The Main Reason We Home-school
This post is to help people understand why we have chosen to do what we do, and stimulate some thought on these issues.
Lest some take offence, let me make it clear that we are not saying that those who send their children to state schools in N.I. are sinning, nor are we judging and condemning those who do, nor are we saying that those who do are bad parents, nor are we saying that we or our children are superior, nor are we attacking the good work that Christian teachers do.
As parents we must ask ourselves, how can we best obey the following verses? We believe the answer is consistently Christian home-schooling. Nevertheless, "Let each be fully convinced in his own mind." (Romans 14:5)
1. Our children's training must come from Christ
"...bring [your children] up in the training and admonition of the Lord."
Ephesians 6:4
2. Their whole day should be pervaded by the Word of God:
"You shall teach [God's words] to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."
Deuteronomy 11:19
3. Is it right that God-given chastisement is not available for most of the day?
"Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him... Do not withhold correction from a child..."
Proverbs 22:15; 23:13
4. How can we best prepare our arrows for shooting into the World?
"Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth."
Psalm 127:4
5. We must be careful what company our children come into and who teaches them
"Do not be deceived: 'Bad company corrupts good morals.'"
1 Corinthians 15:33
6. As Exclusive-Psalmists we believe that it is detrimental to encouraging our children to adopt this practice, or to tempt them to go against their consciences, by sending them to a school to sing man-made hymns every day. (No wonder so many RP children turn away from this position.) At home, Psalm-singing can be part of their schooling.
"Lead us not into temptation."
Matthew 6:13
"But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble."
1 Corinthians 8:9-13
7. All things should be done for the maximum glory of God, including the education our children receive
"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
1 Corinthians 10:31
8. Christ must be King over education as well as every other sphere of life
"...that in all things He may have the pre-eminence."
Colossians 1:18
Christian home-schooling is not something to be adopted lightly, but I doubt that anyone would, esp. with the responsibility and the pressure to conform. We respect those who either do not have the finance or the confidence to seek after this ideal, and those who take a different opinion for good reasons. We also don't want false guilt to be created in the hearts of those who have looked at the options and decided differently to us. Examine your own heart and circumstances before God, not by what others do.
Good Christian parents of course still do supplement the 'neutral' teaching of schools with a Christian education at home. We are just trying to take what we see as a more consistent approach as much as possible.
More...
Lest some take offence, let me make it clear that we are not saying that those who send their children to state schools in N.I. are sinning, nor are we judging and condemning those who do, nor are we saying that those who do are bad parents, nor are we saying that we or our children are superior, nor are we attacking the good work that Christian teachers do.
As parents we must ask ourselves, how can we best obey the following verses? We believe the answer is consistently Christian home-schooling. Nevertheless, "Let each be fully convinced in his own mind." (Romans 14:5)
1. Our children's training must come from Christ
"...bring [your children] up in the training and admonition of the Lord."
Ephesians 6:4
2. Their whole day should be pervaded by the Word of God:
"You shall teach [God's words] to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."
Deuteronomy 11:19
3. Is it right that God-given chastisement is not available for most of the day?
"Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him... Do not withhold correction from a child..."
Proverbs 22:15; 23:13
4. How can we best prepare our arrows for shooting into the World?
"Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth."
Psalm 127:4
5. We must be careful what company our children come into and who teaches them
"Do not be deceived: 'Bad company corrupts good morals.'"
1 Corinthians 15:33
6. As Exclusive-Psalmists we believe that it is detrimental to encouraging our children to adopt this practice, or to tempt them to go against their consciences, by sending them to a school to sing man-made hymns every day. (No wonder so many RP children turn away from this position.) At home, Psalm-singing can be part of their schooling.
"Lead us not into temptation."
Matthew 6:13
"But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble."
1 Corinthians 8:9-13
7. All things should be done for the maximum glory of God, including the education our children receive
"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
1 Corinthians 10:31
8. Christ must be King over education as well as every other sphere of life
"...that in all things He may have the pre-eminence."
Colossians 1:18
Christian home-schooling is not something to be adopted lightly, but I doubt that anyone would, esp. with the responsibility and the pressure to conform. We respect those who either do not have the finance or the confidence to seek after this ideal, and those who take a different opinion for good reasons. We also don't want false guilt to be created in the hearts of those who have looked at the options and decided differently to us. Examine your own heart and circumstances before God, not by what others do.
Good Christian parents of course still do supplement the 'neutral' teaching of schools with a Christian education at home. We are just trying to take what we see as a more consistent approach as much as possible.
More...
Labels: Education, Home-schooling
posted by Timothy Davis | 7:40 pm
4 Comments:
Hi Tim,
Yes, good piece. I want to run a feature on it in the next couple of days. World Net Daily has a piece on the problem in Germany that is quite alarming.
Blessings
I came here via Timothy. I homeschool my kids too and there are so many advantages to it.
Tim
If parents who send their children to state schools are not sinning, then why even raise the issue.
Daniel,
The brief answer is because we should seek what is best for our children and what is most for God's glory, even if we are not sinning. Should we not urge each other to what is best?
Also it is not always a case of absolute right vs. absolute wrong. I guess my statement is a relative one. Some of what I say next may be a bit confusing, but remember that that I am using the term 'sin' in an absolute sense at some points and in a relative sense.
Remember that nothing that we do is without sin:
"...all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6)
Some are not convinced that it is best to homeschool their children. If they were unconvinced, then it would be sin for them to do something that they are not convinced of (hence Rom. 14:5). It must be remembered that "he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin." (Rom. 14:23)
We are all applying principles rather than explicit statutes.
Of course, if we do not seek what is the absolute best, are we sinning? Yes, we are, but whoever does his absolute best consistently in all things? It is not easy to take the many duties and responsibilities that we have and prioritise them and execute them. Each man has his own peculiar circumstances.
If any man says to another, "I think you can do that better", in a sense he is saying you are sinning more than me, but would we say to him, "You are sinning!"? Also if we say to a man, "This is the best way," are we being judgemental?
We must love God and we do, but who loves God with all his heart and soul and mind and strength?
As far as I understand the American educational system, there are few public high schools where it would not be sinful if you sent your child there. In most cases it would be hard to justify sending your child to these schools. It must be noted that some are not in a financial position to choose any different.
"But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." (1 Tim. 5:8)
Not a perfect answer, but the best I can muster in the time I have. I could easily please men and take the extremes of either side of this question, but I want to give the balance of Scripture.
We must all remember: "To his own master he stands or falls." (Rom. 14:4)
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