What About Public Education?

Anyone who knows me, knows that I never back down from a good debate. It's not that I'm a contentious kind of person, but the challenge of matching wits and ideas with a worthy opponent is quite stimulating, to say the least.

Lately, I've gotten involved in some on-line discussions regarding education, and government schools in particular. So, it's gotten my juices flowing.

Can I stand on a soap-box and judge parents that place their children in public schools? No. "Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth." (Rom 14:4) As parents, we are given the responsibility to train our children in the "nurture and admonition of the Lord." (Eph 6:4) But is there anything in Scripture that commands us to homeschool?

And these words, which I command thee this day,

shall be in thine heart:

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children,

and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house,

and when thou walkest by the way,

and when thou liest down,

and when thou risest up.

And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand,

and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

Deuteronomy 6:6-8

In this passage, we see that parents are to be the spiritual teachers of their children. But does that mean that other forms of education are forbidden? Can parents give their children a secular education while training them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?

I believe they can. But the risk is high. Consider Lot, Abraham's nephew. He's listed in the Hebrews Hall of Faith, and Scripture teaches that living in Sodom he, "vexed his righteous soul from day to day." (2 Peter 2:8)

The Bible does not condemn Lot, but as we read his account in Genesis, we see the natural consequences of his poor choices. When angels appeared to warn him that Sodom was to be destroyed, they had to drag him and his family out of the city by force.

Despite their warning not to look back, Lot's wife was turned into a pillar of salt for her disobedience. Lot's daughters were preserved; but in wicked disbelief, they tricked their father to an horrible act of fornication. Sodom may have been burned with fire from heaven, but it remained in their hearts and in their descendants.

What does this have to do with public schools? Everything. So many parents will wring their hands in despair as they see the trend of wickedness in the school system, but despite the vexation they may feel, they are unwilling to make any drastic steps. And if angels could barely drag Lot's family from Sodom, I'm well aware that all my debates are fruitless too.

"When an opponent declares, 'I will not come over to your side,'

I calmly say, 'Your child belongs to us already. What are you?

You will pass on. Your descendants, however, now stand in the new camp.

In a short time they will know nothing else but this new community.'"

– Adolf Hitler

Jesus said, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's;

and unto God the things that are God's." (Matt 22:21)

To whom do your children belong?



New Book Review on Golden Apples!

Click on the link to check out this delicious book at Golden Apples!

Martyr's Mirror



Mission Impossible?

During his sermon on Modesty last night, Pastor Pollard sympathized with Christian women who attempt to find modest clothing in this day and age. "Wouldn't it be great," he said, "if some Christian families were to go into business making lovely, modest clothing?" (paraphrased)

Although it does feel like "Mission Impossible" sometimes, there actually are families that do just that! So, I couldn't help but chuckle this morning, when this giveaway was posted on facebook. Check it out and enter to win a fabulous skirt from "All Skirts."

(Not to be mean, but I hope I win! My dear husband was just commenting on the sad state of my wardrobe!) =`(


A Wise Woman Builds Her Home

The Death of Superwoman: Part 3

I know! I know! Why isn't she dead yet? Unfortunately, old habits die hard. And death itself is a life-long process!

Yesterday, I woke in discouragement and despair. Literally drained emotionally and spiritually, I started to walk out the door for my morning work-out. I usually listen to music while I drive (it helps me wake up) but I knew I was in no mood for music. Do you ever feel like that? So bummed that you don't want anything to help you feel better. (Yeah, it's called a pity-party!)

Anyway, my eyes lighted on some tapes my friend Pauline had lent me. They were from Homeschool Conferences in the past. That should help my pity-party, right? Get to listen to all the things I'm not doing right in homeschool. I picked them up and scanned their titles. The first one was on Servanthood. ~OK, I'm not that bummed! Then another title grabbed my attention, "Oops! My Cup is Empty and My Coffee Pot is Broke!"

WOW! I can relate to that! Stuffing it into my purse and grabbing my Low-fat, Protein Shake off the counter, I hit the road and popped the tape into the deck.

At first, all I could do was nit-pick; I didn't like her translation of the Bible. This statement wasn't exactly Calvinistic, you know. And the high-pitched tone reminded me of some silly schoolgirl.

I almost turned it off several times. But, not really having anything better to do, as my car drove down the deserted interstate, I let it continue to play.

Arriving at my workout, (from which I had left bawling the day previous) I mustered a smile and attacked my assignment with much more enthusiasm than I thought possible.

Cranking the car again, the sound of a woman's voice caused me to jump! It was Cindy Rushton still talking. With renewed interest, I began listening to the message again. Somehow, I didn't notice my objections anymore. The lady was speaking from her heart and somehow it felt like she was talking just to me.

Describing 10 years of infertility and miscarriage (which I can definitely understand) Cindy Rushton described her innate need to put on a facade and pretend to be "Superwoman."

I must admit, I glared at the tape deck. Has she been reading my blog posts? But no, this was taped six years ago. She continued to describe the pain that only a mother who has lost children can understand, as well as some of the very things I've been contemplating lately. Such as letting go of unfair expectations and being honest with each other. But most of all, taking our empty cups to Christ and letting Him fill them to overflowing.

Soon, tears were streaming down my cheeks and by the time my car turned into our drive, I was shaking with sobs. I tried to pray, but no words came. Then I was reminded of a precious promise:

"...the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us

with groanings which cannot be uttered." (Romans 8:26)

My cup was empty and my coffee pot was broke. But Christ said, "come unto Me and drink!"

"I came to Jesus, and I drank

Of that life-giving stream;

My thirst was quenched, my soul revived

And now I live in Him."

(Horatius Bonar)