I have to confess that homeschooling for the purpose of discipleship is something I copied or imitated from other Christian parents who educate/d their children at home.
Honestly, I didn’t know before that such a “why” exists. I was attracted purely to the academic benefits of homeschooling when I first discovered it, that to learn more effectively and efficiently was my first and foremost reason for wanting to do the same.
But as I learned more about homeschooling, I came across a lot of Christian families who homeschooled or are homeschooling primarily to raise their children in the knowledge and instruction of the Lord. And I find it something worth emulating. It felt like hitting two birds with one stone (academics + discipleship).
Homeschooling then became even more attractive and appealing. It grew on me. And since then, (you can call me “a second-rate, trying hard copycat”), but I have adopted it (discipleship) to also be my main “why” for homeschooling my kids. (But I have a whole lot of other reasons for homeschooling as well).
But even so, I’d like to believe that in His sovereignty, God led us to this wonderful world of homeschooling. That it is not an accident I just happen to stumble upon. That it is His will and plan for our family (as long as He allows it to).
So why homeschool?
Here I offer biblical insights which I believe support decisions to homeschool…
Because education is discipleship
A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.
Luke 6:40
A disciple is a pupil or a learner or a follower.
And discipleship is the process of being trained to learn (e.g., acquire knowledge) and follow a way of life.
Education, then, is discipleship.
Because it is through education that a child is taught to learn and it is through education that a child is inculcated with values and morals that would eventually define his/her behavior and character.
That is why parents aspire to send their kids to the best and most reputable schools, because they believe that their kids’ educational experience will enable them to become the best persons they can be. Isn’t it?
Such aspirations reflect our faith in education, in and of itself, and, accordingly, in teachers.
Unconsciously, even if we do not admit it, we acknowledge and believe that who teaches our kids (or where our kids go to school) matter, because we know full well that our kids’ teachers (or their educational environment) would shape the hearts and minds of our children.
And it’s true. I couldn’t agree more with it.
And the Bible says it so as well.
In fact, the Bible paints a picture of what education, what years of training, would result to: a graduate will be like his/her teacher.
It is how discipleship works. And it is how education works.
In a sense, every child, regardless of the form of education taking place in his/her life, is being discipled, even so-called unschoolers. The question is who would we want to disciple our kids and who would we want our kids to be like.
Because Christians are commanded not to conform to the world
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…
Romans 12:2
In my opinion, “…will be like his teacher” pretty much looks and sounds like conformity. Doesn’t it?
Christians, however, should not conform to the world.
Instead, we are called to be different, to stand out, by intentionally shifting our mindsets.
Since education is the primary agent that shapes the hearts and minds of children, education should therefore take on a whole new meaning for Christians.
In my humble opinion, education is one area in life where most people unconsciously “go with the flow” because it is a way of life and is therefore accepted and practiced in and by society naturally, pretty much like marriage. And it is easy to fall into the “trap” because there is nothing sinister or evil about it. So we never question or challenge it.
So when I say that education should take on a whole new meaning (e.g., have a different perspective) for Christians, it means we should not simply send our kids to school just because it is a part of life or because it is what is expected of us (parents) to do, but to educate our kids with a purpose.
Because according to John Taylor Gatto, mass educational systems were actually and originally developed to train people to conform. He has several books and essays (like this and this, among others. You can, of course, google more) where he said that schools are social engineered managements systems developed to produce subservient people that can be predicted and controlled by the ruling class so they (the ruling class) can maintain to dominate society.
Don’t attack me. I didn’t make that up.
Who is John Taylor Gatto? He was an American public school teacher for almost 30 years. Though he specifically refered to US public schools in his criticisms of mass educational systems, I think in most schools around the world, his opinions generally hold true. (Because if you try to look at the world, it is run by capitalists).
(I think it was also Gatto who said that mass educational systems were intended to destroy families by taking away children from their parents. But I cannot find the link for it right now).
I also once listened to a sermon by Pastor Voddie Baucham where he said that there is no exercise in a child’s life that is more conforming than education. And this is by virtue of the sheer number of instructional hours children spend away from their parents.
Come to think of it. If education is not discipleship, what is it then?
If there is nothing more conforming in a child’s life than education, then we should educate with the purpose of biblical discipleship and take advantage of the impressionable minds of children to “brainwash” them with God’s truth to conform them to Christ.
I don’t think mass educational systems are bad in itself (if a time comes when I need to send my children to school, I would do so).
But with the one-size-fits-all approach it employs to each and every child, there is a certain kind of conformity that inevitably happens. That is why schools have actually been compared to factory assembly lines that manufacture graduates conformed to the same cookie-cutter mold.
Because discipleship is the duty and responsibility of parents…
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children…
Deuteronomy 6:4-7
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:4
Parents primarily and inherently bear the responsibility of raising their children in the knowledge of the Lord.
Discipleship is not the duty of the Church, or a pastor, or a school.
They may complement or supplement but the task cannot be outsourced, delegated, or handed-over to someone else.
Because parents are qualified for the task
Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
2 Corinthians 3:4-6
I’m weak, I’m imperfect. I make mistakes, I sin.
But when God deputized parents with the authority and duty of discipling children, He qualified them for the task.
Not out of our own merits but simply because He called us.
We can never be worthy, but we are sufficient because God fills our weaknesses and fills our insufficiencies.
Isn’t it such a redeeming grace?
I, therefore, believe that parents are the most qualified and capable persons for discipling and educating children.
Because discipleship is a round-the-clock job and a lifestyle
…You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Deuteronomy 6:7
…his delight is in the law of the Lord,
Psalm 1:2
and on his law he meditates day and night.
Teaching kids about God and His Word is not to be relegated to after-school or non-school hours or during the weekends, but should encompass every breathing moment of a child’s life.
Discipleship should be intricately woven to the very fabric of a family’s life, a lifestyle, if you will. Every walking, sleeping, waking moment, seemingly mundane moments, could and should be teaching moments to raise children in the knowledge, discipline, and instruction of the Lord.
A child spends approximately 14,000 hours from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Imagine the opportunity for discipleship if we, parents, could redeem and reclaim those hours back.
Because children do not belong to an institution
…“Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” They brought the coin, and He asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”
Mark 12:15-17 (NIV)
I mentioned Pastor Voddie Baucham a while ago. He is a black American pastor who’s a staunch advocate for homeschooling and who is adamantly against American public schools. (And who also have strong critics for his extreme stands on certain issues).
In the same sermon I mentioned above, he gave a very poignant illustration which I believe can be a source of wisdom for us, parents, when thinking of the education of our children.
Though the context of his illustration is the USA because, according to Pastor Voddie, US public schools are anti-God by federal mandate, I believe we can still apply the principle in making educational decisions for our children.
So in his sermon, Ptr. Voddie referenced the gospel story when the Pharisees and Herodians wanted to test and trap Jesus by asking if it was right for them to pay taxes to Caesar.
In response, Jesus asked them to bring them a coin and asked whose image was on it. The Pharisees replied that it was Caesar’s.
Then Jesus told them to render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.
What has the story got to do with homeschooling?
Pastor Voddie said, “Bring me a child.” Then asked, “Whose image is on the child?”
If we know the answer, then we know to whom should we render our children.
I then remembered an incident when I was scolded by a person for not sending my child to school at five years of age. As in pinagalitan talaga ako. She was very fierce in telling me my child should be in school. And she really emphasized “should”.
Sorry, but my children do not belong to an institution.
My children do not belong to Caesar.
Because all knowledge comes from God. Therefore, an education from a biblical worldview is imperative
…Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 2:2b-3
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight
Proverbs 9:10
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…
2 Corinthians 10:5
Education is the most significant factor that shapes our worldview.
But what does educating with a biblical worldview mean?
It means acknowledging the Bible as the standard and authority for truth, and viewing the world from its lens.
Sin blurs and distorts our vision of the world. Similar to using eyeglasses, a biblical worldview corrects our vision allowing us to see and understand the world more clearly, as God designed it to be.
But why is worldview important?
Because our worldview affects how we understand things which then directs our actions.
It also helps us find meaning and purpose in our life.
God is the creator of the universe and all knowledge comes from Him. If we follow this premise, then secular or academic knowledge, therefore, cease to be secular but become sacred.
As such, all our thoughts, including our thoughts about Math, Science, History, etc., should be taken captive to obey Christ.
Why and how then should we view the things we study in school?
Math and Science, for example, reveal God’s truth of order and structure.*
History, on the other hand, reveals God’s providence over time, who He is, and how He dealt with people in the past.*
The Arts reveal that God is a God of beauty and pleasure and delight.*
In all areas of study, we can learn God’s revelation.
And we teach our kids literacy not so that they could snag the best job in the future but because God communicates through language and we want our kids to learn to read God’s Word and communicate the gospel.*
(*from Pastor Voddie’s sermon).
Educating with a biblical worldview simply means not compartmentalizing the academic life from the so-called spiritual life of a child. Because as we can see, God can be found in everything, in anything, in any area of study. Every piece of knowledge points us back to God.
Homeschooling offers an opportunity so we can make the most of our time and capacity to shape our children’s worldview and point them back to God.
Because homeschooling does not mean sheltering kids, but rather preparing them for the world
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12
A lot of Christians argue against homeschooling because they say that sending their kids to school is an opportunity to be “salt and light” to other kids.
That is definitely a very noble and righteous motive. And there is nothing wrong with that.
However, I would like to argue that you do not, ever, send a newly minted soldier into the battle field.
Missionaries must be trained before being sent out.
Especially if we realize that the mission field is a very dark spiritual place.
And that is what we are trying to accomplish in educating our children. We want to train them how to put on and use the whole army of God so when we release them into the battle field, they would be able to “stand firm” (Ephesians 6:13), not bullied and defeated because they are still very vulnerable and defenseless.
While still very impressionable, Pastor Voddie says our kids are not (yet) supposed to be missionaries, rather, they are the mission field.
But, homeschooling does not make kids Christians
I know that homeschooling is not a guarantee that my kids will be saved or that they would come to have a saving, personal relationship with Christ.
I wish it would.
But I know full well that it does not necessarily work that way. Homeschooling do not automatically make kids Christians.
Only God can. Only God can make my kids realize their sinfulness and helplessness. Only God can move my kids to repentance, and only God can make them believe and make them place their faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross.
But I can share the gospel to them. And I can be faithful in my duty and calling to disciple my kids. I can homeschool my kids.