No Choice...Really

I have come late (in life) to an understanding of a biblical principle. It is not an option for Christians to educate their children 'Christianly'. It is a covenant responsibility for a covenant people ruled by a covenant God. Whether it is home schooling or a Christian school, children of believers should be educated 24/7, as the vernacular goes, in the truth. And truth is not often present in the government school system. American law and culture, founded on biblical principles, is disintegrating right before our eyes and the government school system is at the heart of it...just as its founders, Horace Mann and others, intended. I can attest to all that in my own education, as well as that of my older children's. Though there is no clear commandment in Scripture, as in the 10 Commandments, the following verses, taken as a whole, make it pretty clear what we as Christians ought to do. (Deut 6:4-9; Psa 1:1-3; Psa 103:17-18; Prov 9:10-11; Prov 22:6; Luke 17:1-2; II Cor 6:14; II Cor 10:5; Eph 6:4; Col 2:8)

As Christians, we need to avoid a 'wooden' approach to the Bible. If there is a commandment 'to do' or 'not to do' then we need to be obedient to the letter. In the absence of a decree, we need to apply biblical principle in a contextual, thoughtful and comprehensive manner. If we always insist on a clear commandment or example in Scripture then women should not take communion, and young children who make a profession of faith should not be baptized until they are adults. We all know that is ludicrous. Neither of those situations warrants adherence. For those, however, who insist on a clear 'commandment' regarding a prohibition for government schooling, then they should be consistent in their application of the Scriptures and forbid their wives from partaking of the Lord's Supper.

Try this thought experiment. Imagine what Samuel or David or Isaiah or Elijah would have said if it was suggested that the Philistines educate Israelite children because their Jewish tribute already paid for it, and the Philistines had all the latest technologies (iron, chariots and computer labs). How about Jesus, Matthew, Timothy, and Paul regarding a Roman education for Jewish children?