Posts
It’s been a couple of weeks, but it is still hard for me to believe, my oldest child started school this year. I know every parent says it, but it seems like just yesterday I was in the delivery room hearing my daughter cry for the first time. Now, she is ready to embark on her educational pursuit that will dominate and direct a good part of the rest of her life.
My wife and I take this very seriously, and spent a long time carefully weighing the different education options available to us: Public School, Private School, and Homeschool. Each option has it own set of advantages and struggles. It became apparent to us that whatever route we chose, as parents it is our responsibility to be deeply involved in the education of our children. After all, they are ours, not someone else's.
This responsibility does not lie solely in “secular” subjects but includes the “spiritual” also. God never gave the church the primary responsibility to rear or instruct our children. Instead He gave it to us, as parents.
Deuteronomy 6:6-9 says, “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
God’s design for family is rather simple. As parents we are given the responsibility to teach (or disciple) our children in God’s Word. In Deuteronomy 6:1-5, God instructs parents (and grandparents) to hear, to heed, and to teach God’s Word in our homes, giving our children an example to follow. However, the goal is more than teaching, more than passing on facts about God and the Bible, and more than blind obedience or head knowledge. Our goal is to pass on our faith and love for Christ.
God tells us to impress His Word on our children. Which means to “Teach them diligently.” The idea is similar to the sharpening of blade on a stone; indicating a close and sometimes hard task. This is done through accurately teaching the Bible, sharpening our kids’ faith on the honing stone of God’s Word.
Deuteronomy says that this should be an integrated part of life. We are told to talk, or have conversations about God and His Word throughout our life. Day by day, moment by moment talking and teaching our children what the Bible says and how it applies to life. We are to look for the teachable moments and seize every opportunity where spiritual lessons can be taught.
It is also important to keep reminders of God and His Word visible. We may no longer tie Frontlets or Phylacteries around our head, or carve Scripture verses on our door; but our Faith and the Bible should be visible in our home and lives; visible to our family, and to all guests who may enter.
Yes, the church has an important role in coming alongside families, helping and equipping them to instill God’s Word in their families. But the work starts, and ends at Home. As you bring your children (or grandchildren) back to Sunday School this year, don’t let that be the only instruction they get…. For everyone should be “home-schooled” in God's Word!
Labels: Bible, Children, Deuteronomy 6:1-9, Devotions, Education, Faith, Family, Frontlets, God, Grandparents, Home, Homeschool, Jesus, Kids, Life, Phylacteries, Private School, Public School, School, Sunday School
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments:
Post a Comment