Many years ago, my wife Anna and I made a commitment to train up our children for the Lord with a strong biblical Christian worldview. Because Christian schools weren’t readily available in the Las Vegas area, we opted to educate our children at home using the A Beka homeschooling curriculum. I myself grew up going to public school, so when I first saw the high quality Christian curriculum, along with the solid biblical foundation my children were receiving at home, I was thoroughly amazed and encouraged. After Pastoring for thirty-eight years, I still have a strong conviction about training our young folks from a Christian perspective. I pray this post will be an encouragement to you.
1. God’s Word shows us He desires for His children to grow academically, spiritually, and socially.
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.—Psalm 1:1–6
Just taking a quick glance at what goes on in most public schools today is enough for me to know that the agenda and philosophy in public education is opposite to a biblical perspective. If we want our children to be blessed, we should take heed to the instruction in this very first Psalm.
Why would I willingly place my child where they would spend six hours a day walking in the counsel of the ungodly, standing in the way of sinners, or sitting in the seat of the scornful? I want my children delighting in the law of the Lord, and meditating on it day and night. Below are some quick observations that I have made concerning public schools today:
- Most public school policies are ungodly
- Most public school teachers are not born-gain believers, therefore they are ungodly
- Most public school kids are unsaved, therefore they are ungodly
- When I attended public school, I learned how to use foul-language
- When I attended public school, I learned to criticize my authority
- When I attended public school, I learned to lust after women
- When I attended public school, I learned how to fight
- When I attended public school, I learned that drinking alcohol was acceptable
This is what I learned from public school over forty years ago, back in the good ole days! Now, since I don’t want to give an unfair assessment of schools today, I did some research concerning the Nevada education system. Since I grew up here in Las Vegas, I was curious to see if things had gotten better. Here is what I found:
- Nevada public schools are rated 50th academically in the nation, meaning that a child growing up in Nevada public schools has the lowest chance for academic success in the country.
- Nevada earned a “D” on state report cards (2012).
- Chances for student success were rated at a “D”
- K-12 achievement: “D”
- School finances: “D”
- 40% of Nevada high school seniors did not graduate on time in 2012. That is the highest failure rate in the country and double the national average.
- The Clark County Public School District has its own police department
- In 2012, they had 2,018 arrests
- They had 80,000 service calls
- They had 1,212 major crimes which included murder, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, larceny, and arson.
2. God’s Word is clear that parents are responsible for what their children learn.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.—Deuteronomy 6:4–7
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.—Proverbs 22:6
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.—Ephesians 6:4
3. God’s Word is clear that the church is to disciple believers.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.—Matthew 28:19–20
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.—2 Timothy 2:2
When our church started Liberty Baptist Academy we wanted our purpose to be clear:
Our Mission Statement: The mission of Liberty Baptist Academy is to equip leaders, train believers, and produce achievers for the cause of Jesus Christ.
Our Motto: Our students believe in being…
- Leaders—In our community and in our school
- Believers—In the Lord Jesus Christ and in our service to God and others
- Achievers—In academics and in Christ’s character
Our School Verse: “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.”—2 Corinthians 5:20
Because of this we reinforce the theme of discipleship in the following school programs and activities:
- Daily Bible classes that reinforce timeless truths
- Weekly chapel messages with relevant topics to help model and shape our student’s
- Bible integration in every subject using a Christian curriculum
- Student driven service opportunities with our National Honor Society
- Diligence and discipline training with homework and dress
- Faithful church attendance
- Special prayer meetings and prayer in class
- Yearly biblical themes
- A solid Christian staff that cares for the needs of student’s and trains them by their own examples
- An athletics program that reinforces Christian character and is taught by dedicated, Christian coaches
4. God’s Word is clear we are to allow children to come to Him and not offend them
And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.—Mark 10:13–14
At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.—Matthew 18:1–6
