It's that time of year. Time to make plans for the current school year, what to study and what not to study.
It is a daunting thing to be a homeschool mom. After all, the education of my child is on my (and my husband's) shoulders. What if we do it wrong? What if we don't teach them something they need to know?!? (Some might feel this way, actually we don't, keep reading....)
Well Educated. What parent doesn't want their child to be Well Educated? Of course we do. But what defines Well Educated?
I guess that depends on your worldview. What are your beliefs as a parent based on? What kind of person are you seeking to be and therefore what kind of person do you want your child to be?
The pressure to
be like the world and to
think like the world is very strong. It (thinking like the world) is probably the way we were raised especially if we attended public school (or even Christian school).
There are basically two worldviews:
1. Man-centered
2. God-centered
Our current culture is based on the man-centered worldview. It is basically Greek in nature. Man's thinking and logic are the ultimate goal and authority. Man's wisdom is sought out and made the standard for living. The classics like Plato, Socrates, Homer, Aristotle and Shakespeare are studied and glorified. They become the center of our educational choices. You might be considered not Well Educated if you don't study these teachings.
As a Christian should I have a
God-centered worldview or a
man-centered worldview? Is the Bible, God's Word, my guide and my authority? Am I seeking to make God's thinking my thinking, and God's ways, my ways? Do I desire to become more like God daily in my beliefs and how I live my life?
The God-centered worldview does just that. It places the Bible as the authority and guide for life. The ways of God are sought after and taught to the children. It may mean not being like the world, but choosing to be like Christ in all things. So as parents, if we have been educated in a traditional school setting, we must be very careful to weigh our every action against the truth of the Bible to see if it is a Biblical way or a man-centered way.
In 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 it says,"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
That no flesh should glory in his presence.
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."
God calls us to holiness and godliness. Filling our minds and those of our children with humanistic thinking is not beneficial and will not point us to holiness.
Our goal should be as 2 Timothy 2:15, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
And, verse 22, "Flee youthful lusts, but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
And in 2 Timothy 3:15, "And that from a child thou hast know the holy scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."
1 Timothy 4:12, "Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."
I am not suggesting that anyone be ignorant of classics or historical figures. I am saying they should not hold the place of prominence. A general knowledge of these things is sufficient. I am also saying that just because a work is considered a classic does not mean that is should automatically be read or studied. All information should be weighed and carefully selected which means some classics are
not fit to be read!
Our goal, as a family, is to have a Biblical worldview. We seek to be more like Christ daily in word and in deed. We choose our educational materials to reflect that worldview. We teach our children all the educational basics and concentrate on materials that reflect Biblical morals and character. Our goal is not that they "get ahead in life and have jobs that make a lot of money" but that they fulfill the calling of God on their lives, to be all that God intended for them to be.
As my husband said just the other day, "If a man was well versed in all the teachings of men, science, and literature but that man was ignorant of the Bible and the ways of God, that man would not be Well Educated!"
So our definition of Well Educated is knowing the Bible and living it out as a child of God first and foremost. Then the other things of reading well, speaking well, writing well and having knowledge of the subjects of life come second.
Proverbs 1:7, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
These definitions and goals help guide us as we choose what to study and not to study with our children, along with prayer.
Praying for a blessed new school year,
P.S. Please forgive me for capitalizing Well Educated. I am emphasizing the words to make a point.
