Spirit Driven or Culture Driven ~ That Is the Question

Spunky referenced Dr. Baucham’s blog post about Eductation: The Lost Key to Discipleship in her blog yesterday. In response to one of the comments she received, I wrote:

There is a huge difference between clearly stating why I choose to homeschool and telling other people that they must homeschool too. In fact one of the very first things Dr. Baucham writes is, “First, I would never suggest that everyone should educate his or her children the same way we educate ours.”

As a mom raising a daughter with a developmental disability, one of things that I must embrace is that the Bible is not a set of stereo instructions. With all my human heart, I would love to open my Bible to the section on disabilities and read chapter 5, verse 12 and get a clear, black-and-white “word from God” concerning the decisions I have to make. To youth group or not to youth group, to government school or home school, to use a mood stabilizer or not to medicate… all those tough questions. I lack the wisdom needed to answer any of them.

If the Bible were written to give such clear directions, I would never approach God in prayer. I would never look to mature Godly men and women to uphold me, come along side of me and mentor me. I would just follow the directions. Instead, I must use prayer, Bible study and fellowship to negotiate life.

I am called to be a good steward. I must look at our financial resources, the needs, gifts and resources of my child, and my personal gifts and desires. After prayerfully considering all these things, I make my decision. God sovereignly placed my daughter in my home. He gave me a unique mix of gifts and passions that strongly influenced my decision to homeschool. My child has flourished at home. We have enjoyed and needed the freedom in our schedule this year.

I do understand that there exist many Christian parents who, having read the Great Commission and evaluating their child(ren), found them passionate about God, willing to stand against the crowd and feel Spirit-led to send their children to a government school. I know that there are people who don’t feel that they are gifted or called to educate their children in their own home. And… I have spoken to moms that want to bring their kids home with all their heart and have not done so because their husband doesn’t agree with homeschooling. I also know that there are many, many more Christian parents who have never spent a moment of time thinking about whether or not a government school is the right place for their child. The only parents I would ever take issue with is this last group. Our children are simply too precious and their education is too important not to carefully and prayerfully make this decision.

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 (NAS)

Related Posts: Education and the Great Commission