Seek Ye First... - Why Are We A Christian Support Group?

Seek Ye First...

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Why Are We A Christian Support Group?

I received a phone call this morning from a woman interested in joining our support group. She had received information from several people about the various activities going on in Lighthouse, and she and her children were excited about potentially being part of this group. She was confused by one thing though, and that was our Statement of Faith.

" Do I have to believe in your statement of faith to belong to your group?", she asked. " Because we are Muslims, not Christians."

When I pointed out that our name plainly stated that we are a Christian homeschool association, she said that she liked associating with Christians because we shared many of the same values. She was shocked, however, by the idea that we would exclude someone from our support group because they didn't share our faith.

"So that's........ okay? You can do that?" she asked politely but somewhat accusingly.

I explained as best I could that our decision to be a Christian support group was not meant to be hurtful to anyone, but to provide an environment for parents and children in which we would be free to express our faith in Jesus Christ, because expressions of our Christianity were not reserved for church alone, but were part of everything we did, including educating our children. She was very nice and accepted my explanation, but suggested that our leaders consider changing our policy, since there were many wonderful families out there who were not Christian but would like to be part of our group.

Before answering the phone, I had JUST sat down with my Bible and journal, and had written one thing:"Lord, help me to accomplish today the things YOU have for me to do." So I have no doubt that conversation was a God-appointment, but now I'm not sure I answered the woman adequately.( I always think of the right things to say AFTER the fact ) It has given me something to think about today. Why are we a Christian support group? Is there a good reason for requiring that our members be Christians?

I think it is important to consider from time to time WHY we do WHAT we do the WAY we do them.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject.

<><

• Post A Comment! • Send to a Friend!

Comments

Thursday, November 10, 2005 - I'm with you....

Posted by AFJen88

I am new to HSB but have hs'ed over 10 years, and have been a support group leader in several different states(we are military and move around a lot). Our current group does not have a SOF, but people do know it's Christian, and that we open with prayer and speak freely about Jesus and Christianity. If they are uncomfortable with that, they don't have to join. That has worked pretty well so far.

A group I was in, in FL, had the same policy. But we had a pagan lady join that actually caused quite a few problems with how outspoken she was, and some of the things her kids were exposed to and would listen to/talk about around ours.

All that to say, I've seen it go both ways. I am more for not having a SOF, but just putting it 'out there' that it's a Christian group. I've had friends who weren't a particular brand of Christianity--say Orthodox or Catholic--made to feel unwelcome and unable to join a group with stringent SOF's.
It's a fine line we walk, wanting to be free to express our Christianity, but trying our durndest not to exclude anyone. So this is probably not helpful! Just know others have the same dilemma and there is likely no trouble-free way to handle this.

• Permanent Link

Thursday, November 10, 2005 - My comments (aka soapbox - be warned!)

Posted by creech7s

OK, girl, you know that I have to reply to this one! I'm so glad that lady called you, I'm sure you exhibited Godly love and charity. And yes, I think it's sad that some may be excluded from the group. Would the group be radically different if it didn't require the SOF? My undoubtful answer is Yes. Look at the diversity of denominations, races, cultures, geographical backgrounds, etc. that we are blessed with in the group. The one common denominator? We all agree who Christ is and that HE has called us to this mission called "homeschooling". We all agree that you cannot separate parts of your life (religion is for Sunday, doesn't effect Monday, etc.) and that at the heart of it all is Christ. He's more important than homeschooling. Are there good, moral homeschoolers who aren't Christian? Sure! Are there intelligent, caring parents who aren't Christian? Sure! But what do you do, for instance, without an SOF, when parents who are teaching your children in CoOp history distort the Christian foundations of our country? Or when parents use our Lord's name in vain during a sports event? Or when...., well, you get the pic! Without an SOF, the group opens itself to compromise, and now the parents are spending more time "reteaching" their children from group activities. Two scriptures come to mind:
Matthew 5:13
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
2 Corinthians 6:14
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

If we are to be committed to the group, we are (in my outspoken opinion!) "yoked" together. (Reminds me of a church that didn't have by-laws and therefore said they didn't want to offend anyone, opening the door to blatant sin against others and Christ).

"When a company or an individual compromises one time, whether it's on price or principle, the next compromise is right around the corner." Zig Ziglar
-Faye

• Permanent Link

Thursday, November 10, 2005 - re:the muslim asking about non-christians joining christian group

Posted by Anonymous

what has light to do with darkness?
unless 2 be agreed, they cannot walk together.
don't listen to a man until you see his day to day life, that he lives G_dly at home and
around his neighbors;...then still check everything, test everything (even if an angel of
light appears)

so, can your neighbors testify of your 'christian' life; are you different than worldly folk ?
can bloggers find/verify evidence of your new life in Messiah? are you sure?
if they can't or if you aren't, maybe you aren't what you think (cautious Word-check,
ie. do you meet the conditions Yeshua said you would if you are His?)
(check His Own Words, like in Matt.5 et al, don't use what 'everyone' says 'is ok' -
'everyone' is wrong, remember Scripture says so - lookit up)

• Permanent Link

Saturday, November 12, 2005 - Why would a non Christian want to join a Christian group?

Posted by Your Sis

I have no idea what that last person/comment was all about????

This is how I see it....right or wrong. Why would a non-Christian family want to join a Christian support group? Are there not any other homeschool groups in the area? If that is true than I can understand why they may want to join. Or is it because they have heard and seen such wonderful things coming from this group and they want to be a part of it and want their children to be a part of it. If that is true, then THEY need to think about why this group is so different and special then the others. So special infact that THEY want to be a part of it. Could it be because it IS a CHRISTIAN support group. When families put Christ first and live their everyday lives following his teachings special and wonderful things do happen! I believe this is what Christ intends...for others to see the light through those who live their lives through Christ and teach their children Christian values. Spreading the word through their actions as well as their teachings. Having a SOF is very important. Your SOF is why your group is so special that those who do not follow Christian lives want to be a part of it. SOmething to think about. More it is something for THEM to think about.

• Permanent Link

Thursday, November 17, 2005 - My Thoughts

Posted by

I believe you handled the situation well and you were prepared for it before it occurred. You will face this one again in the future and you will have a clearer perspective on your whys. To answer your ? Why - simply to edify and continue to build one another up on this wonderful journey. To answer Should you include Non-Christians - I believe you would better serve them by helping them to form their on group or providing activities that are for those that aren't part of the main group. Something akind to outreach, because even though we are called to be separate for the world, we aren't called to be isolated. We are to go into the world and preach the Gospel. This is definitely food for thought, one my dc's have been prayerfully considering from their recent youth group studies. How do we impact our world without losing sight of who we are and why we do what we do? Thanks, if I have any more thoughts to share, I'll let you know.
Keep of the good work ~ you are a light in this dark time.
Dawn ; )

Edited by ExcelsiorWarriors on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 at 10:19 PM

• Permanent Link

Thursday, November 17, 2005 - My Thoughts

Posted by ExcelsiorWarriors

I believe you handled the situation well and you were prepared for it before it occurred. You will face this one again in the future and you will have a clearer perspective on your whys. To answer your ? Why - simply to edify and continue to build one another up on this wonderful journey. To answer Should you include Non-Christians - I believe you would better serve them by helping them to form their on group or providing activities that are for those that aren't part of the main group. Something akind to outreach, because even though we are called to be separate from the world, we aren't called to be isolated. We are to go into the world and preach the Gospel. This is definitely food for thought, one my dc's have been prayerfully considering from their recent youth group studies. How do we impact our world without losing sight of who we are and why we do what we do? Thanks, if I have any more thoughts to share, I'll let you know.
Keep of the good work ~ you are a light in this dark time.
Dawn ; )

• Permanent Link

Tuesday, August 1, 2006 - About accepting a muslim into your group...

Posted by A fellow muslim homeschooler

As a fellow muslim homeschooler (convert,the word revert for fellow muslims),my opinion is that maybe she did like the ideas that your group has,your values may very well line up with hers,as I know many christians who have the same moral beliefs as I do,especially in this time where our young daughters are treated as sexual beings by clothing manufacturers & Hollywood.In my opinion,you should have allowed her to come & watch how your group works,so she could determine if this is right for her and her family....after all,if we are saying you all are Christians,would Jesus have turned down somebody wanting to learn about what he was preaching?Surely not.Also,you must think about this,muslims are very more "christian like" than most christians are,we believe all that he said & did,we just do not accept him as a son of God or God himself.We believe in his virgin birth & we believe in what he preached as he was a believer in God & was sent to us as a messenger to show us the right way to do things & worship our one & only creator.Many people have these distorted images of Islam which are way off base & when I hear the Christian women talk about their lives of how they fulfill they wifely duties,I think to myself that they are in alignment with Muslim women,yet people think Muslim women are oppressed,etc.So,I shall end this just by saying,what harm will it bring to your group if you learn something from her & she learns something from you all?You may find out she has more in common with your group than you thought. :) We have to show our kids that we will not traet people differently based on race or religion,because when we do that,our kids will only follow & it will be an endless cycle of people hating people.She will probably share her beliefs,but she has no right to go into your group & make you change your belief....besides only you yourself can change your belief,nobody else. :)

• Permanent Link

About Me

A journal of the happenings in this family of 7, and my thoughts and ideas on Christian homeschooling, parenting, marriage, homemaking, and whatever else pops up!