Parents cannot be spectators in the lives of their children, but should set rules, establish expectations, enforce limitations, and constantly monitor their teenagers’ digital lives. Anything less is a form of parental negligence.
Dr. Albert Mohler
Originally posted on AlbertMohler.com
December 8, 2010
Sunday’s edition of The New York Timesgave front-page attention to the problem of adolescent bullying on the Internet. There can be no question that the Internet and the explosion of social media have facilitated the arrival of a new and deeply sinister form of bullying, and the consequences for many teenagers are severe. For some, life becomes a horror story of insults, rumors, slanders, and worse.
Meanwhile, many parents are baffled about how to help — if they are not completely out to lunch.
How are you doing? Click here to read the full post on AlbertMohler.com.
Showing posts with label Parental Responsibility. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parental Responsibility. Show all posts
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Why is Christian Education so important?
The Lion's Tale
A Message from the Dean
April 22, 2010 10:46 AM
Why is Christian Education so important? Is church training enough? Can I teach my children the values and morals they need at home? As familes look at all of the education alternatives today, these are questions that arise quite frequently. I have researched all of these questions from a Christian perspective and would like to offer my view.
Sunday School is a great opportunity for children to learn the mind of God on their own age level and to make friends their own age. Sunday Service is a great place to learn the disciplines of the church. Some churches offer other activities such as Children's Church or Youth Group. This is an ideal social setting for most Christian kids and offers Godly instruction on appropriate levels.
Home is one of the best places to teach morals and values. Teaching by example gives a very strong message because young children want to follow in their parents’ footsteps, and family devotion time is a great time to discuss spiritual and moral topics.
So the question remains… Are these times enough to keep children spiritually strong? How many times are we as adults bombarded by secular opinions and pressured to conform? How many days do we go home from the work place spiritually exhausted and cry out to God because we feel weak and alone? If we as adults feel the strain of the constant pressure of society in our spiritual lives, how much do our children, whom God has given to us to protect and nurture, feel as they fight against the currents of society all day, every day?
Is it possible that education can be neutral? No, every idea spurs an action and every action has a consequence. The great reformer Martin Luther penned, "I am afraid that the schools will prove the very gates of hell, unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures and engraving them in the heart of the youth."
Christian education reinforces church and home training and offers families an alternative to secular instruction. As our society’s moral compass continually veers off course, as Christians we must take every opportunity to fill the young minds and hearts of our children with God’s precepts.
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” Colossians 2:8
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Wagging the Dog
Challenging the Backward Thinking of Parental Surrender
By Jonathan Nazigian
The King's Christian School (Cherry Hill, NJ)
There is a reason we don’t let 12 year-olds vote.
There is a reason we don’t let 15 year-olds join the army.
There is a reason we don’t let 13 year-olds drive.
Children are an incredible blessing from God, and we love them, but let’s face it, they are not the pinnacle of sound judgment.Ask any parent who has seen that glazed, deer-in-the-headlights look staring back at them after they’ve asked, “What were you thinking?” and you’ll know. There is a reason God did not say, “Let the child train himself up in the way he thinks he should go…”
Why? Because God, who created and designed us, knows we come into the world under the curse of sin. We are born in ignorance with our hearts bent toward rebellion. We are not, because of our sin nature, naturally prone to seek out God’s best over our own selfish desires. Just like us, adolescents struggle with many things, but the difficulty of their struggle is compounded with a profound lack the maturity and an absence of real-world experience that helps put those struggles into a better perspective. A few things we know . . .
1. Adolescents have little idea who they are (their true identity).
2. Adolescents do not successfully delineate between what they want and what they truly need.
3. Adolescents have lots of energy but are flooded with hormones. Hormones do not make judgment clearer.
4. Adolescents often have dreams not based in reality.
5. Adolescents are perpetually ungrateful and think the grass is so much greener anywhere else but where they are at the time.
And yet, even knowing all of this, many Christian parents will take the one parental decision that will have the greatest bearing on their child’s future—the decision as to who, aside from them, will most shape the worldview of their impressionable, searching, and vulnerable children for 40+ hours every week—and hand that decision over to the child to make.
As someone who has been involved in Christian Education as a student, a teacher, and an administrator for 33 years I have seen what used to be a rare occurrence grow into an astounding trend. Christian parents who leave the ultimate decision for their child’s schooling in the hands of their child.
Some parents do this directly. “Johnny, where do you want to go to school next year?”
Others do it indirectly; they cave in to their child’s constant complaining often directed at “the school” when, ultimately, the school is not the real issue, just the easiest target.
Others, who want to move their children from the public school system into Christian school, take an approach that is sabotaged from the start, “Susie, let’s just try Christian school for a few months, and if you don’t like it, you can go back to public school.”
It seems the tail is wagging the dog.
Where are the Christian parents who will make a decision in the best interest of their children and then fight for it, despite the external pressures and internal doubts that inevitably come? Where are the Christian parents who will stand their ground and fight for their children’s best future, even if it means fighting with their children in the short term?
Where is the Christian parent who will sit down with their child, look them in the eye, and say,..
…To the child who’s being picked on…
“Susie, I love you. And I know you do not like school right now. I know your friends are being mean, but just changing schools will not resolve the real issue. Mean girls are everywhere and you will face unkind people throughout your life. The best place to learn how to deal with them is in a school where the Biblical truths of peacemaking and reconciliation are taught.”
…To the child who has dreams of playing sports at the local public school…
“Tommy, I love you. And I know you want to play football. But much more important in your life is your spiritual and academic future. I cannot sacrifice that for anything. I love you too much to put you under the influence of teachers, coaches, and friends who have other agendas and do not have your best interest in mind. We can explore township football, but when it comes to your schooling, Christian Education is a non-negotiable.”
…To the child doesn’t like the rules…
“Mary, I love you. And I know you would prefer to wear other clothes and that you don’t like some of the rules at school. But your true character and integrity aren’t revealed by how well you obey rules you like. True character is revealed by how you respond to authorities and rules you don’t like. No place is perfect, but your spiritual formation is not something I’m willing to sacrifice to a public school.”
…To the child whose friends are leaving for public school…
“Eddie. I love you. And I know several of your friends might be leaving for public school. But God does not hold me responsible for the choices other parents make. God holds me accountable for you. And I know that Christian school is the best thing for you. And I also know what real faith means. It means that despite how it feels right now, choosing to be obedient and to live God’s way will bring blessing, and that God probably has other and newer school friendships waiting for you.”
In the end, it all comes down to how we view what’s most important in the battle for the hearts and minds of our children.
Some parents view Christian Education like Karate classes or swim lessons—a nice little “extra” in their child’s life, so long as it is affordable and the child enjoys it. But if the finances get tough, or the child begins to complain, Christian school can be replaced with cheaper alternatives. Why pay so much for something my child doesn’t seem to like?
I choose to view Christian Education like food or immunizations. These are necessities to my family. I don’t care how much my children complain about having to eat balanced, healthy meals or the momentary prick of the doctor’s needle; my decision is firm, and it is for their best interest. And I will take a third job, do without vacation, or sell my furniture before I place my child in the furnace of an educational system centered on humanism, relativism, and cultural idolatry. You see, God did not call me to a life of comfort, free from struggle. God called me to train up my children in the most Biblical way possible and to give them every opportunity to turn their hearts toward Him.
I refuse to surrender in this war.
Jonathan Nazigian is Minister of Spiritual Life at The King’s Christian School in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He is the undeserving husband to a beautiful wife and the proud father of three wonderful sons. He may be contacted at jnazigian@tkcs.org.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Jesus - A Central Figure in Our Lives
Today’s Christian Education Commentary
with Harold Naylor
A Christian school is not a guarantee for well-behaved children. Nor does it necessarily solve all of the parenting challenges we face. What it can and does do, however, is welcome, and even invite, the presence of God into our lives and our children’s lives in greater ways.
Choosing a Christian school for your child doesn’t guarantee a “happy ending” to the problems you face. However, it can invite the presence of God into your life and your child’s life to a greater degree, and that is what ultimately changes lives.
As Christian parents, we should whole-heartedly pursue those options in our lives that invite God to become a central figure, rather than trying to keep Him on the outskirts of our lives.
To learn more about Christian schools and Christian schooling - and to find a local Christian school in your area - please visit www.DiscoverChristianSchools.com.
with Harold Naylor
A Christian school is not a guarantee for well-behaved children. Nor does it necessarily solve all of the parenting challenges we face. What it can and does do, however, is welcome, and even invite, the presence of God into our lives and our children’s lives in greater ways.
Choosing a Christian school for your child doesn’t guarantee a “happy ending” to the problems you face. However, it can invite the presence of God into your life and your child’s life to a greater degree, and that is what ultimately changes lives.
As Christian parents, we should whole-heartedly pursue those options in our lives that invite God to become a central figure, rather than trying to keep Him on the outskirts of our lives.
To learn more about Christian schools and Christian schooling - and to find a local Christian school in your area - please visit www.DiscoverChristianSchools.com.
Friday, June 12, 2009
A Failure as a Father - Revisited
This article was originally posted in November 2008 as TV stations were beginning to do the "digital testing" to see if we were ready for the Digital Transition.
Well . . . that transition is now upon us - 12 noon on Friday, June 12. TV stations all over the country will be flipping the switch and the days of analog TV will be just a memory.
In honor of the transition, we have decided to repost the article written by Jonathan Nazigian. This thoughtful article reminds us of what is really important in the lives of our families and children - and it isn't Digital TV.
I am a failure. At least that is what my TV told me. The other night, during the evening news, several of the local TV stations conducted a digital signal test to show viewers if their television was ready for the upcoming switch from analog to digital broadcasting. As my wife and I sat with our two boys, we had fun counting down the seconds until the test would begin (the outcome already known to my wife and I since the TV we were given 9 years ago was definitely not digital-ready). And, lo and behold, when the clock struck zero, the message was clear: we had failed. The boys had even more fun as we flipped through the channels calling out to each other, “We failed!” “We failed, again!” “How about channel 10? Nope! Failed again!”
So yes, I am a failure. I have failed to provide my family with a digital-ready television. Soon, our rabbit ears will be obsolete and our 24” electronic window to the world of broadcast news and entertainment will grow dark. Unless, of course, we convert (but that’s a discussion for another day).
As I was musing on my “failure” as a father, I was actually encouraged that despite my inability to provide some extra “niceties” of modern life, by God’s grace, I have been able to provide not only what the world recognizes as necessities (food, clothing, shelter), but God has also allowed me to provide that which is even more vital to my children—a godly home and Christ-centered schooling.
I was also encouraged to be a part of a Christian school ministry, where other Christian parents and I have partnered together to provide our students with an education that is of the highest caliber—an education where all of God’s truth is taught with excellence for His glory.
And yet, as I continue to watch dozens of Christian schools across the country close their doors for lack of students and for lack of donor support, I have to ask some hard questions of my fellow Christian parents.
How many Christian parents are failing their children on an issue with eternal stakes far greater than digital TV? This Christmas, how many Christian parents will sacrifice to provide their children with new toys, outfits, and electronic gadgets, while failing to provide what their children need most—the one thing God has commanded parents to provide for their children—a knowledge of God, a Biblical worldview?
How many Christian parents who would never, knowingly place their child in physical danger, will more than willingly place their highly impressionable children in spiritual danger every day in a public school system which must, by law, teach moral relativism? How many Christian parents will continue to enroll their intellectually curious children in a public school system which must, by law, artificially remove the truth of God from every academic subject, and which must, by law, remain not neutral (for neutrality when it comes to God is impossible) but anti-God (for acknowledging the creation without acknowledging the Creator is the epitome of idolatry)?
How many Christian parents are giving their children the world to the forfeit of their soul?
A few years ago, my wife and I attended a dinner party at the home of a local couple. The hostess was actually a graduate of the Christian school in which I serve and commented on how impressed she was with the improvements she had seen in the school over the years. She then made the comment I have heard so many times, from so many people. “It’s a shame Christian school tuition is so high. I would love for my kids to go there, but we just can’t afford it.”
I’ll be honest. What I said out loud and what I was really thinking were not the same. What I said was some general, polite comments about scholarships and fundraising and true cost vs. tuition. What I was really thinking was quite different, and perhaps the geniality of the evening was preserved because I didn’t have the boldness to speak it out loud.
As I looked around the very large house, furnished with very nice things, located in a very nice neighborhood, with two very nice cars parked in the very nice, multi-car garage, and some very nice toys filling the very large back yard, I really wanted to say, “Please. Don’t say you can’t afford Christian school. Be honest with yourself. Say you choose not to afford Christian school.”
Too blunt? Maybe. Too insensitive? Probably. And I know, I know, you can’t judge by appearances, etc. etc. But I think there is a core truth to the “I can’t afford Christian school excuse” that many ignore. There are those who value Christian school but genuinely cannot afford it, and there are those who, instead, choose to afford other things they value more.
For example, let’s say an average, middle-class man walks past a Mercedes Benz dealership and says, “Sure, it would be nice to have a Mercedes, but I can’t afford one.” Technically, this is probably not true. He could afford it; he just decides to spend his money elsewhere. For example, he could sell his house and buy the Mercedes. However, most would agree that this would not be a wise decision. It would be a foolish financial move to sell what, for most people, is their largest investment (their home), to buy a car, the value of which depreciates very rapidly.
In the same way, an average, middle-class, Christian family says, “Sure, it would be nice to have our children in Christian school, but we can’t afford it.” As I said earlier, for some, this is indeed true. But technically, for most, this is probably not true. They just decide to spend their money elsewhere. For example, they could move to a smaller home or choose lesser furnishings or drive an older car or vacation in a less expensive place. This brings us to the core question of value. What is the more valuable investment, a home (or furnishings, or car, or vacation, etc.) or the formation and education of one’s children in the best, most biblical way possible?
And the irony is that if even half of those Christian parents who can afford Christian schooling chose to enroll their children, Christian schools would be in such a strong position financially that they would be able to lower tuition for everyone and fully fund scholarship programs for those who truly cannot afford it.
Most parents would sacrifice everything for their children, even their very lives. So why are so many Christian parents not willing to sacrifice financially to provide their children with the best education possible?
I may fail at many things as a father and provider, but may I never disobey God by failing to provide my children with every possible opportunity to be trained up in the way they should go, so when they are old, they will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6).
May I never disobey God by failing to teach my children God’s commands, when I sit at home, when I walk along the road, when I lie down and when I get up (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). And since I cannot be with my children throughout the day, may I never fail to place them under the day-by-day, moment-by-moment teaching and influence of someone who loves God with all of his or her heart and has the freedom to teach my children openly about the Truth.
May I never disobey God by failing to pray for my Christian school, by failing to give to my Christian school, or by failing to lovingly confront my fellow Christian parents in love about their need to do the same.
May I never fail at what matters most.
Well . . . that transition is now upon us - 12 noon on Friday, June 12. TV stations all over the country will be flipping the switch and the days of analog TV will be just a memory.
In honor of the transition, we have decided to repost the article written by Jonathan Nazigian. This thoughtful article reminds us of what is really important in the lives of our families and children - and it isn't Digital TV.
I am a failure. At least that is what my TV told me. The other night, during the evening news, several of the local TV stations conducted a digital signal test to show viewers if their television was ready for the upcoming switch from analog to digital broadcasting. As my wife and I sat with our two boys, we had fun counting down the seconds until the test would begin (the outcome already known to my wife and I since the TV we were given 9 years ago was definitely not digital-ready). And, lo and behold, when the clock struck zero, the message was clear: we had failed. The boys had even more fun as we flipped through the channels calling out to each other, “We failed!” “We failed, again!” “How about channel 10? Nope! Failed again!”
So yes, I am a failure. I have failed to provide my family with a digital-ready television. Soon, our rabbit ears will be obsolete and our 24” electronic window to the world of broadcast news and entertainment will grow dark. Unless, of course, we convert (but that’s a discussion for another day).
As I was musing on my “failure” as a father, I was actually encouraged that despite my inability to provide some extra “niceties” of modern life, by God’s grace, I have been able to provide not only what the world recognizes as necessities (food, clothing, shelter), but God has also allowed me to provide that which is even more vital to my children—a godly home and Christ-centered schooling.
I was also encouraged to be a part of a Christian school ministry, where other Christian parents and I have partnered together to provide our students with an education that is of the highest caliber—an education where all of God’s truth is taught with excellence for His glory.
And yet, as I continue to watch dozens of Christian schools across the country close their doors for lack of students and for lack of donor support, I have to ask some hard questions of my fellow Christian parents.
How many Christian parents are failing their children on an issue with eternal stakes far greater than digital TV? This Christmas, how many Christian parents will sacrifice to provide their children with new toys, outfits, and electronic gadgets, while failing to provide what their children need most—the one thing God has commanded parents to provide for their children—a knowledge of God, a Biblical worldview?
How many Christian parents who would never, knowingly place their child in physical danger, will more than willingly place their highly impressionable children in spiritual danger every day in a public school system which must, by law, teach moral relativism? How many Christian parents will continue to enroll their intellectually curious children in a public school system which must, by law, artificially remove the truth of God from every academic subject, and which must, by law, remain not neutral (for neutrality when it comes to God is impossible) but anti-God (for acknowledging the creation without acknowledging the Creator is the epitome of idolatry)?
How many Christian parents are giving their children the world to the forfeit of their soul?
A few years ago, my wife and I attended a dinner party at the home of a local couple. The hostess was actually a graduate of the Christian school in which I serve and commented on how impressed she was with the improvements she had seen in the school over the years. She then made the comment I have heard so many times, from so many people. “It’s a shame Christian school tuition is so high. I would love for my kids to go there, but we just can’t afford it.”
I’ll be honest. What I said out loud and what I was really thinking were not the same. What I said was some general, polite comments about scholarships and fundraising and true cost vs. tuition. What I was really thinking was quite different, and perhaps the geniality of the evening was preserved because I didn’t have the boldness to speak it out loud.
As I looked around the very large house, furnished with very nice things, located in a very nice neighborhood, with two very nice cars parked in the very nice, multi-car garage, and some very nice toys filling the very large back yard, I really wanted to say, “Please. Don’t say you can’t afford Christian school. Be honest with yourself. Say you choose not to afford Christian school.”
Too blunt? Maybe. Too insensitive? Probably. And I know, I know, you can’t judge by appearances, etc. etc. But I think there is a core truth to the “I can’t afford Christian school excuse” that many ignore. There are those who value Christian school but genuinely cannot afford it, and there are those who, instead, choose to afford other things they value more.
For example, let’s say an average, middle-class man walks past a Mercedes Benz dealership and says, “Sure, it would be nice to have a Mercedes, but I can’t afford one.” Technically, this is probably not true. He could afford it; he just decides to spend his money elsewhere. For example, he could sell his house and buy the Mercedes. However, most would agree that this would not be a wise decision. It would be a foolish financial move to sell what, for most people, is their largest investment (their home), to buy a car, the value of which depreciates very rapidly.
In the same way, an average, middle-class, Christian family says, “Sure, it would be nice to have our children in Christian school, but we can’t afford it.” As I said earlier, for some, this is indeed true. But technically, for most, this is probably not true. They just decide to spend their money elsewhere. For example, they could move to a smaller home or choose lesser furnishings or drive an older car or vacation in a less expensive place. This brings us to the core question of value. What is the more valuable investment, a home (or furnishings, or car, or vacation, etc.) or the formation and education of one’s children in the best, most biblical way possible?
And the irony is that if even half of those Christian parents who can afford Christian schooling chose to enroll their children, Christian schools would be in such a strong position financially that they would be able to lower tuition for everyone and fully fund scholarship programs for those who truly cannot afford it.
Most parents would sacrifice everything for their children, even their very lives. So why are so many Christian parents not willing to sacrifice financially to provide their children with the best education possible?
I may fail at many things as a father and provider, but may I never disobey God by failing to provide my children with every possible opportunity to be trained up in the way they should go, so when they are old, they will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6).
May I never disobey God by failing to teach my children God’s commands, when I sit at home, when I walk along the road, when I lie down and when I get up (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). And since I cannot be with my children throughout the day, may I never fail to place them under the day-by-day, moment-by-moment teaching and influence of someone who loves God with all of his or her heart and has the freedom to teach my children openly about the Truth.
May I never disobey God by failing to pray for my Christian school, by failing to give to my Christian school, or by failing to lovingly confront my fellow Christian parents in love about their need to do the same.
May I never fail at what matters most.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Parenting With Vision
Today's Christian Education Commentary
When was the last time you wrote down some of your parenting goals?Raising kids with Christ-centered hearts is the greatest challenge Christian parents will ever face. Not only that, but it is not a challenge that is confronted and won in a day, week, or even a year. Rather, it takes many, many years of diligence, consistency, and prayer on the part of parents, and even then, success is not guaranteed.
This is why writing down your parenting goals or a vision for your family is so important. As the years pass and individual challenges come and go, it is important that we keep our eyes fixed on our ultimate goal.
Choosing a Christian education is a great way to start approaching the job of parenting with new direction, purpose, and a vision that includes God at the center.
To learn more about Christian schooling or to find a Christian school in your area, please visit www.DiscoverChristianSchools.com.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Exodus
Today's Christian Education Commentary
with Harold Naylor
The Old Testament book of Exodus tells the story of the Israelites being led out from a land of slavery and oppression. How does the exodus relate to your child’s education?
Most Christians know the story of Exodus and how God used Moses to lead the Israelites to freedom. What we tend overlook, however, is what it took for the Israelites to follow him. In spite of their terrible circumstances, it still took tremendous courage, sacrifice, and a great deal of effort for the Israelites to accept change and begin the journey to freedom and a life of hope and promise.
If your child is experiencing some of the signs of oppression and even bondage that come from the daily influences and pressures of a godless education system, then perhaps it is time to make some radical changes, beginning with your children’s school. It may be time for an exodus.
We can help you find a Christian school and fulfill the directive we have been assigned as Christian parents.
DiscoverChristianSchools.com - Where Christian education is priceless!
with Harold Naylor
The Old Testament book of Exodus tells the story of the Israelites being led out from a land of slavery and oppression. How does the exodus relate to your child’s education?
Most Christians know the story of Exodus and how God used Moses to lead the Israelites to freedom. What we tend overlook, however, is what it took for the Israelites to follow him. In spite of their terrible circumstances, it still took tremendous courage, sacrifice, and a great deal of effort for the Israelites to accept change and begin the journey to freedom and a life of hope and promise.
If your child is experiencing some of the signs of oppression and even bondage that come from the daily influences and pressures of a godless education system, then perhaps it is time to make some radical changes, beginning with your children’s school. It may be time for an exodus.
We can help you find a Christian school and fulfill the directive we have been assigned as Christian parents.
DiscoverChristianSchools.com - Where Christian education is priceless!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Do Not Exasperate
Today's Christian Education Commentary
with Harold Naylor
The book of Ephesians instructs fathers to “not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
Parenting and teaching is a big responsibility for dads, and moms, of course. Not only must we not frustrate our children, but we are to train them for God’s service.
Training involves shaping the will through discipline.
Instruction is shaping the mind through teaching.
When we partner with the right school, our children get consistent training and instruction that points them to Christ.
However, if we partner with a school that teaches that our child is the center of his or her universe, we not only frustrate the process of Biblical training, but we can cause great frustration in our kids when we try to get them back on track.
Choosing Christian education for your child can make the difference between spiritual life and spiritual death for our children. A Christian school experience can be one part you play to bring up your children in the training and instruction of the Lord.
We can help you find a Christian school and fulfill the directive we have been assigned as Christian parents.
DiscoverChristianSchools.com - Where Christian education is priceless!
with Harold Naylor
The book of Ephesians instructs fathers to “not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
Parenting and teaching is a big responsibility for dads, and moms, of course. Not only must we not frustrate our children, but we are to train them for God’s service.
Training involves shaping the will through discipline.
Instruction is shaping the mind through teaching.
When we partner with the right school, our children get consistent training and instruction that points them to Christ.
However, if we partner with a school that teaches that our child is the center of his or her universe, we not only frustrate the process of Biblical training, but we can cause great frustration in our kids when we try to get them back on track.
Choosing Christian education for your child can make the difference between spiritual life and spiritual death for our children. A Christian school experience can be one part you play to bring up your children in the training and instruction of the Lord.
We can help you find a Christian school and fulfill the directive we have been assigned as Christian parents.
DiscoverChristianSchools.com - Where Christian education is priceless!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
From the Heart of a Mother
Written by: Trisha
Originally posted on A Mother’s Heart blog (March 8, 2009)
Originally posted on A Mother’s Heart blog (March 8, 2009)
We choose Christian education because:
- It supports what we teach at home.
- It provides someone else beside mom and dad teaching biblical truths. With our children entering the age where the listen to others more, the teachers and most peers, who they respect are echoing what we teach.
- It is a place to prepare our children for the world. An environment where students are equipped with a biblical foundation for long term success.
- Its another place, outside our home, where our children’s ideas about themselves and God are shaped.
- It provides another place where they are taught to sustain their faith and impact the world.
- It is a place where the voices and ideas they hear are true.
- It is a place where our children can build friendships with other Christ followers. (We have friends have told us several times that they wished that had sent their children to a Christian school simply for this reason alone.)
Now specifically, why Wheaton Christian Grammar School in addition to the above, which is true for WCGS:
- It is obvious that the teacher and staff love the Lord.
- The teachers are spiritually mature, walk daily with the Lord, and talk to their students about their time with God.
- The teachers integrate biblical truths into every area of academics.
We know a teacher who tried to get a job there and told us that we should know that the teachers there are top notch because of the rigors of the interview process to be hired as a teacher.
We walk by faith on the journey to provide a Christian education for our children.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Morning ‘til Night
Today's Christian Education Commentary
with Harold Naylor
Who is teaching your children from morning until night?
In Deuteronomy 6:7, parents are instructed to teach their children the word of God with diligence. In fact, parents are specifically instructed to teach their children throughout their entire day, from the time they rise in the morning until they go to bed at night.
And yet, most of us find that obedience to God in this area of our lives is near to impossible.
While God certainly understands the reasons that keep us from spending all day, every day with our children, He has not lessened His requirement of instilling His Word in them consistently and constantly from a very young age. We believe that choosing a Christian school for your child can help you fulfill the directives found in God's Word.
We can help you find a Christian school and fulfill the directive we have been assigned as Christian parents.
DiscoverChristianSchools.com - Where Christian education is priceless!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Does God Have a Claim On Your Child?
Dr. Phil Suiter
Orginally posted by Richmond Academy (Richmond, IN)
The recognition of God’s claim on your child should help you to decide that Christian education is worth the cost and time.
The typical school year begins with much enthusiasm. That is especially true for families who have their children in private Christian education. There is great anticipation and expectation for what will be accomplished. But as the fall months pass into winter months, the obligation of paying a monthly tuition bill sometimes begins to weigh heavily upon the minds of parents. Should I continue to make this sacrifice? Is it really worth it? Am I depriving my family of other benefits?
Can we as Christian parents answer these questions using only financial criteria to guide us? I think not! It is vital to examine the questions from the viewpoint of God’s claim upon our children. Does God have such a claim? Is He concerned about the nature of the educational experience that we provide for our children?
The answer is “yes!” Romans 14:7-8 states, “For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.” If that passage is not enough, the prophet Ezekiel reports the word of the Lord in chapter 18, verse 4, “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” This latter passage is addressing individual responsibility before God. The message of the Bible is clear on this very issue: God created children; therefore, He has first claim upon each child’s life. That claim extends to the nature of the educational program provided by their parents. When viewed in terms of the Word of God, one must wonder if any sacrifice is too great to keep children in a Christian school setting.
Some find the concept of “first claim” or “ownership” to be somewhat offensive. Yet the Scriptures previously cited clearly make the point of God’s ownership of children and, therefore, He has first claim upon them. The world certainly does not hesitate to make its claim. Typically, the world’s claim is stated as one of three positions. First, many public educators and legislators say that the state owns the child and that each child is a ward of the state, particularly for educational purposes. That testimony is frequently given before legislative committees. Second, others say that no one owns the child. In this case the child is granted the right to make his own decisions without the intervention of adults.
Unfortunately, many Christian parents fall into the trap of thinking their children belong to them. This is a false assumption.
Third, still others say that the parent owns the child. In this case, it is assumed that the parent has all authority in decision making relative to his child. None of these three views agrees with the teaching of the Bible.
Children belong to God; God has first claim upon their lives. Revelation 4:11 states, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Children are created by God to do with as He pleases. His pleasure is for them to give Him first place in everything they do.
Then what is the responsibility of parents? Simply this: to rear and educate children in such a way that they are prepared to respond to the call of God in whatever God chooses for them to do in life. Obviously, this does not mean that all children will be called into some area of Christian service. It does mean, however, that each child will be ready to serve and obey God in whatever area of life he embraces, whether he becomes a teacher, brick mason, bus driver, salesman, doctor, secretary, preacher, missionary, or sanitation worker.
Education must be Christ-centered if it is to please God. It must be viewed as a primary means of preparing children for a life of service to God. Only a Christ- centered education will accomplish this end. Thus, all parents will answer to God for the nature of the educational experience that they give their children.
Is there an alternative for Christian parents? Can a public school’s educational program that is based on secular humanism accomplish that? The answer is “no!” Humanism teaches that there is no higher authority than the individual. That is the basis for all of the “rights oriented” and “politically correct” thinking that controls public policy. An educational system derived from those concepts of secular humanism simply cannot prepare a child to permit God to exercise His claim upon his life. That system can only reproduce after its kind, and its kind seeks only to serve self.
Does God have first claim on your child? The answer is “yes!” The recognition of God’s claim on your child should help you to conclude that your investment in a Christian educational program is worth it if for no other reason than it pleases God.
Dr. Phil Suiter is the former executive director of the West Virginia Christian Education Association.
Orginally posted by Richmond Academy (Richmond, IN)
The recognition of God’s claim on your child should help you to decide that Christian education is worth the cost and time.
The typical school year begins with much enthusiasm. That is especially true for families who have their children in private Christian education. There is great anticipation and expectation for what will be accomplished. But as the fall months pass into winter months, the obligation of paying a monthly tuition bill sometimes begins to weigh heavily upon the minds of parents. Should I continue to make this sacrifice? Is it really worth it? Am I depriving my family of other benefits?
Can we as Christian parents answer these questions using only financial criteria to guide us? I think not! It is vital to examine the questions from the viewpoint of God’s claim upon our children. Does God have such a claim? Is He concerned about the nature of the educational experience that we provide for our children?
The answer is “yes!” Romans 14:7-8 states, “For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.” If that passage is not enough, the prophet Ezekiel reports the word of the Lord in chapter 18, verse 4, “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” This latter passage is addressing individual responsibility before God. The message of the Bible is clear on this very issue: God created children; therefore, He has first claim upon each child’s life. That claim extends to the nature of the educational program provided by their parents. When viewed in terms of the Word of God, one must wonder if any sacrifice is too great to keep children in a Christian school setting.
Some find the concept of “first claim” or “ownership” to be somewhat offensive. Yet the Scriptures previously cited clearly make the point of God’s ownership of children and, therefore, He has first claim upon them. The world certainly does not hesitate to make its claim. Typically, the world’s claim is stated as one of three positions. First, many public educators and legislators say that the state owns the child and that each child is a ward of the state, particularly for educational purposes. That testimony is frequently given before legislative committees. Second, others say that no one owns the child. In this case the child is granted the right to make his own decisions without the intervention of adults.
Unfortunately, many Christian parents fall into the trap of thinking their children belong to them. This is a false assumption.
Third, still others say that the parent owns the child. In this case, it is assumed that the parent has all authority in decision making relative to his child. None of these three views agrees with the teaching of the Bible.
Children belong to God; God has first claim upon their lives. Revelation 4:11 states, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Children are created by God to do with as He pleases. His pleasure is for them to give Him first place in everything they do.
Then what is the responsibility of parents? Simply this: to rear and educate children in such a way that they are prepared to respond to the call of God in whatever God chooses for them to do in life. Obviously, this does not mean that all children will be called into some area of Christian service. It does mean, however, that each child will be ready to serve and obey God in whatever area of life he embraces, whether he becomes a teacher, brick mason, bus driver, salesman, doctor, secretary, preacher, missionary, or sanitation worker.
Education must be Christ-centered if it is to please God. It must be viewed as a primary means of preparing children for a life of service to God. Only a Christ- centered education will accomplish this end. Thus, all parents will answer to God for the nature of the educational experience that they give their children.
Is there an alternative for Christian parents? Can a public school’s educational program that is based on secular humanism accomplish that? The answer is “no!” Humanism teaches that there is no higher authority than the individual. That is the basis for all of the “rights oriented” and “politically correct” thinking that controls public policy. An educational system derived from those concepts of secular humanism simply cannot prepare a child to permit God to exercise His claim upon his life. That system can only reproduce after its kind, and its kind seeks only to serve self.
Does God have first claim on your child? The answer is “yes!” The recognition of God’s claim on your child should help you to conclude that your investment in a Christian educational program is worth it if for no other reason than it pleases God.
Dr. Phil Suiter is the former executive director of the West Virginia Christian Education Association.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
The 10 Most Popular Myths Christian Parents Believe
PERSPECTIVE: A Christian Worldview on Education and Family
Mike Lee, Superintendent (Cherokee Christian Schools)
©2008 by Cherokee Christian Schools (used with permission)
Please click here for a full text of the article as originally published by Cherokee Christian Schools.
Answers to the question: Why do Christian Parents Choose to educate their Children in a School that Excludes Christ?
Encouragement
“No one will read this!” This has been the feedback we have received from some who proofed this writing. They contend that most people are no longer willing to read anything more than a “sound bite.” They tell us that the average person just wants the bottom line or the Cliffs Notes version. “Just email me, or better yet, text me- it’s quicker.”Our “bottom line” to you: please give this writing ten minutes of your time. Using the power and truth of biblical principles, it contains information that may change your life and the life of your children forever.
A Difficult Message to Write
We have taken six months to write this booklet. It has been critiqued by parents, grandparents, and teachers both in the Christian and public school sectors. Some have said the message is terrific. Others have said it is preachy or self-righteous. Still others said it was harsh. We listened to the criticisms and made changes that we hoped would remove any tone that would offend while not changing the truths herein. We understand that what we have written will not win the praise of the world. However, we are not seeking that praise. This booklet is designed to bring truth to minds of Christian parents who choose to have their children educated in a public school or a private non-Christian school. It is not directed to homeschool parents or non-Christian parents. We could ignore what is going on in our culture and say nothing, but that would not be biblical. Christians are called to be truth tellers, even when what we say may be unpopular. Please know our heart on this: we have written this booklet because we love the Lord, love the brethren, and love children. Psalm 40:9-11 says, “I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation; Behold, I will not restrain my lips, O LORD, You know. I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your loving-kindness and Your truth from the great congregation.” Our hope is that God will bless the sharing of His truth through this booklet.
Special note to Christian public school teachers and administrators: this booklet cites some of the unbiblical weaknesses of the public school in America. Please do not read this as a personal attack. We appreciate that you do not agree with the philosophy of the public schools and want to encourage you to be a warrior for Christ in that setting. Although we do not believe that Christ intended for children to be missionaries in the public school, He does intend Christian adults to speak His truth boldly wherever they are. We urge you to trust the Lord as you follow your calling.
Introduction
You have probably heard the term “like a frog in the kettle.” It refers to a situation where the frog sits in room temperature water in the kettle and neither knows nor feels the subtle changes that are happening in the water. Degree after degree, the water increases in heat and eventually the frog is boiled to death. So it is with many Christian families in America. With the decline of Christianity in our culture and many in the American church behaving more like the world, many Christian families are being boiled to death. Instead of realizing that there is a continual increase in the cultural temperature, Christian parents are being fooled again and again, believing misinformation that is killing the spiritual life of their children. What about you? Are you being fooled? Have you bought into the secular perspectives that we are constantly bombarded with each day? Have you taken the time and energy to question the so called “facts” that we are fed from all angles?
Please read and consider the ten myths that Christian parents frequently believe. You still have time to jump out of the kettle!
The 10 Most Popular Myths Christian Parents Believe*
Myth 1: I am saving money by not paying Christian school tuition.
Myth 2: We can’t afford Christian school tuition.
Myth 3: The public school and the Christian parent have the same goal in mind for the child’s education so my child is not being damaged spiritually by going to a non-Christian school.
Myth 4: Exposing my child to ungodly thinking and actions will prepare my child for the “real world.”
Myth 5: Children should be missionaries in the public school.
Myth 6: My child will be best served by figuring out life while attending a non-Christian school.
Myth 7: The prom, dating, and sports are vital experiences for my child and can best be experienced in a public school.
Myth 8: My child is receiving a good education in the public schools.
Myth 9: The learning environment in the public school is good.
Myth 10: The ultimate in myth telling to Christian parents in America may not be because the myth is being created for belief by the public school administrators, public school teachers unions, or politicians. It may be that parents are creating a myth that they want to believe for themselves.
*For a complete “discussion” of each myth, please click here for the full text of the booklet.
Mike Lee, Superintendent (Cherokee Christian Schools)
©2008 by Cherokee Christian Schools (used with permission)
Please click here for a full text of the article as originally published by Cherokee Christian Schools.
Answers to the question: Why do Christian Parents Choose to educate their Children in a School that Excludes Christ?
Encouragement
“No one will read this!” This has been the feedback we have received from some who proofed this writing. They contend that most people are no longer willing to read anything more than a “sound bite.” They tell us that the average person just wants the bottom line or the Cliffs Notes version. “Just email me, or better yet, text me- it’s quicker.”Our “bottom line” to you: please give this writing ten minutes of your time. Using the power and truth of biblical principles, it contains information that may change your life and the life of your children forever.
A Difficult Message to Write
We have taken six months to write this booklet. It has been critiqued by parents, grandparents, and teachers both in the Christian and public school sectors. Some have said the message is terrific. Others have said it is preachy or self-righteous. Still others said it was harsh. We listened to the criticisms and made changes that we hoped would remove any tone that would offend while not changing the truths herein. We understand that what we have written will not win the praise of the world. However, we are not seeking that praise. This booklet is designed to bring truth to minds of Christian parents who choose to have their children educated in a public school or a private non-Christian school. It is not directed to homeschool parents or non-Christian parents. We could ignore what is going on in our culture and say nothing, but that would not be biblical. Christians are called to be truth tellers, even when what we say may be unpopular. Please know our heart on this: we have written this booklet because we love the Lord, love the brethren, and love children. Psalm 40:9-11 says, “I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation; Behold, I will not restrain my lips, O LORD, You know. I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your loving-kindness and Your truth from the great congregation.” Our hope is that God will bless the sharing of His truth through this booklet.
Special note to Christian public school teachers and administrators: this booklet cites some of the unbiblical weaknesses of the public school in America. Please do not read this as a personal attack. We appreciate that you do not agree with the philosophy of the public schools and want to encourage you to be a warrior for Christ in that setting. Although we do not believe that Christ intended for children to be missionaries in the public school, He does intend Christian adults to speak His truth boldly wherever they are. We urge you to trust the Lord as you follow your calling.
Introduction
You have probably heard the term “like a frog in the kettle.” It refers to a situation where the frog sits in room temperature water in the kettle and neither knows nor feels the subtle changes that are happening in the water. Degree after degree, the water increases in heat and eventually the frog is boiled to death. So it is with many Christian families in America. With the decline of Christianity in our culture and many in the American church behaving more like the world, many Christian families are being boiled to death. Instead of realizing that there is a continual increase in the cultural temperature, Christian parents are being fooled again and again, believing misinformation that is killing the spiritual life of their children. What about you? Are you being fooled? Have you bought into the secular perspectives that we are constantly bombarded with each day? Have you taken the time and energy to question the so called “facts” that we are fed from all angles?
Please read and consider the ten myths that Christian parents frequently believe. You still have time to jump out of the kettle!
The 10 Most Popular Myths Christian Parents Believe*
Myth 1: I am saving money by not paying Christian school tuition.
Myth 2: We can’t afford Christian school tuition.
Myth 3: The public school and the Christian parent have the same goal in mind for the child’s education so my child is not being damaged spiritually by going to a non-Christian school.
Myth 4: Exposing my child to ungodly thinking and actions will prepare my child for the “real world.”
Myth 5: Children should be missionaries in the public school.
Myth 6: My child will be best served by figuring out life while attending a non-Christian school.
Myth 7: The prom, dating, and sports are vital experiences for my child and can best be experienced in a public school.
Myth 8: My child is receiving a good education in the public schools.
Myth 9: The learning environment in the public school is good.
Myth 10: The ultimate in myth telling to Christian parents in America may not be because the myth is being created for belief by the public school administrators, public school teachers unions, or politicians. It may be that parents are creating a myth that they want to believe for themselves.
*For a complete “discussion” of each myth, please click here for the full text of the booklet.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Why consider Christian schooling?
Submitted by Mary Louise Everhart
Director of Development, Conestoga Christian School (Morgantown, Pennsylvania)
Christian schools exist in many formats and are governed in a variety of ways. Believers are often put off by the expense and inconvenience of the local Christian school or feel the quality of education is compromised to make room for lessons in faith. To be sure, careful research is called for when exploring Christian school options. There are solid arguments, both biblical and practical, in favor of Christian schooling.
God’s word is taught.
Deuteronomy 11:18-19 presents a clear mandate to saturate children’s minds with the Word of God. In Christian schools the Bible forms the foundation for all other texts and the truth of scripture is integrated into all academic disciplines. Students learn to inquire and decide through the lens of obedience to scripture. They learn to think while grounded in God’s ultimate truth.
The school shares your values
A formidable partnership between school, home and church creates an environment in which biblical attitudes and values are consistently reinforced. Behaviors like respect, patience and thoughtfulness are applauded not mocked. Teachers who love and fear the Lord can offer students timely encouragement and appropriate correction. Christian schools have become a safer emotional and spiritual place for students to grow.
Academic achievement
Rigorous academic experiences need not be sacrificed in exchange for the Christian school experience. Many Christian schools are able to engage students in challenging courses while also giving them opportunity to explore individual gifts and creative talents. Parents would do well to investigate curriculum choices, college admission success and other post high school plans of any Christian school. Increasingly, Christian schools are also able to meet the educational needs of students with other kinds of learning issues.
Christian schools are often accused of being “hothouses” where students are unnecessarily and artificially insulated from the forces of the secular world. To be sure students are protected in Christian school. They are also grounded in God’s word and nurtured in their ability to articulate their faith. This strong biblical foundation better equips them to handle and refute the discrepant ideas they will meet when they have grown ready to appropriately interface with the culture.
Parents are encouraged to examine the schools in their community and pray about the educational environment they select for their children.
For additional information on the value of Christian schools and for assistance in locating Christian schools in your area visit www.DiscoverChristianschools.com
Director of Development, Conestoga Christian School (Morgantown, Pennsylvania)
Christian schools exist in many formats and are governed in a variety of ways. Believers are often put off by the expense and inconvenience of the local Christian school or feel the quality of education is compromised to make room for lessons in faith. To be sure, careful research is called for when exploring Christian school options. There are solid arguments, both biblical and practical, in favor of Christian schooling.
God’s word is taught.
Deuteronomy 11:18-19 presents a clear mandate to saturate children’s minds with the Word of God. In Christian schools the Bible forms the foundation for all other texts and the truth of scripture is integrated into all academic disciplines. Students learn to inquire and decide through the lens of obedience to scripture. They learn to think while grounded in God’s ultimate truth.
The school shares your values
A formidable partnership between school, home and church creates an environment in which biblical attitudes and values are consistently reinforced. Behaviors like respect, patience and thoughtfulness are applauded not mocked. Teachers who love and fear the Lord can offer students timely encouragement and appropriate correction. Christian schools have become a safer emotional and spiritual place for students to grow.
Academic achievement
Rigorous academic experiences need not be sacrificed in exchange for the Christian school experience. Many Christian schools are able to engage students in challenging courses while also giving them opportunity to explore individual gifts and creative talents. Parents would do well to investigate curriculum choices, college admission success and other post high school plans of any Christian school. Increasingly, Christian schools are also able to meet the educational needs of students with other kinds of learning issues.
Christian schools are often accused of being “hothouses” where students are unnecessarily and artificially insulated from the forces of the secular world. To be sure students are protected in Christian school. They are also grounded in God’s word and nurtured in their ability to articulate their faith. This strong biblical foundation better equips them to handle and refute the discrepant ideas they will meet when they have grown ready to appropriately interface with the culture.
Parents are encouraged to examine the schools in their community and pray about the educational environment they select for their children.
For additional information on the value of Christian schools and for assistance in locating Christian schools in your area visit www.DiscoverChristianschools.com
Thursday, December 4, 2008
The Ultimate Reason for a Christian School Education
John Fedele – Discover Christian Schools
In these ever changing times I find it interesting to read the variety of “reasons” given to parents in considering a Christian School education. The fact that Christian schools have weekly chapels, memorize Scripture, study the Bible, or that our schools are safe places for kids, or that there is a positive learning atmosphere, those things are all important, but they are not the essence of a Christian school education. They are good, things, but they do not fully represent in my opinion what a Christian school education is really about.
The first and most important thing that you’re going to find in a Christian school is an education that is presented from an eternal perspective, meaning, students are taught about the reality that there is a God, and His will for each young person is to know him personally as Savior and then, to begin learning how they can become totally devoted disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Click here for a PDF version of this post!
In these ever changing times I find it interesting to read the variety of “reasons” given to parents in considering a Christian School education. The fact that Christian schools have weekly chapels, memorize Scripture, study the Bible, or that our schools are safe places for kids, or that there is a positive learning atmosphere, those things are all important, but they are not the essence of a Christian school education. They are good, things, but they do not fully represent in my opinion what a Christian school education is really about.
The first and most important thing that you’re going to find in a Christian school is an education that is presented from an eternal perspective, meaning, students are taught about the reality that there is a God, and His will for each young person is to know him personally as Savior and then, to begin learning how they can become totally devoted disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.
- It’s an education about having children understand the need for a personal relationship with the Creator of the Universe, and how that Creator can profoundly impact and interact with their lives right here, right now as well as for the rest of their lives.
- It’s not just about the sweet bye and bye or punching a ticket for heaven, but it’s coming to a deep awareness and a knowledge that a student’s life can make a difference right here, right now and that they are being equipped to impact God’s kingdom and ultimately, to influence the world in which they live.
- It’s not about students learning to adjust or adapt to the culture, but rather having students learn how they can change the culture and ultimately the world wherever they go.
- It is not about getting an education that prepares students to get into the best college, to get the best job, to make lots of money, so they can buy “stuff” and be happy. Getting a good education is important, don’t get me wrong, but if that is the end goal and the only goal, and our children are not equipped or prepared to live lives of meaning and service, to live lives that make a difference in the lives of others, then we have failed in our mission to truly educate them.
James Braley, noted Christian educator said it best, “It’s changed lives, changing lives!” It’s the impact of a teacher’s changed life, changing the individual lives of his or her students. And those students going out and doing the same.
Christian parents, isn’t that what you really want for your son or daughter? To have them grow in relationship with their Creator and live a life of purpose and meaning, having them being able to discern and discover God’s will for their lives and to have access to His blessings, goodness and favor, and not just simply “grab the gusto?” That’s what students will receive at a Christian school, an education that is from an eternal perspective based on a personal relationship with God that will be lived out in some kind of service to the kingdom of God and to others. It is an education not only of the mind, but of the heart as well, to love God, and to love and serve others.
An education for an eternity! The ultimate reason to consider a Christian school education!
Click here for a PDF version of this post!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Daily Diligence
Today's Christian Education Commentary
with Harold Naylor
What are you teaching your children daily?
In Deuteronomy 6:7, parents are instructed to teach their children the word of God with diligence. In fact, parents are specifically instructed to teach their children throughout their entire day, from the time they rise in the morning until they go to bed at night.
And yet, most of us have either chosen or find ourselves forced to accept lifestyles that make obedience to God in this area of our lives virtually impossible.
While God certainly understands the reasons that keep us from spending all day, every day with our children, He has not lessened His requirement of instilling His Word in them consistently and constantly from a very young age. We believe that choosing a Christian school for your child can help you fulfill the directives found in God’s Word.
DiscoverChristianSchools.com - Where Christian education is priceless!
with Harold Naylor
What are you teaching your children daily?
In Deuteronomy 6:7, parents are instructed to teach their children the word of God with diligence. In fact, parents are specifically instructed to teach their children throughout their entire day, from the time they rise in the morning until they go to bed at night.
And yet, most of us have either chosen or find ourselves forced to accept lifestyles that make obedience to God in this area of our lives virtually impossible.
While God certainly understands the reasons that keep us from spending all day, every day with our children, He has not lessened His requirement of instilling His Word in them consistently and constantly from a very young age. We believe that choosing a Christian school for your child can help you fulfill the directives found in God’s Word.
DiscoverChristianSchools.com - Where Christian education is priceless!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Parenting With Vision
Today's Christian Education Commentary
with Harold Naylor
When was the last time you wrote down some of your parenting goals?
Click here to listen!
Raising kids with Christ-centered hearts is the greatest challenge Christian parents will ever face. Not only that, but it is not a challenge that is confronted and won in a day, week, or even a year. Rather, it takes many, many years of diligence, consistency, and prayer on the part of parents, and even then, success is not guaranteed.
This is why writing down your parenting goals or a vision for your family is so important. As the years pass and individual challenges come and go, it is important that we keep our eyes fixed on our ultimate goal.
Choosing a Christian education is a great way to start approaching the job of parenting with new direction, purpose, and a vision that includes God at the center.
with Harold Naylor
When was the last time you wrote down some of your parenting goals?
Click here to listen!
Raising kids with Christ-centered hearts is the greatest challenge Christian parents will ever face. Not only that, but it is not a challenge that is confronted and won in a day, week, or even a year. Rather, it takes many, many years of diligence, consistency, and prayer on the part of parents, and even then, success is not guaranteed.
This is why writing down your parenting goals or a vision for your family is so important. As the years pass and individual challenges come and go, it is important that we keep our eyes fixed on our ultimate goal.
Choosing a Christian education is a great way to start approaching the job of parenting with new direction, purpose, and a vision that includes God at the center.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Christian education – an investment in the future
By Nancy Huckaby
The Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, TX)
Published Sunday, November 2, 2008
Christian parents understand well the responsibility they have to not only love their children, but to educate them in an environment that embraces Christ’s fundamental truths.
Many find the answer in home schooling, but for countless others, Christian schools provide the perfect answer. Christian education facilities – both elementary, secondary and higher learning – can help parents make sure their children receive a quality education, taught by dedicated and knowledgeable teachers.
Christian education is not without its critics. Some say it insulates children from the real world, or shelters them from many of the negative influences they’ll have to face in the future. On its Web site, cornerstonekingman.ca, Cornerstone Christian Academy in Kingman, Alberta, Canada, offers this view:
"The Christian school works somewhat like a greenhouse which is designed to provide optimum conditions for growth while a plant is young. Young children are protected and carefully nurtured to help them mature properly. When the time comes for them to be 'transplanted’ into a more hostile environment, they are more likely to endure difficulties and continue to thrive because they have been trained well and have developed a discerning heart."
Christian educators want to help students recognize the hostility and injustice in today’s world while giving them the tools – critical thinking skills, a core value system and a strong foundation of faith – to apply Christ’s truth to solving those problems.
Administrators know that the academic standards at a Christian school must be strong if parents are asked to make what, for many, is a significant sacrifice for the cost of attending a private school. College bound students face their own brand of challenges and for many (and their parents) knowing that the college or university they select is based on Christian principles is paramount.
Gary Ledbetter, communications director for the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention in Grapevine, offered this advice on the CollegeView Web site:
"A final benefit of Christian higher education is perhaps the most significant. The quality of a Christian college experience is higher than any other. Christian educators have an additional motivation to do their work with excellence – the call of Christ on their lives to do just that (I Cor. 10:31). Quality may also be enhanced by the emphasis on subjects and teaching deemed by God to be the first importance. A biblical focus will inform the manner, content, and even the scope of an educational experience, and Christian schools may be less influenced by cultural (or educational) fads."
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. – Proverbs 22.6
The Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, TX)
Published Sunday, November 2, 2008
Christian parents understand well the responsibility they have to not only love their children, but to educate them in an environment that embraces Christ’s fundamental truths.
Many find the answer in home schooling, but for countless others, Christian schools provide the perfect answer. Christian education facilities – both elementary, secondary and higher learning – can help parents make sure their children receive a quality education, taught by dedicated and knowledgeable teachers.
Christian education is not without its critics. Some say it insulates children from the real world, or shelters them from many of the negative influences they’ll have to face in the future. On its Web site, cornerstonekingman.ca, Cornerstone Christian Academy in Kingman, Alberta, Canada, offers this view:
"The Christian school works somewhat like a greenhouse which is designed to provide optimum conditions for growth while a plant is young. Young children are protected and carefully nurtured to help them mature properly. When the time comes for them to be 'transplanted’ into a more hostile environment, they are more likely to endure difficulties and continue to thrive because they have been trained well and have developed a discerning heart."
Christian educators want to help students recognize the hostility and injustice in today’s world while giving them the tools – critical thinking skills, a core value system and a strong foundation of faith – to apply Christ’s truth to solving those problems.
Administrators know that the academic standards at a Christian school must be strong if parents are asked to make what, for many, is a significant sacrifice for the cost of attending a private school. College bound students face their own brand of challenges and for many (and their parents) knowing that the college or university they select is based on Christian principles is paramount.
Gary Ledbetter, communications director for the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention in Grapevine, offered this advice on the CollegeView Web site:
"A final benefit of Christian higher education is perhaps the most significant. The quality of a Christian college experience is higher than any other. Christian educators have an additional motivation to do their work with excellence – the call of Christ on their lives to do just that (I Cor. 10:31). Quality may also be enhanced by the emphasis on subjects and teaching deemed by God to be the first importance. A biblical focus will inform the manner, content, and even the scope of an educational experience, and Christian schools may be less influenced by cultural (or educational) fads."
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. – Proverbs 22.6
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Effective Christian Schooling - A Mission to Forge a New Mind
Submitted by Jonathan Ekeland
The Christian Academy (Brookhaven, PA)
www.DiscoverChristianSchools.com Steering Committee
Effective Christian schooling is not simply a process of adding chapel and Bible class to a traditional academic curriculum. Rather, its mission is to forge a new mind – a transformation that begins through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and is then nurtured and developed by deliberate and strategic integration of biblical truth into every curricular area. Christian schooling, then, confronts and challenges the fragmented secular worldview.
But what does that really mean? Many people, adults and teenagers alike, don’t know what “worldview” means, though they hear about it or see it in print. The concept of a worldview is easy and difficult at the same time. For instance, you may have heard the name “Cape Cod” dozens of times, but have you ever stopped to think that a “cape” is a point of land that projects into the sea and a “cod” is a North Atlantic fish? We usually don’t dissect such terms on a regular basis. Well, the term “worldview” may be that simple. It is a set of presuppositions (which may be true, partially true or entirely false) which we hold about the basic makeup of our world. One who holds a Christian worldview would look at everything through the grid of Scripture.
To apply this concept to our basic premise about Christian education, a Christian education does include Bible classes, chapels, Christian faculty, and a host of other “Christian things,” but if students are not learning how to assimilate and put into practice what they are learning, then they are as James describes in chapter 1, verse 22. “But prove to yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”
When students study Shakespeare they should ask themselves, “From what worldview does Shakespeare speak?” Then students should compare their own worldview and Shakespeare’s to see the differences and similarities. Similarly, what worldview is presented in Science class? In World History and American Literature, what views are impressed upon the students? If the students have not begun to formulate in their own minds what worldview they espouse, then most everything they absorb and consider will be acceptable (tolerable).
All Christian schools certainly cannot be lumped together, but I would be willing to state that most value the opportunity to teach their students to develop a Christ-centered worldview. From as early as kindergarten, Christian schools are teaching and modeling a Godly perspective regarding every aspect of their education, from math to physical education class. Incidentally, if Christ is not the center of PE class, what does competition look like? If Christ is not the center of History class, where does God fit into the history of mankind? Does He, or doesn’t He? These are just two of dozens of perspectives that children are taught every day for 30 hours a week. Do the math! 30 hours a week times 36 weeks of school equals 1,080 hours in the classroom in a school year. Now multiply that by 13 years. It equals 14,040 hours that children are absorbing worldviews. The question raised to parents is, “What kind of worldview do you want your child to have when he or she graduates high school?”
A catechism question that some kindergarten students respond to is “Why did God make all things?” The little ones answer correctly, “God made all things for His own glory (Rom 11:36).” Our worldview, even at the age of five, should start with God at the center of our lives with everything revolving around Him. As the initial premise mentions, our society’s secular worldview is fragmented. In other words, it is broken and sinful. We as parents and educators need to have a plan -- a plan to instruct our children to compare everything to God’s Word. His Word is our lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. That path that our children tread upon is full of rocks and holes and other obstacles. They need God’s Word and its perspective to keep from falling. They need a bright and true light.
To learn more about Christian schools and Christian schooling - and to find a local Christian school in your area - please visit www.DiscoverChristianSchools.com.
The Christian Academy (Brookhaven, PA)
www.DiscoverChristianSchools.com Steering Committee
Effective Christian schooling is not simply a process of adding chapel and Bible class to a traditional academic curriculum. Rather, its mission is to forge a new mind – a transformation that begins through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and is then nurtured and developed by deliberate and strategic integration of biblical truth into every curricular area. Christian schooling, then, confronts and challenges the fragmented secular worldview.
But what does that really mean? Many people, adults and teenagers alike, don’t know what “worldview” means, though they hear about it or see it in print. The concept of a worldview is easy and difficult at the same time. For instance, you may have heard the name “Cape Cod” dozens of times, but have you ever stopped to think that a “cape” is a point of land that projects into the sea and a “cod” is a North Atlantic fish? We usually don’t dissect such terms on a regular basis. Well, the term “worldview” may be that simple. It is a set of presuppositions (which may be true, partially true or entirely false) which we hold about the basic makeup of our world. One who holds a Christian worldview would look at everything through the grid of Scripture.
To apply this concept to our basic premise about Christian education, a Christian education does include Bible classes, chapels, Christian faculty, and a host of other “Christian things,” but if students are not learning how to assimilate and put into practice what they are learning, then they are as James describes in chapter 1, verse 22. “But prove to yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”
When students study Shakespeare they should ask themselves, “From what worldview does Shakespeare speak?” Then students should compare their own worldview and Shakespeare’s to see the differences and similarities. Similarly, what worldview is presented in Science class? In World History and American Literature, what views are impressed upon the students? If the students have not begun to formulate in their own minds what worldview they espouse, then most everything they absorb and consider will be acceptable (tolerable).
All Christian schools certainly cannot be lumped together, but I would be willing to state that most value the opportunity to teach their students to develop a Christ-centered worldview. From as early as kindergarten, Christian schools are teaching and modeling a Godly perspective regarding every aspect of their education, from math to physical education class. Incidentally, if Christ is not the center of PE class, what does competition look like? If Christ is not the center of History class, where does God fit into the history of mankind? Does He, or doesn’t He? These are just two of dozens of perspectives that children are taught every day for 30 hours a week. Do the math! 30 hours a week times 36 weeks of school equals 1,080 hours in the classroom in a school year. Now multiply that by 13 years. It equals 14,040 hours that children are absorbing worldviews. The question raised to parents is, “What kind of worldview do you want your child to have when he or she graduates high school?”
A catechism question that some kindergarten students respond to is “Why did God make all things?” The little ones answer correctly, “God made all things for His own glory (Rom 11:36).” Our worldview, even at the age of five, should start with God at the center of our lives with everything revolving around Him. As the initial premise mentions, our society’s secular worldview is fragmented. In other words, it is broken and sinful. We as parents and educators need to have a plan -- a plan to instruct our children to compare everything to God’s Word. His Word is our lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. That path that our children tread upon is full of rocks and holes and other obstacles. They need God’s Word and its perspective to keep from falling. They need a bright and true light.
To learn more about Christian schools and Christian schooling - and to find a local Christian school in your area - please visit www.DiscoverChristianSchools.com.
Monday, June 9, 2008
A Christian Approach to the Content of Education
Is there a Christian approach to the content of education?
Click here to listen.
The content of education, unlike the specific curriculum, has an implied value. Content rests on an implied value. Let’s see…
In the non-Christian, school there is no absolute or ultimate truth. It is each person’s responsibility to decide their final or overarching truth.
A true Christian education studies all of life in submission to the word of God, the Bible and its precepts, or truths.
When we look at content this way we see a significant difference. God designed us to seek the truth; He declares truth will set us free – from bondage to sin.
The content of education is an aspect that we must seriously consider and pray about.
Please partner with a school that begins its content with the truth of the Bible.
We can help you find a Christian school and fulfill the directive we have been assigned as Christian parents.
Monday, June 2, 2008
A Christian Approach to the Control of Education
Is there a Christian approach to the control of education?
Click here to listen.
Some Christian parents believe that they have no right to control the education process – it’s the government’s role. Let’s see…
In both Proverbs and Deuteronomy God clearly gives parents the responsibility for and the control of a child’s training.
That makes sense. At the end of our lives, when we hear God’s pronouncement on our obedience to Him, we want to hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” God will not hold the school district responsible for our children.
Maybe we need recalibration. The control of education, whether at home or in a classroom, falls on parents’ shoulders; and it should be in concert with the parents’ values.
Please partner with a school that agrees with your role in your child’s life.
We can help you find a Christian school and fulfill the directive we have been assigned as Christian parents.
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