts of foreign language advocacy in the United States, and comments on the challenges for Christian educators.If I stood before you today, 1 claiming to quote scripture, I would likely be challenged on the following "verses": Blessed are the marketable, for they shall inherit the earth; And do not forget to be efficient for with such sacrifices God is pleased; Good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world.Understandably, such distortions of scripture are not consistent with a Christian world-view. However, I would submit that for many foreign language education programs in Christian settings, such distortions have infiltrated a great deal of our curricular thinking.For several years, I have argued that a number of language educators are growing increasingly dissatisfied with the status quo of our profession, citing the "standards movement" as part of the root of their dissatisfaction. I reasoned that it feels as though language curricula are being "sterilized" and packaged in a way that eliminates much of the creativity 11-23

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