Below is an editorial piece that completely speaks too much of the frustrations I’ve been facing lately primarily from dealing with the ignorance and persecution coming from within the brotherhood of believers. I don’t get offended easily, we're told to expect this type of persecution, yet I’m finding myself more and more aggravated at the blatant ignorance and stupidity, often by choice, of many who choose to ignore walking the “countercultural road” rather than “the only ever traveled road.”
I do thorough research on things, so far as checking footnotes and references for verification. All through Nursing School they ingrane in you the need for research, research, research. Yet, most nurses I know come out of school believeing that what the FDA says and does is sacred, the end all be all of health, if you will, and they fail to ever do their own research.
When I feel I need to form a Biblical opinion about something, eg. nutrition, medical interventions, how to use our bodies for exercise, healthy living, etc. I research it, thoroughly. Once I’ve heard about something “different” I believe it is my responsibility to figure it out based on sound and thorough research. I don’t just believe something because “that’s they way most people do it/believe it” (you can’t follow that line of thinking when it comes to your religious beliefs- why would you take that approach with anything else even half as important?) Or the attitute of “that’s how it’s always been done”, or “because I turned out alright.” That attitude right there should indicate that we’re not alright and that line of thought doesn’t hold up to scriptural scrutiny. If I need to assert my “own” opinions, I prefer to take them straight from scripture, 1-because it’s easier to effectively argue a point because God always wins:), and 2- I believe we are “thoroughly equipped” as it says, not partially equipped “for every good work” and we need look no further than the Bible for the answers.
Where I could use further assistance and practice is in the part of the delivery of these biblical opinions and communicating them effectively in a positive and convicting matter. I think the following article does a great job of that for me as it is a powerful, straight forward article that confronts, affirms, and convicts. It’s fairly lengthy so I will post it in numerous posts divided by primary subject. If I have anything more to say then I’ll insert my own comments in brackets as well. I post this within an American context of course and how it relates to our individual society and cultural.
Homeschooling: Living Out a Christian Worldview
Dr. Deborah Wuehler, Senior Editor
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)
“Homeschooling is most likely the best option for your family, but we don’t feel that God has called us to homeschool.” I’ve heard this from many Christians. I’m sure you have heard it as well. How do you respond to a statement that sounds so spiritual?
If we are not thinking Biblically, we might make the mistake of passing that statement off as a good reason not to educate our children at home. However, we are aware of God’s principles related to the instruction of our children, which are recorded in His Word, then we know that this statement does not and cannot stand.
So, what exactly has God “called” us to do? He has called us to live a life of obedience. (See Deut 6:4-7 and Ephesians 6:4)
In simple terms, living a life of obedience to God means living out a Biblical worldview. It means that we are to obey God’s commands, principals, and precepts taught in the Word of God as they relate to our lives- on a daily basis. But when the rubber hits the personal preference road, many of us either forget or don’t take the time to find out what that worldview should be.
The worldview of many Christians is so broad that it covers only the big picture. Thy believe in Jesus, go to church, and pray when they need to…Many, however, do not live out a Biblical worldview on a daily, more personal level, making every life decision based on Biblical principles. Decisions about marriage, family, finances, entertainment, and education are often made without even a though as to what is laid out in Scripture on the matter, and therefore such Christians unknowingly adopt the cultural, hence secular, worldview.
Let’s look briefly at some of these areas and identify the differences between the secular worldview and a Biblical or Christian worldview. [I posted Marriage and Entertainment in later posts.]
Education
A secular worldview is normally the only worldview in our public institutions, whether in elementary or higher education. Humanism and tolerance training are inherent within the system. Even now, homosexual organizations such as GLSEN and cohorts are pushing the anti-bullying legislation for all schools. This is really not about anti-bullying at all but rather is a pro-homosexual agenda to try to control the education world and promote tolerance for all of their godless behaviors and vain philosophies. [A most excellent point of this article!] The children they are purporting to protect are actually being subjected to a far worse end scenario of godlessness. Planned Parenthood unceasingly reaches into the school system to promote their abortion agenda, and all manner of anti-God agencies come into the schools to talk to little children-with or without parental acknowledgment or permission.
Under the guise of compulsory education, the public education system has slowly and systematically taken children captive in order to teach them the philosophies of the enemy. The lie is that only the government knows how and what to teach your children. The flipside of that lie is that you know nothing about teaching. Another deception parents have bought into is the lie that public education is neutral. What parent don’t see, and may not see until their children are grown, is that they are being bought by vain philosophies and sold to ideas that contradict those of God. The truth is that the public school institution is more about indoctrination than it is about education. Everything from atheistic curricula (especially the sciences), to amoral, relativistic ethics, to tolerance of homosexuality (and every other form of sensuality), all in unison, serve as a constant drumbeat aimed at undermining our children’s Christian foundation. These are the very philosophies and “strong holds” that the Apostle Paul says we are supposed to be warring against- II Cor 10:4-5. Paul says that it’s we, the Church, that are supposed to be “pulling” and “Casting down…every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God….” How is it, then, that 80% -90% of us have our children enrolled in the very institution that opposes God on every front? [The latest documentation finds that 1 in every 25 school aged children (K-12th grade) is homeschooled! I've verified this statistic as I like to do! That's one in every classroom and those are the kids that have to be "reported" to their County Governments. Some states don't require you to "report" that you're going to hs. That's over 3% of all school aged children in the country are hs-ed. It's obviously growing for obvious reasons.] We are raising our children to be disciples of Christ today, but if we don’t bring our children home, whose disciples do you suppose they will be tomorrow.
Therefore, the real issue has nothing to do with education or schooling or academics. The real issue is DISCIPLESHIP! [I’ve always told people when explaining why we homeschool- that it’s a matter of character and it's a discipleship issue not an academic issue.] Even the subjects we think of in terms of strict “Academics”- even these should be taught from a Biblical perspective. [This is a lot easier to do than people think. All subjects are God’s and of God and there are numerous curriculum plans out there that teach you "how to teach" and do so from the biblical perspective.]
Let’s look at what the Bible says at the very beginning: Creation. God made Adam and Eve and gave them children. God taught Adam and Eve, and they taught their children. God created the family unit, and discipleship was to occur naturally within that unit. Throughout Scripture, God tells fathers (and by default, and under their authority, mothers, too) to “teach your children that they may teach their children.” [This is not just in regard to God’s ways, this is where ALL knowledge begins. Look at the context!] This is where all knowledge begins. God created the family unit so that first and foremost children might be taught and trained to embrace the wisdom and knowledge of God. Therefore, I believe home education is one piece of the big picture of walking out a Biblical worldview.
Why should we keep our children home? Because God created the sacred institution of family, with fathers and mothers as the teachers and trainers and nurturers of their own children. We must take seriously the assignment God has given us to train up generations for His glory and His purposes. To do that, we must protect them from vain philosophies. We also must disciple them-with instruction and by daily example-to follow after righteousness, Godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness. We must teach them to fight the good fight of faith and lay hold of eternal life. Most importantly, as Deuteronomy 6:4-7 proclaims, we are to teach our children-all day long-to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. God is still looking to bless those whose hearts are fully His, “but without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Heb 11:6)
Homeschooling ensures that our children are not left on their own to defend themselves against the attacks of the enemy, which daily are carried out through the teachings of a secular worldview. As homeschooling parents, we are right there with our children, discipling, protecting, sheltering, teaching, and training them, so that when they become older and more mature, they will be able to face the world on their own, and do so in victory. They will grow up to become true ambassadors for Christ, representing the King, because we have taught them on a daily basis to honor that King.3
“But though, O man of God, bless these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” (I Timothy 6:11-12) “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ…” (II Cor 5:20)
Homeschooling is living out a Christian worldview in our daily lives. It’s saying we don’t belong to this culture; we belong to God, as do our children. God rewards families that are fully His. Keep those children Home Where They Belong.
Editor’s Note: An extensive list of Scriptures that promote home education may be found at the following link: http://TheHomeschoolMagazine.com/ScripturalSupport.php
Endnotes:
1. www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2010/tables/10s1300.pdf, accessed November 18, 2010.
2. Craig Groeschel, The Christian Theist: Believing in God but Living As If He Doesn’t Exist, Zondervan, 2010
3. Several excerpts in this section were taken from HomeschoolBlogger.com’s Free Classes presentation of “Why Homeschool?” (http://homeschoolblogger.com/webinar/homeschooling-teaching-a-love-of-reading). Scroll down to the second presentation by Deborah Wuehler.
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