The OOC

This from today’s ByFaith Update:

The Spurgeon Archive
The Spurgeon Archive includes many free, online writings of Charles Hadden Spurgeon (1834-92). Sermons, books and tracts online include: “The Treasury of David” (on the Psalms), “Morning and Evening” and Faith’s Checkbook, the “Sword and the Trowel” tract evangelism, “All of Grace,” “Sermons in Candles,” much more. Tour the Spurgeon Library at William Jewell College; see Spurgeon’s handwritten sermon notes. Go to http://www.spurgeon.org/.

If you’re interesting in additional information about Iraq’s history after reading the Smithsonian article (Iraq’s Unruly Century) passed around after worship Sunday in preparation for our Iraqi guest speaker at House Church Wednesday, here are a few links:

• Iraq, After the Flood
• Baghdad’s Buried Treasure
• Can It Happen? The chances for Iraqi democracy

As I continued to think about this resolution, the more certain things bothered me. Though this resolution was more about the state of public schools than advocating Christian schools, it is a near cousin to the “only” kind of thinking that tends to dominate some non-essential issues within Christiandom. It is this “only” kind of thinking about non-essential issues that worries me more than this resolution.

In the case of schooling, “only” kind of thinking perpetuates itself in a few forms. Here I want to address “Christian Schools Only”, or “Homeschool Only”, kind of thinking. Keep in mind the issue is not with these forms of education in general. I have no problem with Christian schools or home schoolers. My problem is with those who hold them as “only” kind of options.

There are three additional arguments that could be made against this “only” kind of thinking.

The economic argument

The Gospel and the ability to live a Christian life is free. Every man and woman, no matter their life circumstances or financial ability can live the Christian life. Making the argument that Christian schools are the only legitimate form of education a Christian should consider for their children is contrary to this notion. It attaches a fixed financial cost to Christian discipleship.

Does not Christ ask us to sometimes/often give up certain financial means for His sake? Absolutely. The young rich ruler is a prime example. The biblical tithe is another. These costs are relative however. Giving up all your possessions is relative to your life situation. Bill Gates giving up everything is a multi-billion dollar cost. Wheras if I gave up everything I owned when I graduated college, we are just talking about a big pile of books, a few tools, a pillow and a comforter. The cost is relative. The biblical tithe is relative (if indeed one holds to a biblical tithe). 10% to me, is not the same as 10% for Mr. Gates. The cost for a Christian school though is fixed. If I walk into a popular Christian school here in town, the cost for me and for everyone is $5000.00. Yes there are scholarships, but there are not scholarships for everyone.

Given that no matter our life situation or finanicial ability, we can still follow Christ, requiring, even recommending that Christians should “only” consider Christian schools is contrary to the very nature of following Christ. Unless then, I am of certain financial means, I will not be able to meet that principle of Christian discipleship.

Homeschool “only” kind of thinking runs into a similar problem. Though it is not an economic one. Yes there is a cost involved in purchasing materials, but it is not as much as a private or christian school. The problem here is the education of the parents. It does take a certain level of education on the part of parents in order to undertake educating your own children. When I think of all the people I know who homeschool, they are all college educated. I would love to find a survey or study that discussed this.

I spent 5 years working for a ministry that served the poor. Some of the women we served barely knew how to cook. Those who knew how to cook were just beginning to grasp the concept of serving healthy meals to their children. I can’t imagine these women embarking on homeschooling. The people I know who homeschool, even the most savvy and talented of them, talk of the immense amount of energy it takes. These women I am talking about are far away from developing that kind of perseverance and fortitude. The homeschool “only” argument can not be held for all people, in all circumstances.

This leads me to the second argument. The classist one.

The Christian School “only” and Homeschool “only” positions are classit. That is, they are guily of classcism. They are born, more or less, out of some form of a upper middle class suburban (possibly even isolationist) worldview. It would behoove people holding such positions to spend time with people of all classes and see if their positions still hold.

All educational systems by their very nature are a respecter of men. The Christian School “only” postion is a respecter of men by their financial ability. The Homeschool “only” position is a respecter of men by their ability to teach/facilitate and/or educational level. The public and private school system is a respecter of men as well. Private schools, again, because of one’s finanical ability. Public schools because they reveal one’s socio-economic status. We didn’t live long in Saint Louis before someone came along and asked “What high school did you go too?” The answer to the question could reveal one’s religion, financial ability and socio-economic status.

God, however, is no respecter of men. Holding a Christian School “only” or Homeschool “only” position, puts one in a tenuous position with the Creator.

Is there a way around this? First, I suppose, is a change of attitude. Second, would be relinguishing “only” type of positions in regards to schooling. Thirdly, offer Christian education for free or minimal cost (as in only pay for books).

The resolution made before the PCA General Assembly would have had more power, more substance, if in fact Christian education were free. How could one then argue with it? Comparing a free dysfunctional secular system to a free Christian based system (given it was not dysfunctional either) is a no brainer.

How could Christian Education be offered for free? It would take a large shift in attitude both within churches and in general the culture at large. We are in many ways bound by the economic model of our country and world. We “sell” services. In this case, Christian education is the service being sold. For Christian Education to be free, would require the pooling of church economic resources in such a way that really has not been practiced often. It would have to be a
model very similar to communal living, such as represented in the Book of Acts, or lived out in communities such as Jesus People USA . The problem is, I don’t see mainly suburban people, choosing to live in close proximity to each other, if not, with each other, pooling resources such as money, food, and shelter, and providing a free Christian education to the children of the members of their church. In this model, teachers, if they were part of the community, would not have to be paid much. Formal teachers would not be necessary even, it could function as a group home school. However, the next step for such a model, would not only be offering this education for free to church members, but free to all members of the community where the church was located. If Christian education is going to compete directly with the public schools, and for it to be truly equitable, it has to be free. Radical indeed. Given the economic model of our culture, this would be difficult for most people. THIS would be sacrifice indeed.

The third argument is the one of conscience.

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church has a motto: “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.” The issue of schooling falls into the non-essentials category. Christian School “only” and Homeschool “only” positions bind people’s consciences beyond that which is permissible by Scripture.

I will leave this third point as it is, since fleshing it out requires more time than I have at the moment.

Reading the General Assembly blog, I saw the news of the Resolution To Urge PCA Members to Pull Their Children Out of Public Schools. It’s also covered on WorldNetDaily.

As both places mention, the resolution is “similar to one that was presented, and later defeated, at the Southern Baptist Convention last year.” The difference in this case is that “the resolution has some prominent backers in the PCA – Dr. D. James Kennedy of Coral Ridge Presbyterian in Ft. Lauderdale, and Joel Belz, founder of World Magazine and former moderator of the General Assembly.”

Anyone know what the word on the GA street is?

Well, this should rankle a few feathers. It rankles mine. A resolution is being brought before the PCA General Assembly that “encourages all her officers and members to remove their children from the public schools and see to it that they receive a thoroughly Christian education, for the glory of God and the good of Christ’s church.” The resolution is sponsored by Rev. Warhurst and has support from Dr. D. James Kennedy and elder Joel Belz (founder of World Magazine).

I am not a pro-public school kind of person. I am not a pro-anyschool kind of person. I believe there are serious problems with the public schools. However, I have serious problems with this resolution. It is shortsighted and displays the worst of so-called Christian conservatism.

I am a pro-parent kind of person, as you will see.

Taking the resolution paragraph by paragraph:

“Whereas, The Bible commands fathers to bring up their children in the training and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4), and all parents who have had a child baptized in the Presbyterian Church in America have taken a vow to strive by all the means of God’s appointment to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (BCO 56-5), and”

It is true, that as parents, we are responsible for our child’s education. In particular, a child’s spiritual education. Rather then ultimately encouraging parents to withdraw their children from public schools, this resolution should encourage parents to, well, be parents. No matter where I send my child for formal education (homeschool, private, Christian, or public), it is ME that is responsible for the education of the child. If sending a child to school outside the home, how involved are you in their schoolwork? It has been shown that no matter what KIND of school it is, the key to success of the individual child and the school as a whole, is a parent’s involvement. In fact, what it comes down to is how you as a parent live, work, play, and teach. Your children are watching YOU. Who are YOU? What do YOU do? More on this later.

For all the problems that public schools have, I have seen children from Christian schools who truly are little materialists. Whose fault is that? Don’t blame the school. Look at mom and dad.

“A truly Christian education begins with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10), and teaches children to think biblically about all of life (2 Corinthians 10:5; Romans 12:2; Deuteronomy 6:6-9), and”

What is a truly Christian education? Has anyone ever defined that? I am positive that you would get multiple responses to that question. I am also sure that if you studied the curriculum and the perspective of the Christian schools in our area they will all be different. Yes I agree that a Christian education begins with the fear of the Lord and teaches children to think biblically about all of life. However, that, it seems, is my responsibility as a parent to teach that, encourage that and reinforce that. Again, my children are watching me.

“Whereas, The public school system does not offer a Christian education, but officially claims to be “neutral” with regard to Christ, a position that Christ Himself said was impossible (Luke 11:23), and”

Yes, public schools don’t offer a Christian education. I would not expect them to. I think the PCA should then also admonish Christian schools, who thinking they are Christian, are not (Matt 7:21-23).

“Whereas, The public schools are by law humanistic and secular in their instruction, and as a result the attending children receive an education without positive reference to the Triune God, and”

Again, I wouldn’t expect them to do so. It is expected of me as a parent to do so, however. Do I teach my children with a positive reference to the Triune God?

“Whereas, Some courageous teachers in our congregations disregard this law. Obeying God rather than men, they try to give their students a truly Christian education (Acts 4:18-20). This resolution should not be construed to discourage these adult believers who faithfully labor as missionaries to unbelieving colleagues and students. However, these rare exceptions should not lead anyone to believe the public schools are regularly giving children a truly Christian education.”

First, those “exceptions” are not rare. There are quite a few Christians who teach in the public schools. Granted, simply because there are Christians who teach in a public school does not mean a child is receiving a Christian education. Again, I would not expect the public school to do so. Again, how are you as a parent providing that in your home?

“Whereas, Sending thousands of PCA children as “missionaries” to their unbelieving teachers and classmates has failed to contribute to increasing holiness in the public schools. On the contrary, the Nehemiah Institute documents growing evidence that the public schools are successfully converting covenant children to secular humanism,”

It is misguided to send a child to a public school as a missionary, especially when talking about elementary school, granted. The question is how are you as a parent teaching your child to live? Is your child learning to love his neighbor? He/she will only learn that IF you are doing it. Is your child loving his/her enemy? She/he will only do so if you love your enemy too. Is your child learning to love God? He/she will only do so if he/she sees you doing so. I do not care what school you send your child too, if you are not faithfully following Christ and loving God, how can you expect your child to? I would surmise that “schools are successfully converting covenant children to secular humanism” because of the lack of parental involvement in those children’s lives. It is the same reason why children who go to Christian schools, reject the whole nine yards later in life. They see the big disconnect between what they were taught and what they saw at home.

“We are squandering a great opportunity to instruct these children in the truth of God’s word and its application to all of life;”

Yes we are. But not because we are sending our children to public schools. But because we have not been faithful as a PARENT to be 1) creating an atmosphere in the home that encourage spiritual growth 2) live as Christ has called us to live 3) create a growing and loving marriage which is very much an encouragement to children

“Therefore, be it resolved that the 33rd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America encourages all her officers and members to remove their children from the public schools and see to it that they receive a thoroughly Christian education, for the glory of God and the good of Christ’s church.”

Misguided to say the least.

I do not say all this to bash Christian schools. No, it is because I believe the responsibility is to be laid at the feet of parents. And THAT is what the resolution (if any) should be about.

The ultimate responsibility to give a child a Christian education lies with the parent. It is not the responsibility of any school to do that. I can fail at this whether I homeschool, or send them to private, Christian or public school. I can succeed at this whether I homeschool, or send them to private, Christian, or public school.

I went to a parochial elementary school. It was a Catholic school. Some will say that a Catholic school is different than a Christian school. Maybe. The point I want to make is that at my school by the time 8th grade rolled around, there were kids who were getting involved in drugs, who came from extremely broken homes, who were extreme troublemakers, who were beginning to engage in sexual activity. I know as well, things are not different at any other school. Christian or otherwise.

Who are YOU at home? How do you talk to your children? Do you seek to understand them? Do you listen to them? Do you try to recall what life was like as a child so you can relate to them better? When you read your Bible Study and you get to the page that says “application”, is your first thought your home? Do you love your closest neighbors (spouse and children)? Do you seek forgiveness from your children?
What do your children see you DO? How much TV do you watch? Do they see you shop a lot? Do they see you aloof and distant sitting in a corner reading the newspaper? What do your children hear you talking about? The need for that new car? Or concern for a friend? Do you have devotional time with your children? Do your children think you care? Do you care?

Here is the resolution I would write:

Whereas, The Bible commands fathers and mothers to love God with all their, heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:29-30), to love their neighbor (Mark 12:31), to know Christ (John 17:3), to go and make disciples (Matt 28-18-20), to faithfully examine the Scriptures (Acts 17:11), and to impress these things upon our children (Deut 6:4-9), and

Whereas the decision to formally educate your child is a difficult one, given one’s talents, community, school district, and financial ability, and

Whereas, a child’s education and the success thereof is dependant in large part on the involvement of that parent in the child’s life, no matter whether the child is homeschooled, private schooled, Christian schooled or public schooled,

Whereas, parents need to take hold of their relationship with Christ and live it according to the work of the Holy Spirit within them (Eph 3:20),

Therefore, be it resolved that the 33rd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America encourages all her officers to the following:

to live according to the standards set in Scripture for elders and deacons,

to preach faithfully about living the Christian life and applying it to member’s lives as fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts, etc.

to offer curriculum whether in Sunday School or additional Bible Studies that disciples the members of your church and helps them to teach their children and other children in the knowledge of Christ,

to encourage fathers to meet with one another and discuss issues, problems, etc.

to encourage mothers to meet with one another and discuss issues, problems, etc.

to be an advocate, not for a particular type of schooling, but for parents, encouraging them to live according to God’s Word and encouraging them to teach their children the same,

encourages all her members:

to live as a Body, supporting one another in their individual decisions about their child’s education, offering encouragement to one another.

To faithfully participate in the life of one’s church.

To faithfully dialogue with other parents about educational issues from a Christian worldview.

To faithfully participate in the school of your own choosing.

To be salt and light in the school of your own choosing.

To be faithful to your calling as parents and take responsibility for the oversight of your child’s education.

To be faithful as non-parents to the child around you, who are watching you too.

that all the above would have the effect of discipling parents to be solidly grounded in God’s Word so that they may pass that on to their children, no matter the circumstances of life, for the glory of God and the good of Christ’s church.

Who are we? This is a question Ron asked us in his last sermons. The answer to that question also applies to bloggers. Bloggers have a responsibility to those they represent: God, family, co-workers, church, etc. Some feel that their blogs only answer the question, Who am I? They have used their blog entries to deface the others they represent- their co-workers and company, all the while, defacing themselves. The three questions that should always be remembered when making anything public: Who am I? Who are we? Who is this God?

After reading this article, I wonder why proponents of a genetic component of homosexuality are working so hard to prove that homosexuality is a genetic disposition. Are they homosexual advocates or do they want to eliminate homosexuality? I believe that they are trying to relieve discrimination, however, their work will instead increase the discrimination of parents to their unborn children. If they can pinpoint a gene, then they can manipulate the genetic code to make a person heterosexual, and eventually eliminate homosexuality. The homosexual child will never be born.
I’ve heard so many times “You’re born that way”. Today, more and more gays and lesbians are beginning to acknowledge that it is a choice that they have made. That concerns me more than the “born that way” argument. It reveals that homosexuality is more attractive than it has been in the past. It also proves Romans 1:24-32 to be true.

OpinionJournal.com’s Best of the Web Today last week covered a story from The American Enterprise magazine about how the pursuit of “diversity” on campus leads to racial and religious discrimination (quoting David French):

When I applied to teach at Cornell Law School, an interviewer noticed my evangelical background and asked, “How is it possible for you to effectively teach gay students?” If I had not given what I consider to be, in all modesty, an absolutely brilliant answer to the question, I don’t think I would have gotten the job. I sat in admissions committee meetings at Cornell in which African-American students who expressed conservative points of view were disfavored because “they had not taken ownership of their racial identity.” An evangelical student was almost rejected before I pointed out that the reviewer’s statement that “they did not want Bible-thumping or God-squading on campus” was illegal and immoral.

After the BOTW wondered aloud (er, in print, er electronicly) what his answer was, French emailed to tell them:

I was surprised and pleased to see that you quoted from my talk to the American Enterprise Institute regarding intellectual diversity (or the lack thereof) and censorship on campus. I noted that you want to know my “absolutely brilliant answer” to the improper interview question. Before I tell you, I just want to make clear that the “absolutely brilliant” comment was made tongue-in-cheek in the speech and was played for laughs. I’m not really quite so full of myself. The truth is that I was fortunate to get the job perhaps in spite of my answer. I responded to the interviewer with the following statement:

“I believe that all human beings are created in the image of God and should be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of whether I agree with their personal conduct or beliefs. I will treat all my students well, but I can’t guarantee that they will treat me well when they learn that I’m a dreaded ‘Christian conservative.’ ”

She responded with a long silence and then said, “I never thought of things from that perspective.”

Great response, no? I’d like to think that I would compose myself and my answer in such a way as to be truthful and graceful, and honor God in the process.

What do you expect? I’ve posted an article and a link on my blog about teens and chores, and about why “science” proves that teens can’t be *truly* lazy or careless when it comes to carrying out instructions. It’s just interesting that Mardi Keyes’ article makes this very observation.

At the retreat (which my family also enjoyed thoroughly by the way), Jerram Barrs spoke about parenting, and he mentioned an article written by Mardi Keyes on the topic of adolescence. Ron Lutjens mentioned that there is a copy in the church library, and there is. I also found a .pdf file at Ransom Fellowship’s site. click the link below to read this outstanding article.

Youth Culture and Growing Up

You may be interested in reading others of the wealth of articles at Ransom Fellowship. You can find a list of all the articles here. (There’s a link at the top of most of these pages to get .pdf files.