April comments on What About Socialization:
I have never read your blog before, but stumbled upon it today. I enjoyed and agreed with a lot of what you had to say, but I was troubled by your comment about sending your son to school with all the heathens. My husband and I have looked into the possibility of homeschooling once we have children, for various reasons. So I have no problem with homeschooling. Where we need to be careful is in our attitude toward it. Are we keeping our children home so that we can train them up in the way they should go, or to keep them away from the heathens? While I don't agree with some who would say that you have to send your child to public school so that they can be missionaries to the other students, I do agree with the life of Jesus. It was the religious teachers that he rebuked, and it was the sinners that he loved and reached out to. He did not condone their sin, and he did not join them in it. But he did not take the disciples and camp out in a cave to hide them from the sinners. He sent them into the world, to be a light, and to proclaim the gospel, and to make more disciples. Remember, the heathens are not our enemy. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12
I hope I have not offended anyone in a personal way--my intent is to speak the truth in love.
My heart breaks for you and your son as he struggles with his faith. I have been in his shoes, and they are very uncomfortable. I will pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to pursue him as He did me.
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April, Thank you for leaving a comment!
We chose to homeschool our children because it was/is OUR duty. We have never camped out away from the ones in need. We have been relief parents for a children's home, we have had exchange students in our home, we have been part of many outreach programs and we even have lost family members we spend time with.
By no means do I think we should hide our candle under a bushel. If you are a Christian you will want to engage your culture, you want everyone to have the peace and joy you have, you want them to know Jesus!!! BUT you do not want to be part of the culture, such as handing your athority and responsibility concerning your children over to an atheistic system with books and activities that are anti-God. There is a difference between ministering to the needy and conforming to their ways. And if you want to make a passing grade in a government class room, you better be ready to conform and answer the questions the way they want, not what is necessarily truth.
Wow...I know I am off on a rant here, but I want you to understand that I do not hold ill feelings towards government schooled kids...NOT AT ALL! I do hold disgust for the system.
I so appreciate your gentle and KIND spirit in your writing. It is obvious that your faith is real. Please feel free to comment anytime. I enjoy your perspective!
btw...I do see that God is moving in my son. God is faithful! Thank you!
2 comments:
Thank you for your gentle and kind answer as well!
I will admit it's a bit of a soft spot with me. The pastor at the church I grew up in discouraged his homeschooled daughter to be friends with me, because I was in public school and was therefore a bad influence.
I totally agree with your reasons for choosing to homeschool your children, and I agree that the socialization argument is absolute phooey. Two young men I know come to mind who were home schooled growing up, and were therefore equipped to go out into the world (to a secular college, to be exact), and not fall into all the temptation. They had no problem socializing in college, because they already knew who they were in Christ.
I do apologize that I seem to have mis-read your comment. The sort of attitude I referred to seems to be prevalent within several (but certainly not all) of the homeschoolers I've encountered online, and I misjudged your intentions.
Praise God for the work He is doing in your son's life!
Thank you April. I know exactly what you are talking about. Many people do have an isolationist attitude, and that is not Godly. I have encountered alot of self-righteousness myself within the homeschool circle, and sadly, I have fallen into that ditch in the past. I think maybe some of it comes out of fear. Most people that homeschool are first generation homeschoolers so they are striving to do things 'right'. And most are first generation Christians which really adds to the confusion of 'doing it right'. :o)
I also know God has a way of washing that pride out of us when we truly want to be molded into His image. Slowly He teaches us that our good works (even homeschooling) are as filthy rags, and that it is HIS GRACE alone that saves, HIS GRACE alone that there is any light in our lives.
Just for the record, there are many homeschoolers that I do not want my children yoking together with. It is about the person, the heart. The Lord commands us not to walk in the way of the foolish. Proverbs is packed full of warnings about hanging out with the foolish. The difference between a foolish person and a wise person is God's grace shown in their hearts. And to be completely honest, right now we do not let our daughters go anywhere with our son because of his foolish actions. But I know is faithful, HE will have his way. :o)
I was just sitting here thinking how much better off your children will be because you are already this wise so early in your life. God is good!
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