Another Pastor Speaks Against Homeschooling
May. 16, 2006 at 11:57 AM
Homeschooling
The issue of homeschooling is sure ruffling a lot of Baptist preachers feathers.
First, we had Dr. West telling us we didn't understand the theology of the cross for homeschooling. Now we have Dr. Tony Beam telling us not to "cut and run". He admits the schools are "in disarray and pagan to the core", but asserts our children must go to public school to be part of the redemption of the schools.
Would you, Dr. Beam, declare that Jesus withdrew from the culture by not remaining with the teachers? Were Mary and Joseph wrong for removing him and not allowing Him to engage the culture? I hardly think so. He and His parents knew His time had not yet come. They knew their role was to protect Him until He fully matured. Eventually, Jesus grew into a man worthy to die on our behalf.
A young child's role is NOT as a redeemer. Their time has not yet come.
If you as a mature, well-discipled, Christian man would like to go into the schools and affect change, GO FOR IT! A scholarly man with your zeal to change the culture would be dynamic in the godless schools. Why spend your days preaching in a CHRISTIAN church, teaching on CHRISTIAN radio, or teaching at a CHRISTIAN college? Stop retreating from the culture into the comfort of the church!
Go forth! Charge to the front lines where the enemy is hitting hardest. Give up your personal ambitions and pursuits and become a TEACHER in the public schools. Charge in there with bible blazing and boldly tell them their redemption is near!
But please don't ask my children go spend their childhood on the front lines while you sit back in the cloistered offices of Christendom giving them their marching orders. That, to me, seems a little cowardly don't you think?
(HT: Daryl)
Related Tags: homeschooling, homeschool, Baptist, public schools, Southern Baptist Convention, Bruce Shortt
First, we had Dr. West telling us we didn't understand the theology of the cross for homeschooling. Now we have Dr. Tony Beam telling us not to "cut and run". He admits the schools are "in disarray and pagan to the core", but asserts our children must go to public school to be part of the redemption of the schools.
I would like to submit another scriptural argument for believers to remain in the public school for the purpose of redemption. In His final prayer for His disciples Jesus said, "I am not praying that You take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by the truth, Your Word is truth. As You have sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world"(John 17:15-18). In this prayer, we hear the heart of Jesus as He intercedes for those who will have to live in and deal withI'm not a bible scholar, but I beg to differ with Dr. Beam's use of this passage as justification for our children going into the public schools. Jesus' final prayer was for His disciples and yes, it could be extrapolated out to mature believers today. But certainly our children lack both the maturity and insight of a disciple and therefore it would be a bit of a stretch to include them in this passage. By doing what Dr. Beam advocates we would actually be running contrary to the very life of Jesus himself. He remained under the authority of his parents until the age of 12 and possibly further. That's what so confounded observers the day he was found in the temple courts listening to the teachers. Quoting from Luke 2:46, 51,
this world. He specifically asks God NOT to remove is from the world but to prepare us for engaging the world by protecting us from the evil one and sanctifying us in the Truth.
Interestingly, even after this incident of obvious scholarly brilliance, he didn't stay with the teachers but left with his parents in "obedience to them".After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers...
(verse 51) Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Would you, Dr. Beam, declare that Jesus withdrew from the culture by not remaining with the teachers? Were Mary and Joseph wrong for removing him and not allowing Him to engage the culture? I hardly think so. He and His parents knew His time had not yet come. They knew their role was to protect Him until He fully matured. Eventually, Jesus grew into a man worthy to die on our behalf.
A young child's role is NOT as a redeemer. Their time has not yet come.
If you as a mature, well-discipled, Christian man would like to go into the schools and affect change, GO FOR IT! A scholarly man with your zeal to change the culture would be dynamic in the godless schools. Why spend your days preaching in a CHRISTIAN church, teaching on CHRISTIAN radio, or teaching at a CHRISTIAN college? Stop retreating from the culture into the comfort of the church!
Go forth! Charge to the front lines where the enemy is hitting hardest. Give up your personal ambitions and pursuits and become a TEACHER in the public schools. Charge in there with bible blazing and boldly tell them their redemption is near!
But please don't ask my children go spend their childhood on the front lines while you sit back in the cloistered offices of Christendom giving them their marching orders. That, to me, seems a little cowardly don't you think?
(HT: Daryl)
Related Tags: homeschooling, homeschool, Baptist, public schools, Southern Baptist Convention, Bruce Shortt
14 Comments and Trackbacks
posted by Buckeyeblog on May. 16, 2006 at 12:24 PM
YOU GO, GIRL!!!!!!!!! That was AWESOME!!!! I made a similar point in my post, "A Solid Foundation..."
What tremendous points you made about the good Dr. staying in his church office while he expects other parents to send their innocent children to the public schools. I have LONG said that there is NO place in Scripture where God calls children to fight the fight. Your comment, "A Child's role is NOT as a redeemer" says it all.
Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><
posted by Anonymous on May. 16, 2006 at 1:29 PM
Ooh! What a great response you have there, especially love the end where you are telling him to GO! :) Loved it.
posted by SusannahCox on May. 16, 2006 at 2:33 PM
Another brilliant post, Spunky!
Actually, sending Christian adults into the schools is an awesome idea...wherever it would still be allowed. Here in the Bible belt, the Pregnancy Help Centers can still send abstinence teachers into the schools! One of my co-op mommy friends participates in that. I know lots of kids around here need that kind of teaching. I'd rather my kids learn that stuff from me, though.
I'm sure it would never be allowed in other places where administrators are not Christians.
posted by hmschlmomto2 on May. 16, 2006 at 2:50 PM
Excellent rebuttal, Spunky. "Rebut" on, Sister!!!!!!!!!
Pam
posted by blestwithsons on May. 16, 2006 at 2:50 PM
Holy HandGrenades, BatGirl!!
That's awesome. I'm sitting here yelling "Whooo! Get it Spunky!!"
I liked it - if ya can't tell. ;-)
posted by Anonymous on May. 16, 2006 at 3:30 PM
I am very thankful that our pastor (of an Ind. Fundamental Baptist) is totally FOR homeschooling and actually encourages the members of the church to homeschool.
It's pastors like the ones mentioned in the article above that get my goat. Their views of homeschooling are being clouded by their agenda and not that of the Lord's.
posted by Aligirl on May. 16, 2006 at 4:30 PM
You know, I just looked up the passage that the Dr. quoted, and verse 15 in John 17, talks about keeping them from the evil one. It is OBVIOUS that Satan is rampaging the public school system. We are obeying Jesus by keeping our children from the evil one!
You are so right about children lacking in the maturity to face the world. Children are so fragile minded, and their little minds are like sponges soaking up everything they hear. I am protecting my children from evil ideas, and ungodly teachings by homeschooling. A person certainly wouldn't send their child into a war where they wouldn't know how to fight and easily be killed. Certainly the Dr. wouldn't do that either. Sending a child, whose mind and moral fiber is still being formed, into the public school system, would be like putting that child in the front lines of a war. Ok, I am going off now..lol! I sooooo agree with you Spunky! I wish more christians would think harder about the things their children are exposed to in public schools. Perhaps they'd homeschool too.
posted by spunkyhomeschool on May. 16, 2006 at 5:00 PM
If there is a silver lining to these preachers saying these things, it is drawing attention to the lack of scriptural justifcation for putting our children in these schools.
posted by anyachristine on May. 16, 2006 at 5:34 PM
Nice post, Spunky! I totally agree with what you are putting forth here. It is easy for some to tell others what they need to do, while they are safe from all that our children are exposed to. Thanks for putting this all into the right perspective.
Christy :)
posted by gabalot on May. 16, 2006 at 9:12 PM
When will the twisting of scripture end? Let's see...Jesus began his ministry at 30!!! Let us also not forget he was fully man, but fully God, if anyone could have handled the world at a young age it would have been Jesus, yet he waited til 30! I fear for these pastors and their misleading words. Yet another fabulous post, Spunky!
posted by WaitingontheLord on May. 16, 2006 at 10:29 PM
Great post! Thanks for sharing this!
posted by maureenmichele on May. 16, 2006 at 11:22 PM
YES! YES! YES! (I was gonna say YOU GO GIRL!!!!!! But someone already did!)
You are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO RIGHT!
posted by creativehsmom on May. 17, 2006 at 5:06 PM
Most often, Christian parents who choose to send their child to ps do everything they can to make up for the wrong habits and attitudes their children acquire while attending. They try (with the little bit of time they have) extra Sunday school lessons, maybe Biblical talks etc. In the end many youth groups later and with much parental involvement, children succumb to the peer pressure anyway. Why? Because parents do have a choice and it is by *their* own hand that the child receives this ungodly pressure and children are smart enough to see this one raw fact. Parents are given the authority to raise the child up in the admonition and nurture of the Lord. Is it any wonder the child gives in? The parent has given their consent.
Spunky, yours is one of the best rebuttals that I have ever read on the subject of Christian children being sent to ps to redeem the schools. {{ APPLAUDS }}
Cathy
posted by homeskoolmom on May. 22, 2006 at 8:49 AM
This is one of the arguments I hate--it boils my blood! Why should I sacrifice my children to the lions den so people like this can feel better about their poor choices? It is not my job as a parent to send my child to evangelize your child-- it is YOUR job as a parent to teach your child about God and all things about Him and related to Him.
Thanks Spunky!
Christine