City on a Hill

“Little town up ahead – ‘bout a mile,” he offered. “We’re in need of some more supplies.”Arianna’s eye’s widened, “Have you been … way up here… before?” she asked incredulously?

“No,” he answered with a shake of his head.

“Then how…?” she began but didn’t finish.

He smiled then, a lazy, easy smile. He nodded his head toward the north. “It’s stickin’ out – plain as day – on that hillside.”

(Janette Oke, A Gown of Spanish Lace)

I know that the public declaration for home schooling moms is supposed to be, “Twaddle me not!” But there are times in life when a little brain candy is appropriate. Recently, I had a whole day to waste. Yes, waste! My van needed new brakes, shocks and struts. My husband was traveling. I dropped the van off at the dealer and wandered around my town for the day while the repairs were being made.

I had a plan. I had brought a list of books that I wanted to read. I made my way to the library first. A quick check of the library’s computer showed me that the library only owned one of the books I had hoped to read and it was checked out. I made my way to the used bookstore and, again, I scored zero. So, I bought a Janette Oke book instead. I was still in high school when my Mom bought a copy of Love Comes Softly. I have fond memories of reading the entire series.

When I became hungry, I made my way to the air-conditioned mall to eat lunch. I couldn’t bring myself to leave the comfort of the cool air, but I hate shopping. I spent the next couple of hours sitting on a padded bench reading. I am so glad Marissa wasn’t with me. I would have embarrassed her to death!

Over the past couple of weeks I have thought about a city on a hill many times. Even when I was first reading it, this blurb brought to mind the following verses from Matthew:

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. ‘You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.’ ” (Chapter 5, verses 13-15, NAS)

When I first started blogging and communicating with other people on-line about home schooling, the most common argument I heard by Christians against home schooling was that if all Christians home educated their children, the government schools would be stripped of the Christian influence. There would be no salt and light. First, I cannot tell you how irrational this sounds to me. I don’t foresee a time when every Christian pulls their child(ren) out of the government school system. The argument is not based on logic; it is based on raw emotion.

Whenever we are passionate about anything, when someone disagrees with our viewpoint or decision, it feels like a personal attack. For the most part, we are all passionate about our parenting choices. I remember being in a discussion where people on both sides of the home schooling fence presented their ideas as if they were direct revelation from God: the one right way. Many home schooling parents have a conviction that home schooling is the only way to fulfill the commandment in Deuteronomy 6:7 to teach their children diligently. I read comments by parents whose children attended government schools that implied that parents who home school are disobeying God’s command to be salt and light. I even read one comment that said that home schooling proved that the home schooling parent lacked faith in God and parented out of fear. As I considered the quote from Janette Oke’s book, I began to create a mind picture of a city set on a hill.

What does the city look like? It is separate and unique from the surrounding environment. A candle or a light in a dark room is the same. My mental journey took me further. Why do people place cities on hills? This strategic location protects the city by allowing the inhabitants to see what is approaching. I also pondered the fact that a city on a hill attracts travelers. It is inviting. It is a place your physical needs can be met. I am not sure that this is true of the Church today.

The Old Testament tells the story of a nation that had a separate religion and culture from the surrounding nations. They were a divine, special and holy nation. The Bible over and over has physical pictures meant to portray the spiritual truth against mixing. There is a Biblical prohibition against interbreeding animals, mixing seeds and wearing garments that contain wool and linen (Leviticus 19:19). More familiar, there is a command against being unequally yoked (2 Corinthians 6:14).

Has God changed? Instead of boundaries does he now require assimilation? Does not the same Bible that encourages me to be salt and light also teach that Jesus came to divide (Matthew 10:34)?

I do not think I have proven (nor was it my intention) that any Christian who sends his or her child to government school is being disobedient to God. But, I have become convinced that the salt and light argument is an invalid foundation for me to decide to send my children to a government school.

I have not finished my thinking through these three verses in Matthew. My mind keeps wandering back over and over to contemplate salt, hillside cities and light. I will perhaps write more when I have thoughts that I can put in some logical sequence that my readers can understand.