A return to parent-directed, Christ-centered, home-based education
Published by tramsek July 18th, 2006 in UpdatesAs most of us Christians can readily see, the public school system is failing the grade. The question becomes how should we respond? Well, actually I would say that is the wrong question. The question should be foundationally, what does the Bible say about education our children? At Answers in Genesis we strive to base all our thinking on the Bible and to build our life structure starting with the Word of God. This means, we go to the revealed will of God Himself to find out how we are to educate our children.
In the Scriptures, we find that wisdom is the primary thing. We see that ââ?¬Ë?the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdomââ?¬â?¢. The Bible proclaims that our chief end is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Christians are called to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We also see that mere knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. In light of these principles and the many more we find in the pages of the Bible, I see my responsibility as a father to disciple my children in the Christian faith such that they will die to themselves and live for God. My goal is that my children will love God immensely and love their neighbor as they already love themselves. To train up my sons and daughters in the fear of the Lord, loving his Word is the greatest education I could provide for them.
Our culture seems to draw this thick line between education and discipleship. We have bought into the lie of there being ââ?¬Ë?sacredââ?¬â?¢ and ââ?¬Ë?secularââ?¬â?¢ spheres of life. From the Bible, we learn that all of life is sacred, that is, all of life is to be lived under the authority of the Bible, submitting to the Lordship of Christ. Even the Christian world has bought into a ââ?¬Ë?compartmentalizedââ?¬â?¢ Christianity, where I can be spiritual on Sunday and live like the world Monday through Saturday. But the Word of God knows nothing of that mentality. It is the Christianââ?¬â?¢s privilege and responsibility to surrender every area of life to Christ as our Master. Daily, monthly, yearly the Lord shows us our blind spots and we ought to be eager to repent of those areas where we are still living for ourselves. Strive to live a lifestyle of repentance as the Lord opens our eyes to His holiness more and more by the Holy Spirit.
I pray that this blog has been helpful in perhaps opening our eyes to the dangers of sending our children to another religious institution for their education. I believe that parents, particularly, fathers are held responsible for their children�s education and thus must strive to provide a Christ-centered curriculum and environment for their children. The best way I know how is to train up your children with every subject being demonstrated as giving glory to God. Teaching mathematics can give glory to God as He is the founder of the discipline and it is based on His order and laws. History should be shown as His story, God sovereignly working out providences in times past. English should be taught for the purpose of honoring God with our words and lips. The highest end of reading is to read the very words of God found in the Bible. And it goes on. A home based education/discipleship program affords these opportunities.
Homeschooling is not inherently honoring to God and does not automatically produce godly children. But it is the best avenue, channel, instrument that we have to instill in our children the proper Christ-centered education and God honoring values that God wants in our children. By the grace of God, we can keep our children innocent in what is evil and wise in what is good. Allowing wicked, secular influences on a schedule that we set, once we believe God has prepared them to stand in the midst of the darkness of this world. Homeschooling is the best way to disciple our children in every subject of life. May God bless those who have a vision for training up warriors for Christ and may the Lord open your eyes if you don�t have that vision yet. May God grant you the conviction to do whatever it takes to raise up boys and girls who see God�s hand in all of life, in every subject they study.
I think this is great. You should be encouraged to educate your children as you see fit.
Great article! The only part I disagree with is the opening statement.
“As most of us Christians can readily see, the public school system is failing the grade.”
Not that public education is not failing, because they are, and in a big way. But the part I disagree with is that most Christians can clearly see it. Because if that were the case, there would be a mass exodus from this godless institution known as public education.
On the contrary, it seems that most Christians, or at least most people who call themselves Christians, do not see it and are not even looking for it. They are part of the “me” generation, and are of the mindset that nothing is sacred anymore, not even that one or two hours a week that they attend church. It’s all about them, “me”. It’s all about their lifestyle and what is the most convenient for them, “me”. They want my time, my space and my life, and they figure that if their children are smart enough, and trained well enough, then they will get their own too.
The sad part is, they likely will. Judges 2:8-15!
Grace & Peace!
Unfortunately history shows that this will continue and Christians will continue to discuss the situation in our world, shake their heads, saying “Isn’t it terrible!” and do nothing about it.
When Roe vs. Wade resulted in legalisation of abortion on demand, the church was silent. When sodomy was legalised, the church was silent. When the 10 commandments were removed from many public buildings, as though they are some offensive pornographic material, the church was silent. When bible-reading and prayer in many schools was forbidden, the church was silent. But in the UK when Sunday shopping was being proposed the church was outraged and kicked up a huge fuss. Why? Because it was the soft option.
4000 unborn babies are being murdered every day in the USA alone. If such open genocide was going on in any country around the world, the USA would be the first to condemn it, but the genocide of abortion is fine.
When is the church going to repent? It starts with them. “If my people, who are called by my name ……”
Nothing will change until this is done.