Friday, July 24, 2009

Educating Children

Few parental responsibilities carry more impact potential than their children’s education. The Bible is clear that parents in general, and fathers in particular, are to have the primary teaching role in their children’s lives. You don’t have to teach your kids math or science or physics, but you do have to instill in your children the over-all Christian theology that governs all these subjects (and theology does indeed govern all these subjects). Also you and I do have an inescapable responsibility to guard our sons and daughters from error-filled education that counters a Christian world-view.

The Law of God, recorded in Scripture, which is what we are to teach our kids, has something to say about all manner of topics. Proverbs also presents an astonishingly broad teaching curriculum for parents. This means that parents are called to lead the way in teaching their kids about a vast array of topics for all of life. Along the way they certainly may delegate some teaching roles to people they trust, but it remains the parents’ duty to guard their children vigilantly from the effects of less trustworthy teachers. Being aware of the radically anti-God philosophies (atheism, evolutionism, materialism, hedonism, feminism, egalitarianism, relativism, etc.) that saturate most public education contexts, parents who choose that option will have to commit to a consistent and thorough deprogramming of their children when they arrive home from school. This can be done, but the work is hard and long and arduous.

The education decision tilts on which of three options (home schooling, private schooling or public schooling) best meets the needs and fits the circumstances of each family. It should be obvious that the further one is removed from home schooling, the harder it becomes to fulfill at least the protecting and world-view instilling responsibilities I’ve mentioned, since an increasing amount of the teaching is delegated to others who may or may not share your Christian world view and values. Fathers, whatever option you choose, you remain responsible to oversee, review, monitor, influence, and have primary control over everything your children are taught. This is what family shepherds (parents in general and dads in particular) do for the sheep in their fold.

Friends, these are matters for which much counsel is needed. Do not make these decisions apart from the input of your wife and your pastors. Seek out the wisdom of those who have considered all the options carefully and have gone before you in the decisions you have to make. The stakes are high here; don’t gamble with your children’s future, or their souls.

Labels: , , ,

4 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

Thank you pastor, for all of us who have been given the gift of children placed under our care, especially parents and guardians, for we must understand that the stakes are indeed very high, and the risks are growing every day.
Yet God is faithful, gracious, and merciful. He blesses our efforts,showers us with His grace in this whole process, and grants us mercy in our mistakes. I am grateful for all of these, for I need them all. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge". Oops, I am signed in as my wife.

July 24, 2009 at 9:56 AM  
Blogger Petros said...

Our children are in public education. Last Monday's post on this blog is an example of what we face.

We hope we have had a "salting" effect with our letters, phone calls, and appearances before the school board. Sometimes it seems like we're throwing a few grains of salt on a 600 pound carcass, well into the decaying process already, but perhaps it has done some good for someone, somewhere.

It has atleast made our children aware of the culture war and of various world views, and equipped them somewhat to counteract error with Truth... and to be downright angry with the lies.

Or,perhaps it has done some good in a prophetic sense. God's prophets were commanded to address a wayward people even though none would listen. The people were alerted to their sin just the same, and their guilt increased as a result.

Just a few thoughts.

July 24, 2009 at 11:45 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Tim, Thanks for a well needed reminder of our fatherly duties. Even as my children are up and out on their own, I try to still speak into their lives as they are willing to listen. I find this as much of a challenge as when they were young and impressionable. I confess I don't have the same parental "ownership" and consequent anxiety as when they lived at home. Sometimes it's "out of sight, out of mind". Any insight on dealing with adult children not following God as you would like? Out of my 5 kids, only 3 are really following God and involved in a church etc. The other two are not hostle to my overtures of truth, just not responsive. Any help here is appreciated.
JR

July 24, 2009 at 1:22 PM  
Blogger Tim Shorey said...

Having just a bit of time at the moment i would reply to JR's questions re grown children that the ongoing building of relationships with them including active interest in how they are doing spiritually and suggesting resources and churches is all to be pursued.

especially the relationships; along with prayer.
grace.

July 24, 2009 at 3:20 PM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home