Two things happened this week. One, I had a conversation with a family that I love dearly, whose children are in public school and two, we started back home"schooling" yesterday. By God's wonderful providence He allowed the former to remind me of why I do the latter.
In the conversation, there was what seemed for moment - a life of ease and comfort. Both parents work and make very good money. They took several vacations this summer, bought a boat, and did several activities with their church. Sadly, we talked about the oldest daughter going to college in 3 years and how well she is doing with her schooling. Both children are heavily involved in sports and may perhaps get a scholarship from it. Life was great.
As I drove home I began to ponder "the ease" of only having to "parent" for an hour each morning (long enough to get them fed and out the door) and the "ease" of coming home to "parent" but only having to do it a little because we're off to sports practice. Then the "ease" of returning home to feed them and put them to bed. And that's not to mention the "ease" of two incomes or a church that supplies all their spiritual needs. For a brief mili-second, the thought of only having 2 children, plenty of money, and a parental life of ease sounded good. BUT THEN...
By the gracious and merciful hand of God I was thankful to have spent the last 10 years studying, pondering, and researching in His Word for "why" I should be home schooling. And for those of you that know me, you know I use the word homeschooling loosely...I prefer homemaking, simply because it encompases the whole role given to us, which I believe does include their academics.
My desire is not to speak ill of this sweet family. I love them dearly and pray for them often that God would open their eyes before it's too late. I only speak of it because it is the American norm today and because if you are not grounded in "why you believe what you believe" about homeschooling(making), then you will be easily swayed to stray from God's Word.
I pray these 30 reminders will be of great encouragement to you as you begin this 2009-2010 "school year" or "homemaking adventure".
Top 5 reasons to homeschool as it relates to “God’s First Institution” and the “Dominion Mandate”:1) In Genesis 1:27-28 God implements His first institution…Marriage and Family. “So God created man in His own image. In the image of God He created them. Male and female He created them. Then God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it…” Therefore, we can see God’s wisdom early on for two of the most powerful means of proclaiming the gospel with our lives. Marriage and Family! And I believe home schooling gives us a tremendous amount of time and opportunities to proclaim this gospel with our lives.
2) Psalm 127: 3-5 reiterates this wisdom and opportunity…”Behold children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.”
3) Our children have more opportunities to see first hand how mommy’s and daddy’s portray Christ and the Church and how the family is a microcosm of the Body of Christ.
4) Our children have more time to minister in the community, thus showing forth a living picture of the gospel.
5) We are able to teach as well as model for our children how: moms should be helpmeets and homemakers and how dads should be spiritual leaders and loving husbands.
Top 5 reasons to homeschool as it relates to “Teaching” and having a “Multigenerational View of Faithfulness”:6) Deuteronomy 32:46 “…you shall command your children to be careful to observe all the words of this law. For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life…” In other words, this is what you were created to do with your children!
7) Ephesians 6:4 “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the instruction and discipline of the Lord”. If they are not with us the majority of their day, how much “bringing up” can we really do?
8) Deuteronomy 6:6-7 and again Deut. 11:19 you find God saying “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. YOU shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” This is clearly an all day every day command!
9) Deuteronomy 4:9 “Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and grandchildren…” This is a multigenerational view of faithfulness. It’s not enough to just teach our children. We’ve got to teach our children to teach their children and so on.
10) Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples…” True discipleship is rooted in deep personal involvement.
Top 10 reasons to homeschool as it relates to “Protection”:11) Colossians 2:8 “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the principles of this world, and not according to Christ”. In bringing our children home, we have worked to secure an environment that is according to Christ and not according to the traditions of men or the principles of this world, therefore protecting them from many unbiblical philosophies.
12) This concept of protecting our children from vain philosophies extends into their curriculum since most of the modern textbooks have revision upon revision, to the point where the truths of God’s history and providence have been pushed completely out! Not to mention the secular humanists views that has replaced them. Therefore, we have the opportunity to give them a more complete picture of God and use textbooks with a truer accuracy. Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”.
13) Our job as parents is to help “conform our children into the image of Christ” through their academics not in spite of them and home schooling is definitely more conducive to providing this due to the difference in methods, philosophies, time and opportunities.
14) Not only have we protected against the empty deceit of men, we are also able to protect from certain socialization experiences that would tend to hinder their walk with the Lord. Proverbs 4:14 “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil”.
1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits.”
15) There is protection in the companions they are able to keep.
Proverbs 13:20 “He who walks with the wise will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed”.
16) The bible is very clear that we are to withdraw from certain influences and having our children at home will certainly help protect them from these influences at least until they are prepared to deal with them. 2Timothy 3:1-5 “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”
17) The more our children are exposed to the more they become desensitized to. We have got to protect their consciences. Romans 13:14 “Make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts”.
1Timothy 4:1-2 “…some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and the doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron…”
18) We want to show our children God’s concept of holiness instead of society’s concept of the ideal man. Ro.12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”.
19) Our children need truth in every area, every day, all day and so do we! Where else can we provide a constant atmosphere of reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness other than in the home with the two teachers God has provided (teachers that will love and discipline their children in a way no one else would or could)…2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
20) Home schooling frees us from humanistic teachings like the “Multicultural Act” of 1979 requiring teachers to teach “different lifestyles” and “different value systems” as legitimate in order to help students develop pride in their own cultural legacy and to cause “appreciation” for others. This is also known as the “melting pot” theory. “We’re all going in the same direction…We are simply taking a variety of paths to get there”. This clearly goes against the scriptural principle of moral absolutes! There is a right way and a wrong way!
Top 10 reasons to homeschool as it relates to “Various Freedoms” and “Blessings”:21) The blessing that comes from the academic superiority of a one-on-one teaching situation.
22) The blessing of having more flexibility in our schedule.
23) The blessing of having the time needed to cultivate deep meaningful relationships with our children and for them to cultivate deep meaningful relationships with their siblings.
24) Our older children our blessed to have opportunities to teach the younger children, which not only helps them better retain what they have learned but also prepares them for parenthood.
25) Our children our blessed to be surrounded with a variety of ages throughout the day, young and old alike, which prepares them for a well-rounded multitude of life circumstances.
26) We have the freedom to tailor the course of study to the individual… not forcing our children through a set of “one size fits all” standards but trying to fulfill the biblical principle of individuality.
27) They are free from the artificial standards of popularity, athletic ability, and physical attractiveness.
28) Not only can we teach them verbally from God’s word all day but we can also model for them holy living which allows us to focus on character building and enables us to discipline our children as soon as a problem arises. Proverbs 13:24 “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.”
29) They are gaining their sense of worth through the parents’ teachings not the peer’s opinion of him.
30) We have the ability to better prioritize our time, stop the busyness, and focus on what will have eternal benefits.
Happy Homemaking!!!
“Keep your children as much as may be from ill company, especially of ungodly playfellows. It is one of the greatest dangers for the undoing of children in the world; especially when they are sent to common schools: for there is scarce any of those schools so good, but hath many rude and ungodly ill-taught children in it.”
