Walking in Faith

Tim Challies has posted a couple of articles around homeschooling and why he and his wife are not homeschooling (Day 1, Day 2).  As a new homeschooling family, I thought it prudent to discuss his posts in some level of detail.  I will discuss Tim’s arguments and try to give my own thoughts on the topic.

First off, I found Day 1 to really be more of a defense on why he was even writing the article.  He did make some statements that I found interesting and note-worthy:

Before I continue, I would like to affirm that I believe this is an area in which Christians have freedom from God to do what we feel is appropriate for our individual families. This is an area of weaker and stronger Christians. I do not believe that any of the options–homeschooling, Christian schooling or public schooling–is inherently wrong, but feel that each family must follow their convictions on this matter.

I couldn’t agree more. When a family has to make a decision on raising their children, they must start by praying to the Lord for wisdom and clarity.  They have to assess their personal situation and what makes sense.  In my case, my wife and I are homeschooling the oldest child but the middle kid is in a Christian school right now.  We have reasons for both of these decisions.  We pray about homeschooling, private school and public school.  I am extremely convinced there will be a day when the Lord will guide us to do different solutions for our children.

There is one more thing I would like to say before I get too much further into this article. Homeschooling parents are easily offended (See? I offended you just by saying that!). Some may consider this a rash generalization, but in my experience it is true.

I assume that Tim makes this statement to minimize the potential “zealots” coming out and attacking his statements (which, of course, they do — go figure!).  As I read this, I immediately had a strange emotion when I read this.  I am not defended about the statement because I would tend to agree with the generalization.  However, as he writes to defend his position, I suddenly get the feeling that I am being labeled simply because I support homeschooling as a position.

In my experience (and I have quite extensive experience with families that homeschool) the decision to homeschool is an aspect of a larger ideology. There is a set of underlying beliefs that prompt a family to homeschool their children.

I don’t have the same level of experience Tim has but I absolutely agree with this statement.  Maybe I missed the point here, but an underlying set of beliefs are the basis for every decision anyone ever makes — even if that decision is made out of laziness, ignorance or financial and not Biblical.  Believing families, I would propose, are more inclined to homeschool simply because they realize there are options and that they prayerfully consider (OK, not all, but work with me on this) these sort of decisions, bringing them before the Lord before making any commitments.  Unbelieving families are more apt to do public school because of the secular view of homeschooling (socially challenged families/kids, problem children or the like).

And all this is to say that my beliefs about the world and the culture and the relationship of Christians to them is a large part of what motivates me to send my children to public schools. Just as ideology is what motivates some Christians to homeschool, ideology motivates me to have my children in the public school system. I am convicted that my children ought to be in public schools.

Praise God!  If the world would only listen to and follow their convictions, that would be a step in the right direction for many.  Unlike Tim, my wife and I feel convicted to homeschool one child, put one child in private school and provide child care (I hope my wife doesn’t hit me for that comment — HA!) for the 2 year old.   Why?  Because that is our conviction.  I want my children to be raised in the Word of God and understand that the world was not just created by some big explosion nor did we evolve from micro-organisms… or is it tadpoles… I can’t keep it straight.  Regardless, I want my children to grow up knowing the Word intimately.  At some point in their life, I want them to be the light in other people’s lives.  I don’t know if this will be 3rd grade, 6th grade or as a senior in high school.  Ultimately, the Bible is very clear that as a father and mother we are responsible for the upbringing and education of our children.  If I put my kid in a public school where I don’t know the theological or ideological perspectives of the teachers or the school officials, how can I in clear conscience feel like I am obedient to God’s Word?  I don’t want my child to ever be told not to pray, as an example.  I want my children to know when it is appropriate and respectful to pray and when it is not.

More to come tomorrow as I will cover Day 2 and get into much more discussion as this is where the meat of Tim’s position lies.