Should Christians Home School Their Children

Should Christians Home-school Their Children? Question: "Should Christians homeschool their children?" Answer: The question of whether Christians should home school their children is one that many families wrestle with. The Bible tells us that children are a gift from the Lord, specially created for His pleasure and divine purpose (Psalm 127:3-5, 139:13-16). God has entrusted us with our children for a very short time, during which parents have the responsibility of training, instructing, nurturing, and disciplining them, as well as overseeing their education. Ephesians 6:4 says, "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." It is imperative that Christian parents teach their children the Word of God from a young age, showing them how to incorporate it into their daily lives, trusting continually in God. "16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Spiritual training is even more important than academic training, and it doesn't happen by accident; it must be purposeful and habitual. There are many excellent reasons to decide to educate your children at home, as an alternative to public schooling. The freedom that parents have in choosing home school curricula allows for the subjects to be taught through a biblical worldview rather than a secular one. Instead of being taught the theory of evolution, for example, children can learn how God created the heavens and the earth. In biblical times, children were primarily educated and socialized by their families and simply by living and working in society. Instead of being put in age-segregated classrooms for the majority of the day, they learned to communicate with adults and children of all ages. They were taught to respect and obey their parents (Ephesians 6:1). In the same way, home-schooled children who are not around their peers who model disrespect for adults and younger children, learn to socialize and get along with multiple age groups, including adults. Family bonds are strengthened instead of weakened. Public schools are spiritual battlegrounds for our children. They are inundated with anti-Christian doctrine, relative morality, and secular humanistic theories. The Bible says, "Do not be deceived: 'Bad company corrupts good morals'" (1 Corinthians 15:33, NAS). Children tend to adopt the values of those with whom they spend the most time. In school, they are daily exposed to the value systems of non-Christian students, teachers, and faculty. They may be told that homosexuality is simply an "alternative lifestyle," that abortion is acceptable, and sex before marriage is normal, and even healthy. Academically, studies have shown that children fare better at home than they do at school. Even the best public school teachers do not have the ability to spend quality one-

on-one time teaching each student. And although there are some poor educators out there, I believe the majority of teachers are hard-working and dedicated, and have the best interests of their students at heart. But nothing can compare to the love and investment that parents can provide their children. There are very few things we can do in this world that will be more important than praying for our children and raising them to have hearts that love and desire to serve God. Parents should not opt out of home-schooling because they do not want to sacrifice their time or put in the effort it takes to successfully teach their children. Ultimately, parents are going to have to answer to God for how they raise and educate their children. Homeschooling may not be His answer for every family, and we should not impose one "right" way to educate on all of Christendom. Every family needs to prayerfully consider whether or not home-schooling—or Christian schooling—is right for them through their own personal relationship with God.