Bible reading on vacation around the campfire
By Contributing Writer, Kimberly@Raising Olives
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is….
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. ~1 Cor. 3:11-13, 18-20
We have a serious problem in America; Christians are not wise. Christians do not know or love the Word of God, and they are not committed to obeying His law.
Let’s use a simple example: the purposeful taking of innocent human life. The sixth commandment is “Thou shalt not commit murder,” and God tells us why in Genesis 9:
Whoever sheds the blood of man,
by man shall his blood be shed,
for God made man in his own image.
Human life is precious because we reflect the image of God. However,
83% of Americans identify themselves as “Christian”.
57% of Americans believe that abortion should be legal in all or most cases (that’s at least 40% of Christians)
88% of Americans believe abortion should be legal for the life of the mother (at least 71% of Christians)
82% of Americans believe abortion should be legal for the ‘health’ of the mother (at least 65% of Christians)
81% of Americans believe abortion should be legal in cases of rape/incest (at least 64% of Christians) ~source ABC news polls
And it’s not getting better. In the current election polls, 93% of Americans say they will be voting for Obama or Romney. In other words, 76% of American Christians plan to cast a vote that will support a candidate who publicly supports abortion.
What does this have to do with education?
Everything.
Education is imparting knowledge or wisdom to someone else. Throughout the Bible, wisdom and knowledge are equated with the knowledge and fear of God, righteousness and right actions, and a rejection of human wisdom.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever. ~ Psalm 11:10
I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. ~ Prov. 4:1
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. ~Prov. 9:10
There is no wisdom and no understanding And no counsel against the Lord. ~Prov. 21:30
Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. ~Prov. 23:4
Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. ~Prov. 28:26
Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, … but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, ~Jer.9:23
Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might…. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; ~Dan. 2:20-21
And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” ~Luke 1:16-17
However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. ~1 Cor. 2:6-8
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21 Therefore let no one boast in men. ~1 Cor. 3:18-21
Clearly today Christians are acting without biblical wisdom or knowledge, and perhaps even more importantly, we’re failing to give our children biblical wisdom or knowledge.
Talk to Christians about their children’s education, and you will hear all about reading the classics, logic, higher math, speech and debate, Latin, sports, ACT scores, state standards, etc. but little to nothing about God, His standards, and the challenge of taking every thought captive to His Word.
We’ve fallen for the world’s lie of a “neutral” education.
This can only be changed when God works in the hearts of His people so that we are willing to unapologetically stand on the Word of God, even if that means we will be considered ‘foolish’ in the eyes of culture and the world.
Here are two questions to consider when we make educational choices for our children:
How is your child’s educational time spent?
This is something that Mark and I ask ourselves frequently, because it requires purposeful and frequent adjustments. If we simply go with the flow and keep up with those around us, we will spend less time on the gold, silver and precious jewels and more time on the wood, hay and stubble.
This may mean that we won’t be able to keep up with academics and awards of the home school-er/Christian school-er who spends all of his time running after the academic and extra-curricular accolades of our culture. It once again comes down to what our goals are.
Is your child spending more time on math, sports, or any other single subject than he is on reading, studying and applying God’s Word? This is something for a Christian parent to consider.
Our personal application is to demonstrate our primary commitment to the Word of God by making it the subject of our primary use of time during the day. For us, it looks like this:
- Every independent reader in our home spends one half to one hour reading their Bible first thing every morning. (Why we require daily independent Bible reading)
- Every morning at breakfast and every evening at dinner Mark leads our family in a time of family worship.
- We take time out of every day to memorize passages of Scripture.
- If it is a school day, we start out with a time of Bible reading.
We do these things not because we believe that we earn points or salvation or that this somehow makes us more godly, but rather in an attempt to fulfill the responsibility that God has given us to raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
We spend hours a day on other academic subjects, and we believe it would be foolish not to spend hours a day striving to impart true wisdom to them.
What is your standard?
What is your standard for choosing the curriculum and courses that your children will study? Do you consider God’s standard? I’m honestly appalled at the number of Christians using and recommending (without caveat) curriculum that undermines and contradicts the Word of God. (Allow me to say here that using a certain book or curriculum is not necessarily sinful, depending upon how it is used.)
I’m saddened by the number of Christians who choose to send their children to a school where they know almost nothing about the teachers, books, etc. that their children will be learning from. And I’m disappointed at the pragmatic (and unbiblical) arguments coming from Christian and home school students and their parents.
What are your biblical reasons for teaching Latin to your children? How does the focus of their music studies bring glory to God? How do the sports/activities they are participating in further the God-given goals for their lives?
Our answers will all be different, and we will all make different choices for our families, but if we’re not considering each educational decision in the light of God’s Word, then we have replaced God’s standard with our own.
Whatever areas of our life that are not governed by the Word of God will be governed by humanism/paganism.
You may also be interested in:
- 6 Distinctives of Our Homeschool
- Bible reading for children – How and why our kids read through the Bible at least once a year.
- Family worship
- Why Teach Greek?
- Links to more information about how we homeschool in our large family.
About Kimberly @ Raising Olives
Yes, yes yes!! Love this post!!!! Lately, I have been so frustrated with the Christian homeschool community. I am seeing homeschooling mamas pushing academics on their children and doing it it because of the competitiveness within the homeschool community. It’s frustrating. We are bringing our kids home only to imitate the failing public school system.
I can easily get insecure when I hear all what other homeschooling moms are doing. It seems as though I am failing my children academically when my 4 year old can’t read Charlotte’s Web independently! But she sure can love and share with her sisters! If we are valuing their ability to read over their ability to love others and serve God then there is a serious problem!
Thank you for this encouraging post!
I loved this post! I feel like you hit it right on! Our children’s education needs to be centered on God and the Bible. It sure can be difficult, especially with other Christian homeschoolers who really aren’t focused on the Bible. In the end we need to focus on what God commands, and what are children need.
As far as the abortion statistics, I am in horror!
Thanks for this great post.
Very refreshing post in a time where there is such a thing as the Christian Left. When Christians start dividing on things that are so clear in the Bible, we have a real problem. God help our nation!
Great Post! Really made me think. While I try hard to be God centered in my thinking and actions I had not thought about each activity my children participate in being looked at and examined based on our goals for our children and their walk with the Lord. While my husband and I both are/have been instructors/professor at the university level we know that academics is not what makes you successful or happy in life. True joy comes from knowing God and being known by him not from academic achievement. As a result I do not focus on academics as being the end all of our homeschool experience. I have tried to give my kids the opportunity to pursue their interests outside of the books but I have not thought about how each of those interests might line up with God’s purpose for their life. Thanks for the eye opener!
I also agree about the whole problem with Christians believing abortion is OK. The stats surprise me a bit but when I remember back to things I was taught in public school and the humanistic point of view it does not surprise me as much. I have had to spend much time renewing my mind and deprogramming my brain from these experiences. When generations of children are being brought up in school with these teachings parents eventually become less intentional about counteracting these bad teachings and the population as a whole loses the truth of God. In general churches are watering down the word of God to attract more people and that too adds to the problem since not only are they learning the false teaching in school it is not be counteracted at church anymore either. Its a downward spiral.
I am seeing a revival though of people who vocalize the truth with love and wisdom. It may be too late for our country as a whole but many will be influenced by these truths and saved from this mess by those who continue to be a light in the darkness. Keep it up!
OUTSTANDING, Kimberly. Such heavy yet truthful words. To God be the glory.
First, let me say that I am book marking this so that I can come back and jot down the Scripture references to use throughout our school year.
Secondly, I am posting a link to this on my Facebook page. Thank you for articulating this so clearly!!
https://www.facebook.com/OneFaithfulMom?ref=hl