Truth or Dare

Sometimes when I read a biblical account, I try to picture in detail how a particular event played out. For example, when I read of Nebuchadnezzar's furnace and Daniel's three friends, I visualize the flames, imagine the intensity of the heat, and picture the young men’s faces when they are suddenly joined by Another and find that neither their clothing nor their bodies are burning. This makes the entire episode one that I remember vividly as if I was there myself. This technique has also served me well in teaching Bible stories to my children.

Just recently while dealing with aspects of pride, peer pressure, and pietism in my own life, I began to see these factors in Adam and Eve's encounter with the evil serpent in the Garden. Putting myself in their place, I tried to picture how the episode might have played out. Is it likely that the serpent presented himself like the sample lady at the grocery store? Was it that Eve was just hungry and the suggestion of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was just the most convenient way to deal with her appetite? I think not. My guess is that Satan presented himself in such a way as to invite interaction -- making the encounter seem accidental rather than intentional. He may have been striking to look at or imposing in his size and demeanor. In the process he worked to make Eve feel small, ignorant, and inferior. In other words, she experienced the same sort of temptation --- to fit in -- that I experience regularly.

Here is my "take" on how the conversation might have transpired:

Serpent: (mutters something).

Eve: Excuse me, did you say something?

Serpent: Oh, I didn't realize anyone else was around. I was just noticing how great this place is.

Eve: It is great isn't it? I'm so happy here.

Serpent: And why shouldn't you be? I mean, you have your choice of all the wonderful trees in this garden. I mean, you can have whatever you want.

Eve: Well, almost everything.

Serpent: Almost everything? You mean there are some things you can't have? That's a bit strange, don't you think?

Eve: Well, we may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said we can't eat of it, or even touch it for that matter; otherwise we will die.

Serpent: (with a look of condescension) How’s that again?

Eve: (now a bit flustered) I mean we were told we shouldn't eat the fruit of that tree.

Serpent: (in a patronizing tone) He actually told you that? That you would die? (laughing) You actually believe that? (with confident assurance) You will not die if you eat it!

Eve: (sheepishly) Why would He tell us that if it wasn't true?

Serpent: Because he knows that the day you eat it He'll lose his edge over you. You know what I mean? You’ll be just like Him. (with a grin) I mean, maybe He just doesn't want the competition. Think of it. Instead of always having to have someone tell you what to do, you can be your own person -- you know, deciding for yourself what's good and what’s not. Are you going to be tied to asking permission for everything you do?

Eve: (gazing at the tree, then the serpent, then Adam). Hmmmmmmmmm.

Serpent: (shoots a challenging glance at Adam who is nearby watching without saying a word).

Eve: (Thinking to herself) If it's in the garden, it must be good to eat -- I mean why would God put a poisonous tree in here in the first place? And, besides, I do think I'm at a point in my life where I am capable of making my own decisions. -- (out loud) Well, it looks really delicious.

Serpent: On that we can both agree.

Eve: Oh, well, what have I got to lose anyhow? (Takes a bite and turns to her husband who is more than willing to accommodate her offer). Oh, Honey, this IS good.

This unsuccessful encounter with temptation ends with the beginning of sin in the world. We and our children experience this scenario every day of our lives in one form or another. We, like Adam and Eve, have the Word of God given to us to protect us from the wiles of the devil. Similarly, our duty is to trust and obey rather than doubt and act autonomously.

How does this relate to the homeschooling family? Although we strive to provide our children with an environment where they can learn and grow with the Word of God as their foundation, just like Adam and Eve, they will face times of testing. What will happen when they are faced with a condescending, patronizing, ridiculing, professor, employer, or coach who belittles their biblical convictions of obedience and tempts them with the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life? Will they respond with Thus says the Lord and follow in accordance with His Word? Or will they, like our first parents, become overwhelmed by the arguments encouraging disobedience and consumed with fitting in, feeling cool, or whatever the fashion of the day prescribes? Truth or dare.

These are questions that are best dealt with in fervent prayer and supplication. But, regardless of the outcome for individual children, it is the duty and responsibility of parents to remain faithful to the law-word of God.

Apologizing During Golf

Acquaintances often ask me to share my "secrets" for being able to engage in apologetic conversations with non-Christians in the most unlikely circumstances. For me, one of the most fertile grounds for this activity is a golf course. You see, my summers involve regular attendance at junior golf tournaments with my daughter. The officials work very hard to have each group finish within a 4 – 4 1/2 hour timeframe; but these competitions often can run five, sometimes six, hours. Besides being tiring on the feet, they are times where I have the opportunity to get to know the parents of the girls in my daughter's group. In fact, in our family devotions before we leave for a tournament, my husband prays that Dorothy will play well and that God will set up "divine appointments" for me with specific people with whom He wants me to interact.

Recently I shared an almost five-hour round with a man I will call "Joe." I've known Joe for over three years now, having shared a number of rounds as spectator with him. I've gotten to know much about him (as he has me) -- his occupation, facets of his childhood, and the things he likes and doesn't like having to deal with in the world. Joe is the sort of guy who is very sure of himself and his own righteousness, actively determining and defining good and evil for himself. Unpleasantly, he repeatedly takes the Lord's name in vain over the trifles of a missed putt or a bad decision on the part of his daughter. Joe, like so many of our day, is sure that he has life all figured out.

Heading toward the end of the round on the first day of a recent tournament, (one in which his daughter was a good dozen strokes better than mine), he lamented that each time his girl got ready to hit her shot, the wind would kick up, potentially making her shot much harder than anyone else's. That was not an accurate observation, but one he maintained. I pointed out that there are some phenomena that cannot be controlled, and we need to view them as under the jurisdiction of God Himself -- the wind being one of them, blowing where it will. He snickered and sneered and informed me that God couldn't care less about what happened in this round of golf, one way or the other. I told him that I begged to differ with him -- the Bible clearly states that there is not one facet of life that God is not intimately connected with and concerned about -- not a sparrow falls to the ground without the Lord knowing about it. In a most patronizing, condescending voice with a hint of ridicule, he asserted, "Now you're sounding like a Calvinist!" To which I replied, "I am a Calvinist, and unashamed of it. I believe in a sovereign God who foreordains whatsoever comes to pass."

Now, Joe was a bit flustered, and all he could say over and over was, "Really, a Calvinist? Really?" It was quite funny witnessing him try to reassure me that he didn't have anything personally against Calvinists -- that he is a very tolerant guy -- one who believes all religions have an equal footing and all should be studied and applied. In fact, he made sure that I understood that he has known Calvinists whom he liked very much. When he regrouped, he commented, "Now it all makes sense. Now you make sense to me."

For the rest of that day and the day following, every time I saw Joe he kept bringing up the subject. In fact, he told his daughter (who won the tournament) that "Mrs. Schwartz is a Calvinist -- one of those 'religious people' who is very consistent in her beliefs." I further bewildered him when I asserted that he, too, was a very religious person. His was just a different religion. That made him speechless – for a time.

I'm guessing that the God Joe is sure is too busy for the likes of him, was successfully getting under his skin that day with me as His vehicle. As I was leaving the course, he yelled, "I plan to continue this discussion!"

Anytime, Joe. Anytime.

Life of the Mother ~ Life of the Child

We live in a day and age when the subject of abortion is relegated to the category of what polite people don’t talk about in public for fear of upsetting those with contrary views. Even within the ranks of Christians who consider themselves pro-life, there is often lively debate as to whether or not certain “exceptions” are appropriate and legitimate. It is at this point, that humanism often trumps a Biblical worldview in coming up with the “answers to the tough questions.”

This week’s edition of World Magazine highlights a family that epitomizes a resolve that affirms that ALL life is precious, and one life is not inherently more important than another. Michael and Susan Kelley made a decision 19 years ago, that not only serves to show how theology informs morality and action, but serves as a reminder that standing and acting on biblical principles derives blessings beyond measure.

I invite you to read and share their story.

I Love Teaching Evolution

Yes, it's true. You didn't misread my title. In fact, I dare say that a day doesn't go by in my homeschool that the subject and tenets of evolution don't come up, either directly or indirectly. This topic makes its way into our study of science, history, philosophy, and theology, not to mention its implications in cultural affairs and current events. You might be wondering, isn't this the very reason many Christian parents remove their children from state schools -- to get away from such teaching?

Evolution is a topic that repeatedly enters into our curriculum the same way that sin is a topic that gets covered in depth. How am I adequately educating my child if I fail to cover in detail the lies and deceptions that are prevalent in our humanistic culture? The Christian homeschooling parent must be prepared to understand, articulate, and refute the preposterous claims that currently serve as explanations for the origins of life and the presence of all creatures great and small. Fortunately, there are many good books and publishers that have taken the time to make this task much easier.

This kind of teaching and learning further prepares our students to be salt and light as they make disciples of all nations. Unless they understand what their contemporaries are being taught, they will be hampered when they engage in discussions with those steeped in lies. Furthermore, they will be better equipped to explain how the law-word of God is the relevant component in understanding life itself, the Creator of life, and His requirement of obedience.

Secular government schools insist that the foundation of a child's education be based on deception and falsehoods specifically designed to alienate the child from the God of Scripture. It is precisely for this reason that statist educators want children at younger and younger ages, while they are so impressionable. And, it is precisely for this reason that Christian parents should never relinquish their God-given responsibility to train up their children -- especially to those who either explicitly or implicitly deny the Holy Word of God.