• Oct. 16, 2006 - Word of God Speak
The other day we heard someone questioning how we would know if our kids were "really measuring up" since they weren't in the public schools. While the question initially irked me, it later saddened me.
It reminded me of how misguided so much of society's thinking is. This person and so many others measure their success as a parent and their child's education by the school system's report card. And I know that I shouldn't be surprised. If God hadn't put some homeschool families along my path during my college years, I suppose I would be questioning it as well. However, I realize now how often we look to society for our education and validation rather than God's Word.
I think most of our generation were educated in public schools (aka secular, government schools) and therefore we have to acknowledge that our thinking is going to reflect that. For 7 or 8 hours a day, for 12 or 13 years of our lives, we were trained to think as non-Christians, no matter what we believed. Chris Klicka says it well when he says, that this causes a type of spiritual schizophrenia - thinking and applying worldly principles while simultaneously believing as a Christian.
The Bible is clear that parents should educate their children. Nowhere in Scripture will you find where God says that government officials are supposed to raise and educate our children. The only time that children were educated by others is when they were forced into that situation because of oppression. And God is faithful to preserve His people when they endure severe circumstances, but those circumstances are definitely not the norm here in America.
Sometimes I wonder what people in America would do if there wasn't a government school system. What if they themselves hadn't been taught by the government schools? Would they still think that would be the ideal? Would they really think that the best education for their child would come from a stranger who doesn't share your Christian beliefs in a classroom of 20 or 30 children? Would the government school be where God would want your child or where Satan would want your child? Are some of the things that they are going to learn in the government schools going to be stumbling blocks for them as they grow?
Matthew 22:21 says, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's". Our children are God's. Isaiah 29:23 says that they are "the work of His hands". Trust God's Word about how they should be educated. "These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons, and shall talk of them when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Deut 6:6-9
I share all of this because I know what keeps many parents from homeschooling their children is the fact that they don't feel like they can do it "as well as" the public schools. Nothing could be further from the truth. You can teach your child their ABCs and 123s. And you can teach them the higher level courses too (or you can find a video course, or a co-op, or find a friend to help you). And all the while you can be teaching your child to think as a Christian with a Biblical worldview. The government schools are not the gold standard that Satan would have you think they are. As a Christian, God's Word should be our gold standard for how we educate our children. I know when you are just considering homeschooling that it can be a daunting thought with pressure from friends and family, but take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ as it says in 1 Sam 15:22-23 and trust God's Word.
In fact, take some time to read through Psalm 119. It's a blessing.
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• Oct. 16, 2006 - Untitled Comment