I am often asked why I am educated at home. It has nothing to do with local school quality. The 'why' question is mostly asked because homeschooling is not mainstream and is therefore a little different. Most people are not really asking for our philosophy of education. We should ask "why", but not because it is or isn't mainstream, but because we are intentionally keeping before us our purpose for doing something.One reason to ask that question is because our children are part of the next generation and how we train them will determine whether they will be the ones who will turn their generation back to God and the Bible. Are the people whom they look up to people who are, or were, used greatly in turning people back to God and the Bible, or are our children modeling their lives after people who have little or no concern for the kingdom of God? We must constantly ask why we are doing what we do, whether attending homeschool, public school, or private school.
Regardless of the educational method we chose, as followers of Christ, our first priority must be God's Word. If God's Word is inspired and without error, then it must be sufficient for ALL of faith and practice. What does God's Word say about education? First, it commands parents to train their children, not just when it is convenient, but diligently, in everything that we do(Duet.6:4-9). Therefore, God's Word should guide in every activity we undertake, rather than be subservient and conform to our activities. Training in God's Word should be second to none on our activity list because our first priority is to love God with all of our heart. What is the greatest passion of my heart? What place does God's Word have in my education? Do I naturally default to it to guide my decisions, to instruct my path, to give counsel to others? If God's Word is important then the method of education should honor it, teach it, promote it, be guided by it.
Second, we cannot seperate knowledge and the fear(respect, awe) of God (See Prov.1:7). Another way to say this is that education is never neutral, it either honors God as creator and the source of true wisdom, or it dishonors God and exalts man. Psalm 1 says,"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of the scornful, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night..." If we sit under wicked counsel do we expect to be godly? In Luke 6:40 Jesus says, "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher." We will become like our teacher(s). Parents(especially fathers) have the responsibility to protect and provide, but as children we have the responsibility to honor our parents. We should not give our hearts and loyalties to those outside our homes, but to our parents. This can be difficult. It will require wisdom and a strong faith, but God uses it in a mighty way in our lives, our family, our churches, and in our community and world. can make a tremendous impact on the parents and other children in the home. Another verse is Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...". Again, education is not neutral to this command as it either renews our mind, causing us to present ourselves to God, or it causes our mind to not believe God and conform to the world. Is my heart being transformed into a picture of Christ or conformed to the fleeting values and standards of the world?
We should educate to train disciple-makers and prepare citizens for the kingdom of God. Phil. 3:20 says that our "citizenship is in heaven". This world is not our home and should not be our focus. Compared to eternity, our time on earth is not measurable. How then should we educate and why? We would be wise to consider this often. 2 Tim. 2:2-4 says, "...the things you have heard from me...commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier." While parents do have an important responsibility to protect their children, sheltering should not be the primary reason for homeschooling or private school. Paul is telling Timothy to make disciples of men with proven spiritual character able to teach others. Instead of sheltering, we need to be training soldiers. When a soldier is in training they are preparing for the day they will enter the battle, how to fight the enemy, and all about the enemy. If they didn't know about the enemy, how the enemy thinks and what the enemy knows how can they successfully fight against them. It is the same with children. They need to know how our world thinks and how our "world" has been trained in order to know how to fight against it. The battle will not be easy(Eph.6:12) but it is a battle we are equipped to fight(Eph.6:14-17). Are we educating with the purpose to raise up soldiers and establish citizens of heaven or is our reason based upon some other foundation?
Our decision should be guided by what is most effective in spreading the gospel
This is one of the primary reasons why our family has chosen to homeschool. We think it is the most effective way to fulfill the great commission given in Matt.28:18-20. There are many ways that families can minister through their churches and in their communities. Some of the ministry "tools" in the New Testament were: church planting, discipleship, ministry to widows and the fatherless, hospitality and many more. Homeschooling should and does give us time to do the things mentioned. Also, living our normal lives can have an impact' if love for God in our hearts expresses itself through loving our families and neighbors. We can have an impact on people by the testimony of our lives and not even know it. Our actions really do speak louder than our words. Many think that spreading the gospel would be most effective attending public school, but our family believes differently.
Posted by~ Jessica
