Christian Homeschooling

From the call of some Southern Baptists to remove our children from public schools to the cry of some preachers that we must send our children into the schools as missionaries – Christian homeschooling raises many questions.

Here are some scriptures to guide you
in answering these questions for your family:

1. Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

   Fathers are required to instruct their children in the ways of the Lord.

2. Deuteronomy 6: 6-9, “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

   Parents must continually teach their children God’s commandments.

3. Mark 8:36 “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”

   A strong academic program is no substitute for a Biblically sound program.

4. Matthew 6:24 “No man can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.”

   A child cannot be loyal to both God and public school, parent and teacher, family and peers.

5. Luke 6:40 “A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.”

   Many public school teachers are not Christians, and even Christian school teachers must sometimes teach ideals that contradict their faith.

6. 1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.” Proverbs 13:20 “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm.”

   Children WILL be negatively influenced by the attitudes and behaviors of their peers.

7. Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”

   Children who do not retain their values will not be able to minister to others. Studies show that up to 85% of public school students leave the church by the time they graduate from high school.

8. Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.”

   Homeschoolers can minster to the community without sending their children into an undersireable environment. Adult teachers can serve as salt and light within the schools.

We have decided it would be extremely difficult to fulfill our responsibility for the above, while sending our children to public schools. Some parents have found otherwise. We must each come to our own conclusions in light of scripture and remain obedient to God’s call no matter how we choose to teach our children.