A recent California court ruling has been destabilizing for homeschooling families. As reported in WorldNetDaily, if implemented, parents of 166,000 California students could face criminal charges because they educate their children outside of the California public school system. The intent of the ruling seems to be stripping families of any choice in their children's education and forcing submission to a God-less, anti-Christian paradigm. By God's providence and care, there are quite few competent and dedicated organizations that are "on the case" and ready to engage the situation head on.
In the meantime, all involved with home education should "keep their hands to the plow" maintaining their mission and resolve. Most never started homeschooling because it was fashionable, carefree, or financially lucrative for their families. In fact, Christian homeschooling families in America sacrifice personal gratification and often economic surplus for the opportunity to give their children the God-centered training that the Bible requires.
This court ruling reminds me of a number of situations recounted in Scripture where the desired intent of the enemies of God backfired on them. Like the tyrannical leader who assumed (incorrectly) that he could remedy an annoying problem by drowning babies in the Nile River and, in another instance, making it difficult for Hebrew families to make a living. Instead of ridding himself of a nuisance, he ended up paying dearly, both personally and nationally because he moved against the children of God. Or, how about that time when God's people were threatened with annihilation and the Lord gave a ruler insomnia one evening and had a bedtime story read to him that ultimately set in motion the defeat of the enemies of His people.
Those who war against God's children take the Lord Jesus Christ on as their enemy. But, we should take comfort in the question and answer #26 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism:
Q. 26. How does Christ execute the office of a king?
A. Christ executes the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.
Homeschooling parents should acquaint their children with the current attack on our liberties and our freedom to obey God. But, rather than react with fear to this assault, we should remember that the Lord tells us that the gates of hell will not prevail against His church. If we are going to fear anyone, we should "… fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28)
This is a glorious opportunity to keep the faith in obedience and to watch God work!
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Andrea,
ReplyDeleteI thank you for that encouragement. We, in Tennessee, are facing a similar problem. A bill has been introduced that would require all students, public and nonpublic schooled, to pass all the same yearly tests in order to receive a diploma. These tests would be based on the gov't school texts used in the school system. We would therefore have to use them in our homeschools and Christian schools in order to pass the tests.
This is a wonderful opportunity for us to be on our knees before the Lord to come to our aid. We can also teach our children how dear our freedoms are to us, but how fleeting they are in a country that has turned its back on God. We can also prepare them to stand for God's truth in this nation as they grow and mature and take their place in the world one day.
Linda