I wanted to give a shout about another great book for nightly Bible study with the kids. It’s called Get Wisdom by Ruth Younts. My girls and I recently finished the book of Mark on our nightly Bible studies, and I like to try different approaches for nightly devotionals. My wife found the following book on the internet and we have not been disappointed. You have 23 lessons ranging from listening to love. The devotional time includes a craft and/or discussion in addition to scripture for memorization. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes. I love to see the kids excited about our devotional time and wanting to discuss them the following day. To check out the book please click on the link below.
Recently I found myself in an interesting conversation with one of the elders at church. We discussed, very fervently, the role of the missional mindset as it relates to homeschooling. Before I take my thoughts any further I believe a clarification is due. What does it mean to be missional? Is this concept telling us we all need to go to Africa and take up residence in a mud hut? No. Being missional is a requirement of all people who wear the name of Christian. It starts wherever one lives. This includes the country, the city and the suburbs. The great commission mentioned in Matthew 28:19 says to go to all nations. For too long the church has interpreted this mandate to represent exotic, faraway countries. Please don’t misunderstand me…it does. It also represents your neighbor, a co-worker, or someone you just met on the street who needs a bottle of cold water on a hot day. This is why you have, in many Christian circles, the importance of being missional mandated. Christians are to be galvanized for the cause of Christ, not content with just attending church and throwing a few dollars in the collection plate. I know when the leaders in my family of churches talk about our faith they mention that we are reformed, charismatic and missional. Please understand the first two characteristics mentioned above relate to who we are in the fellowship I belong to, and is not a mandate for all believers. Christians can differ on reform theology and the gifts of the Spirit. We Christians cannot differ on the call to be missional. This is a mandate for all believers regardless of denominational affiliation. Consider the following verses…
James 2:14 what good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
James 2:18- But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
Matthew 28:19-20- Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
In no way am I trying to preach one is saved by works. I hold to the cherished view of Sola Fide
(faith alone). I am trying to reiterate the important concept of a faith that is always active and
obedient. These works are alive and not dead works (Heb. 9:14).
I hope the words above will give you some concept of this important aspect of our faith. This brings me back to the discussion with my elder about the missional mindset and homeschooling. He is a great and godly elder who is concerned with the souls of the lost. I respect that. Where we differ is how one instills the missional mindset in their children. One camp states that we, as Christians, must put our children in the public schools so they can be a light to the world. This position seems to have merit in theory. Unfortunately, I have yet to see kids doing this in their schools. I am sure there are notable exceptions who are actually achieving a missional mindset in their educational environment. I don’t think I am ready to trust my children, in that capacity, while they are still so young. The average public educated child spends around 25 hours a week at school. Make sure you tie in 1 to 2 hours a week for church. I think we know who wins out in the information wars for the hearts and minds of our children. I did not even mention the important need for nightly Bible study with your kids. And that still does not make up for the time in your average public school!
So what is the alternative for people who want missionally minded kids and feel uncomfortable with the public school setting? I believe it's homeschooling. Parents can be active in their child’s education, while also teaching their kids the reality of the world. They are taught the need to reach others for Christ and not to be shocked when people live a lifestyle that is very different from their own. This approach allows for daily reinforcement in their belief systems so they can be grounded. This is not an excuse to put kids in a bubble. It saddens me when I see homeschool parents who shelter their children so much it becomes a detriment to their daily living when they are adults. People need to give their children proper shelter, but this can only go so far. I will cover this topic in subsequent articles so I can go into more detail.
What would be your approach to developing missionally minded kids? It’s simple. Make sure our children are fully grounded before we release them into the world. Some might ask where I would get such a notion. It comes from studying the life of Jesus. Christ did not start His ministry until He was 30. The implication here is not to keep our kids hidden till they are in their thirties. It simply states there is a time frame for everything and preparation is necessary for release. That is something we can all agree on. Consider the words of Jesus in the second half of John 2:4…”my hour has not yet come.” Jesus could have done anything He wanted. He was God incarnate. He started His ministry later in life. Since I am not God, I will never know the reason. I can assume, by inference, it’s also important for our children to be ready before we send them out amongst the world. I believe Biblical preparation is the key to successful assimilation into today's culture. Another reason is statistics. Please read the following stats from a survey done on 7,306 homeschooled children who are now adults…
-94% strongly agreed or agreed to the statement, “My religious beliefs are basically the same as those of my parents.”
- The evidence from this study also suggests that adults who were home educated have a commitment to or tolerance of free expression of viewpoints or beliefs that is about as strong as that of the general public.
The above statements seem to suggest an interesting pattern. A strong faith with a tolerant view of a variety of perspectives. This sounds like the perfect combination for the missional minded child. I hope this gives you an idea of what many homeschooling families are trying to accomplish by instilling a strong faith and education, while promoting the importance of the great commission.
What's the matter with kids today and why doesn't anyone want them around? In June, Malaysia Airlines banned babies from many of their first class cabins, prompting other major airlines to consider similar policies.
It’s a curious thing to start a “series” of articles.Will they become what you expect?That might be asking the wrong question.I believe the proper way to look at writing is to enlighten someone to a different point of view.They may hate what you stand for, but at least they have respect for what you are trying to accomplish.
Homeschooling.Just mention the word and you have opinions coming at you from all directions.People will say you will stunt the emotional growth of your child, or God will strike you dead if you don’t make homeschooling the only educational option for your children.My all time favorite are the people with no kids who seem to know what’s best for your kids.Any of the views mentioned above make me want to leave the room.I believe the best position seems to be the moderate middle. To have an understanding that God has ordained a beautiful approach for the education of our children is liberating and exciting.Is it the only way to educate?The answer is no.Is it the best way?I believe the answer is yes.I answer the latter question with a humble heart and an open mind.I expect the same from those with whom I disagree.This blog will be closed down before it develops into some polarizing mouthpiece for those who are obsessed with the soapbox.Will honest and lively disagreement occur on this blog?Of course it will.It’s the nature of the subject.Christians must learn there can be unity in diversity on a myriad of subjects.The subjects I am writing about are extremely important and go to the heart of the Christian faith.How do we educate our children?Are there ways that instill a strong Christian faith in conjunction with a solid education?Please consider the following verse from Deuteronomy chapter 6:7-9…
You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
I’m sure all of us are in agreement that these verses discuss the importance of faith being passed on to the next generation.I believe this can be carried over to every aspect of your life.This logic leads me to believe this verse is discussing a holistic approach to the development of children.The American concept of education works from a compartmentalized concept.The theory behind homeschooling is very different from the approach used by state schools.Every subject taught comes from the idea that God created it and we are learning about His world.Does that mean you mention God every five seconds? No, it does mean the child is cognizant of the source from which he or she is learning.This allows for children to have a constant reinforcement on faith while being fully educated on everything from math to science.This encapsulates what I believe homeschooling truly embodies.Not an educational choice, but a way of life.
I would love to tell you this is the first article in my series on homeschooling. It’s not. I want to do an old fashion book review. I am an avid reader. Of the hundreds of books I have read over the past 10 years there are some that inspire me and some that horrify me. The book I am writing about is in the latter. Very few books I come across fall into either category. Both cause strong reactions when one of these books are read.
I have to apologize in advance if this article offends some readers. It will. Look beyond your offense and understand what I am trying to say.
This past weekend I went to my company’s national sales meeting in Texas. It’s a wonderful time because I can take my wife and have a mini vacation. Very little time was spent on corporate business and most of the time was spent with my wife. I cannot complain about that arrangement. The most important thing I do before any trip is find a book. The thought of traveling and having nothing to read is terrifying to me. I went by a used book store on my way home one day, and I found a book that intrigued me. It was titled In the Land of Believers by Gina Welch. The synopsis involves a very liberal, atheist and Jewish young lady going to Thomas Road Baptist church to see what it was like to be immersed in what she called “Evangelical culture”. Unless you have been under a rock for the past twenty years this is the home church of Jerry Falwell. A very polarizing figure in Christendom. Mr. Falwell has passed on to be with the Lord, but his church and legacy are still very strong. I picked the book up not caring what it cost, because the book was meant for me. I was not disappointed.
The sign of a great author is the ability to pull a reader in and feel empathetic to the world they have created. A feeling of wanting to stop all other things to see what happens on the next page. This book failed in that regard. It did keep me glued because of the incredible amount of inconsistencies and stereotypes written about conservative Christians. How can a writer make blanket statements about Evangelicals when they have only experienced one flavor in this movement? Why Thomas Road Baptist church? The answer is easy. There was not an interest in seeing what we really are about. She found the most annoying branch of our movement and ran with her idea. Thomas Road Baptist church does a lot of good. It also is so boisterous about issues they tend to nullify what we Christians are trying to accomplish collectively.
Throughout the book the author makes random statements that are direct or innuendo on how stupid and closed minded we Biblical Christians are. She had to start the book with the awful experience of going to a Christian hell house at Halloween. There is nothing like getting the bejesus scared out of you to promote an acceptance of Christ as your Savior! Then we experience her impression of Christians at a church service. She comments on how fake and placid we look. Not a few, but a blanket statement on all of us. Also, how exclusionary our message is and damaging to the country. My suggestion is to write less and listen more and you might be surprised on what you notice. Expression of disgust or horror should be articulated after prolonged exposure to that which you oppose. Not a knee jerk reaction that sounds ridiculous when put to paper. Most of the book seems to follow this pattern.
There are two areas that seem the most troubling concerning the book. It’s the constant amount of lying that is practiced to pull this stunt off. The amazing aspect of the book is her ability to keep up with her lies. The redeeming quality of this part of the book is her feelings of remorse for her prolonged deception. For someone who doesn’t believe in absolute truth this shows one of the many ways she was affected by her exposure to the Christians at Thomas Road. The most troubling part of the book is her faking a conversion. Why not come and be an interested observer and see what people are about? I guess that wasn’t extreme enough. Gina Welch had to go forward and confess the “sinner’s prayer” and then get baptized. I realize one is not saved by water, but it is a sacred act commanded by Jesus Himself for all believers. Please be respectful of our sacred traditions. The element of the book that sent me over the edge was her experience with the Lord’s Supper. Since she was “undercover” it was time to follow through with her fake conversion with communion. She wrote such flippant remarks on this sacrament that one has to wonder how open minded this “progressive” really was. I have no doubt she would have drooled all over herself to be considerate and thoughtful at the local mosque down the street. Somehow extreme liberals seem to be open to “all” views except one of the most prominent. I pray we Christians can be kind and considerate with our views without compromising them. Unfortunately that doesn’t always happen.
Lastly, I want to write about the change she felt throughout the course of her experiment. She went from thinking all conservative Christians were boogiemen to seeing we are a people that are united on a common faith in Christ. We are sinners who make grievous mistakes and a people who help countless others around the world. To the Christian readers I recommend this book as a lesson in the secular mindset. It gives you a small glimpse in the mind of many folks in America. Don’t run from these people. Talk to them and see what they are about. They might surprise you. Also, to non-Christians and others of similar stripe please stop and talk to one of us and see what we are about. We might surprise you.
I have an upcoming series of articles on homeschooling coming soon.It will address various reasons to homeschool and Biblical explanations on why this is a good Biblical alternative.I pray they are enjoyed by many.
I wanted to give a shout about another great book for nightly Bible study with the kids. It’s called Get Wisdom by Ruth Younts. My girls and I recently finished the book of Mark on our nightly Bible studies, and I like to try different approaches for nightly devotionals. My wife found the following book on the internet and we have not been disappointed. You have 23 lessons ranging from listening to love. The devotional time includes a craft and/or discussion in addition to scripture for memorization. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes. I love to see the kids excited about our devotional time and wanting to discuss them the following day. To check out the book please click on the link below.
