I subscribe to The Old Schoolhouse magazine, and this past issue had a wonderful article called Homeschooling: Living out a Christian Worldview by Deborah Wuehler. It is rather lengthy, but well worth your time to read. Last year we watched the series The Truth Project, and this goes hand in hand with what they taught. The core of the Christian family is God, and the core of our country is the family. Tear down the family, and you will tear down the country (which is just what the devil is succeeding doing in so many families today).
"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, principles, 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. They 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 thought 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.
Marriage The world today picks a spouse like they pick their favorite ice cream or football team: they hope for compatibility, love, and loyalty but find that none of these is long-lasting. Consequently, their crumbling moral foundation, which is based on a religion of self-pleasure, brings separation and divorce to more than half of those who wed. In 2007, for every 10.9 marriages per a population of 1,000, there were 5.4 divorces. In the US alone, there were 10,6000,000 single parent households.1 Unfortunately, a comparable percentage of divorce exists within our churches. One reason may be that those in the church have followed the world’s patterns and have not lived out a Biblical worldview of full commitment to their spouses, and more importantly, to God. Therefore, their commitment wanes and ebbs in perfect sync with a lack of conviction to uphold the vows they made before God and man. Following God’s principles for marriage “until death do we part” just isn’t in their worldview.
The Biblical fact that God hates divorce is ignored while couple after couple break their vows and pastors turn their heads the other way and fail to respond with proper disciplinary measure. (See Malachi 2:13-16.) A Christian worldview of marriage upholds the Biblical principle of keeping vows made both to and before a holy God, who takes these vows much more seriously than we do, as is evident in the Church.
We do not pledge our marriage vows as an experiment that is easily turned aside when things get difficult, any more than we pledge our lives to Christ as an experiment and abandon Him when “life doesn’t work out.” As our society rejects God’s design for marriage, marriage partners end up rejecting each other. In my own personal view, this “try it on” view of marriage stems from the “try it on” view that a superficial dating system provides beforehand. No commitment necessary obviously leads to no commitment ever-at least half of the time. “Before this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.” (Ephesians 5:31-33)
Finances and Entertainment Where we spend our finances and where we spend our time declares our worldview. A secular worldview spends its finances and time on self and pleasure. High-cost housing, food, clothing, and Hollywood entertainment fill a secular worldview with a motto of “Live well now!” Add to that the “what’s in it for me?” worldview and you have a formula for a society imploding in its own selfishness. This entertainment/entitlement philosophy has obviously made its way into the Church, blurring the lines between secular and sacred. This ought not to be. To stay in balance here, I’ll quote author Craig Groeschel: “God isn’t against people having money and things, but He certainly hates when money and things have His people.”2
A Biblical worldview spends its finances wisely so as to share with the poor and spread the Gospel. Those who hold to a Biblical worldview spend their time on things that are worthy of honor before God. They set no wicked thing before their eyes. They do not waste precious time on fruitless entertainment but rather deepen their relationships with God, family, neighbors, and country thereby being “entertained” with real life. (See Colossians 3:1-4)
Biblical view of finances: “And if thou draw out they soul dot the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall they light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday; And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy they soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” (Isaiah 58: 10-11)
“Wherefore do ye spend your money for that which is not bread? And your labor for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good.” (Is 55:2)
“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.” (I Timothy 6:17-19)
Biblical view of your time “That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” (I Peter 2:7)
Biblical view of entertainment:
“I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. A froward heart shall depart from me; I will not know a wicked person.” (Psalms 101:2-4)
Much like the aforementioned views on marriage, family, finances, and time, our final focus on education also will prove to be insightful as it relates to our worldview.
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. 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? 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! Even the subjects we think of in terms of strict “Academics”- even these should be taught from a 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.
“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, principles, 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. They 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 thought 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.
Marriage The world today picks a spouse like they pick their favorite ice cream or football team: they hope for compatibility, love, and loyalty but find that none of these is long-lasting. Consequently, their crumbling moral foundation, which is based on a religion of self-pleasure, brings separation and divorce to more than half of those who wed. In 2007, for every 10.9 marriages per a population of 1,000, there were 5.4 divorces. In the US alone, there were 10,6000,000 single parent households.1 Unfortunately, a comparable percentage of divorce exists within our churches. One reason may be that those in the church have followed the world’s patterns and have not lived out a Biblical worldview of full commitment to their spouses, and more importantly, to God. Therefore, their commitment wanes and ebbs in perfect sync with a lack of conviction to uphold the vows they made before God and man. Following God’s principles for marriage “until death do we part” just isn’t in their worldview.
The Biblical fact that God hates divorce is ignored while couple after couple break their vows and pastors turn their heads the other way and fail to respond with proper disciplinary measure. (See Malachi 2:13-16.) A Christian worldview of marriage upholds the Biblical principle of keeping vows made both to and before a holy God, who takes these vows much more seriously than we do, as is evident in the Church.
We do not pledge our marriage vows as an experiment that is easily turned aside when things get difficult, any more than we pledge our lives to Christ as an experiment and abandon Him when “life doesn’t work out.” As our society rejects God’s design for marriage, marriage partners end up rejecting each other. In my own personal view, this “try it on” view of marriage stems from the “try it on” view that a superficial dating system provides beforehand. No commitment necessary obviously leads to no commitment ever-at least half of the time. “Before this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.” (Ephesians 5:31-33)
Finances and Entertainment Where we spend our finances and where we spend our time declares our worldview. A secular worldview spends its finances and time on self and pleasure. High-cost housing, food, clothing, and Hollywood entertainment fill a secular worldview with a motto of “Live well now!” Add to that the “what’s in it for me?” worldview and you have a formula for a society imploding in its own selfishness. This entertainment/entitlement philosophy has obviously made its way into the Church, blurring the lines between secular and sacred. This ought not to be. To stay in balance here, I’ll quote author Craig Groeschel: “God isn’t against people having money and things, but He certainly hates when money and things have His people.”2
A Biblical worldview spends its finances wisely so as to share with the poor and spread the Gospel. Those who hold to a Biblical worldview spend their time on things that are worthy of honor before God. They set no wicked thing before their eyes. They do not waste precious time on fruitless entertainment but rather deepen their relationships with God, family, neighbors, and country thereby being “entertained” with real life. (See Colossians 3:1-4)
Biblical view of finances: “And if thou draw out they soul dot the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall they light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday; And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy they soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” (Isaiah 58: 10-11)
“Wherefore do ye spend your money for that which is not bread? And your labor for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good.” (Is 55:2)
“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.” (I Timothy 6:17-19)
Biblical view of your time “That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” (I Peter 2:7)
Biblical view of entertainment:
“I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. A froward heart shall depart from me; I will not know a wicked person.” (Psalms 101:2-4)
Much like the aforementioned views on marriage, family, finances, and time, our final focus on education also will prove to be insightful as it relates to our worldview.
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. 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? 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! Even the subjects we think of in terms of strict “Academics”- even these should be taught from a 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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