SCREENING YOUR TEACHERS

Proverbs 19:27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

Teaching or instructing is a powerful tool. Truth can be communicated and received in such a way that it will stay permanently in the mind of the learner. In the same manner, error can be taught and explained so convincingly that students enthusiastically embrace it. Our text warns us about the importance of carefully screening our sources of information. Simply stated, we are to stop listening to teaching that will cause us to depart from the truth. We are taught to respect the power of truth; but too often, we fail to respect the power of lies. Error can lead us away from the truth. The sometimes overlooked fact is that error can become “perceived truth” in the unsuspecting mind. Those who have been successfully indoctrinated in error will stubbornly defend it. Cults are convinced that their false beliefs are the absolute truth. We need to be careful about who our instructors are and who is teaching our children. Lest we think this is not really all that relevant, remember what the New Testament says: “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” (Galatians 5:9). How much error does it take to corrupt the truth? It was this passage of Scripture that convinced me, many years ago, not to allow our children to be taught in the government schools. We did not want our children to be taught the godless theory of evolution or the revised history of our nation, which ignores our Christian heritage. Who are our teachers? One of the most powerful and dangerous mediums of information is the media. The valueless system of this world is being communicated through music, movies, television, and the printed page. Minds are being conformed to a way of life that is opposed to the Word of God. Medical professionals who should be trained to protect life have been brainwashed to believe that aborting a living human is permissible. Judges in our nation have had their judgment defiled until they believe it is their duty to protect society from the message of Christianity. Where did all this nonsense begin, and how has it been sustained? It has been promoted and propagated through teaching. We need to take this caution from the wise writer of Proverbs seriously. We are to quit listening to teachers whose error can cause “to err from the words of knowledge.”

A devotional thought by Pastor Smith of Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Teaching Our Children God’s Word

(Here is a devotional article written by Pastor Paul Chappell that was in my mailbox early this morning. This thought and command from God's Word has been my goal with the six children God has blessed my wife and I with over the years; it's a never ending job, but it is so rewarding when you see how God blesses in our lives as well as the lives of our children.)

Prov. 4:1-4 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

God desires for us to raise our children for Him. He delights in the faith and love of small children and He has a special place in His heart for them. He even sets distinct consequences for those who harm children. Matthew 18:6 says, “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” God takes the raising and nourishing of children very seriously.

In giving us the gift of children, God has also given us a responsibility. We are to raise our children to love the Lord. We are to help them develop hearts for Him. Yesterday we saw how we can help them by expressing our love to them each day. Today we will see that God desires for us to teach them His Word.

We are the ones responsible for teaching our children God’s Word. Every child needs a set of principles to live by. They need to learn respect, integrity, honesty, and discipline. These attributes can only be learned if we, as parents, are teaching them God’s Word.

Many of the problems in our world today can be traced back to parents who failed to teach their children God’s Word. Many times parents avoid teaching their children the Bible because they do not know it themselves! Parents, we must be in God’s Word each day so we can teach it to our children.

Also, we must realize that God’s Word keeps the heart. When we teach our children Bible verses and Bible stories, their hearts are nourished. We may not think so, but even young children can learn and retain Bible stories! It is a good practice to nourish their heart early on in life with good Bible stories and verses.

Time in the Bible does not have to be boring for your children! You can make it fun and exciting so they will want to learn God’s Word and spend time with Him. As you cultivate a love for God and His Word early on in your child’s life, they will be more established in Christ when they are older.

Parents, it is our responsibility to teach God’s Word to our children. Our world is not teaching them about God and how to live a moral life. If we do not teach them, who will? Also, we can help protect their hearts by teaching them His Word. As we teach them to hide His Word in their hearts, they will be better prepared to face the devil and his temptations.

Are you actively teaching your children God’s Word? It isn’t the job of the church, Sunday school, or even the Christian school to teach your children of God! It is your job as the parent. Spend time with God now and commit to helping establish your child’s heart by teaching him God’s Word. Take time today to teach your child a Bible verse or to tell them a Bible story. Help ground their lives in God’s Word today.

(Comment from Jim; The example of Timothy shown from the verses below has always been a guide to my wife and I in raising our children in God's Word.)

2 Tim. 1:5, 2 Tim. 3:14-17 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Beware of Home School Demons

(This article was posted on another mailing list today and I thought I would share it with my faithful blog readers. This one really hits home, as my wife and I have been homeschooling our children now for seventeen years. We have been guilty of some of these areas from time to time and have had to repent and get back on track!!! This is a good checklist to make sure we keep the proper attitude in this area of educating our children.)

Much has been said in the debate on education about public schooling versus home schooling. The issues range from who is really responsible for the education of children, who can best educate them, and the problem of "socialization" for home schooled children, to name a few. From my experience, the socialization that takes place in school settings is usually a major problem itself.

Concerning the public government school system, much has been said about revamping, restructuring and renewing the system. All such talk is nonsense and misses the mark. To speak of fixing the system is tantamount to arguing over how to repair a watch that has been smashed under the tire of an eighteen wheeler. Replacement is the issue, not repair. And that is exactly what home schooling parents have chosen to do. Replace the broken government school system with an effective system known as home education. Thank God for the freedom parents have to exercise the God given responsibility to educate their children.

However, home education in itself does not guarantee quality education. The quality of education provided in the home will be determined by the education of the parents(to a degree) and their commitment(key word) to providing a God centered, holistic education with a true biblical world view, characterized by consistency. I believe home education is superior to the God-excluding government program offered in the current system. I am a home school parent, so naturally you would not expect me to say anything different. With that said, however, let's be realistic about some "demons" that can appear and hinder or destroy the effectiveness of home education.

1. Lack of commitment. No one should begin home education unless they are absolutely committed to following through. It may seem like an easy alternative to some who pull their children from school because they are failing. But if they are failing in a public school, and the cause of failure is rooted in lack of commitment from the parents to initially support and assist their children, it will only get worse in home education, because it requires serious dedication.
2. Not enough structure. I notice a tendency among some home schooling parents to be too laid back. Since home education is not "formal" education (and why shouldn't it be) requirements are sometimes not tough enough (and this can depend of the parents), schedules are not followed, deadlines are not always met and curriculum not completed.
3. Lack of accountability. If some deadlines are not met and some requirements not enforced, who is going to know? If a parent tends to be too laid back with not enough structure, always waiting for that "teachable moment", lack of accountability adds to the problem. Teachable moments are a reality and are great, but structure and accountability are "evils" that are necessary. Besides, we don't wait for "eatable" moments and depend on "sleepable" moments, but schedule them.
4. Denial of reality. Though I believe some real learning disabilities exist, they are not near as common as the purveyors of Ritalin would have us believe. But there can be a tendency among home school parents to go in denial about a legitimate problem that may exist, thinking, hoping, and praying that home schooling in and of itself will effect the remedy. Home schooling is superior, but is not a cure-all, fix-all remedy for real processing problems, genuine cases of dyslexia, etc.
5. Arrogance. Here is a demon that Satan can use in a subtle way. "Our home school kids are better than the heathen in public government schools"

Actually, home school kids have the same level of depravity as all kids. They are inherently no better than other kids, but certainly have a better opportunity for a superior God centered education and less exposure to ungodliness than kids in government and private so-called Christian schools. Perspective will help keep this demon at bay.

Joseph Harris