Educating our three children at home has been a great blessing for the past six-or-so years. I cannot even begin to think of all the privileges and thrills it has brought to our lives. However, if I had to choose the #1 blessing of homeschooling, it would be this: knowing that our children are receiving an integrated education that has Jesus Christ at the very center.Different families break down the homeschooling responsibilities in different ways. I admit that my wife does most of the homeschooling for our family. My primary duty and privilege is leading our family in worship. This usually involves bible study, prayer, hymn singing, and catechism memorization. This is probably the high point of my day. Seeing my kids grow closer to God while learning more about who he is is absolutely amazing.
One great benefit for our children is the integration of their studies around Jesus Christ. In other words, as they are learning about math, they see that it is God who created math to be the way it is. As they study literature, they see what great gifts God has given to us to be able to read and write prose and poetry. As they study science, God's hand in creation becomes more apparent to them. As they look at world history, they can see God's providential care over his people and world. I could go on.
The point is that not only are our children receiving a Christian education, but they also are seeing how Christ relates to all of their academic subjects. He is quite purposely the absolute center of what they are learning. We base this intentional focus upon God on this and this.
When our kids finish school at home and go on to college, they will know what they believe. They will not be confused by a secular education that conflicts with what they are taught in church. Their worldview will be secure.
Of course, all this rests in the sovereignty and providence of God. We thank Him for His grace and mercy in making up for where we fail as homeschooling parents.
4 comments:
That really gets at the heart of it. The biggest advantage of homeschool over public school is the centrality of Jesus Christ in education, in contrast to the hostility toward Christ and His gospel in public schools. Too many children in Christian families are taught that there is a alcear diide between the world of education and the world of religion.
Arthur,
I agree completely. It is of great concern to me that so many Christian children grow up with secular-humanistic worldviews. A few hours in church each week cannot combat the 35 or so hours of atheistic indoctrination they receive at public school.
Eric,
This is great, and I agree. This is also what we strive to accomplish in Classical Christian Education at Effingham Christian School -- we show parents an illustration that is a wheel with Christ as the center and every spoke coming out of that center is another subject. They all come from Christ, and they are all connected in some way to make a complete, working wheel. This is where other "Christian schools" fail -- they usually have Bible class a few times a week and chapel once per week, but drawing out the spiritual implications and including the great realities of Christ in every subject and every situation is key. That's the goal of many homeschool families that I know, as well as the goal of classical Christian education. Good stuff!
Nick,
I think it is clear that the method of education Christians use (homeschooling or private, Christian schooling) is secondary in importance to the focus we have. Christ must be the center of all we do. If we begin at the right place, we have a much better chance of educating children to be strong followers of Jesus.
Thanks for the kind words!
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