Barking Up the Wrong Tree

Public schools can expect resurgence in attendance in the coming months and years as harsh economic realities intensify. Is it because state schools offer a better education than their private counterparts? Hardly. When families have to prune their budgets, cutting back on taxes is not an option. Thus, the thinking goes, we might as well make use of the tax dollars we are paying into the system and get the “free” education we are entitled to. Thus, Christian education gets allocated to the luxury column in the financial spreadsheet.

This is disastrous reasoning. If the Church does not make the survival of Christian schools a priority, and fails to encourage and support the efforts of homeschooling families, the dark age that looms before us will be ushered in sooner rather than later. Instead of building bigger sanctuaries, upgrading to the latest technological gizmos, and spending oodles of dollars to send kids to far away places for seven days to build buildings, the people of God need to address the fundamental issue of our day: Who is educating and discipling the next generation? Anyone who is not comfortable with the political choices that continue to disappoint year after year had better realize that the future lies in education. The enemies of God know this. When is the Church going to realize it?

Jesus was very clear: A bad tree cannot produce good fruit. Yet, good people are compromising their Christian principles and entertaining the idea of sending their children to the humanistic, statist, materialistic, atheistic synagogues of satan because the dad has been laid off and mom needs to go to work. As I pointed out to an acquaintance recently, “If money is what you want, you could go out tonight and bring home a bunch if you were willing to be a prostitute!” Her reaction was predictable. We all know that the Scripture forbids that. But, why do we pick and choose which Scriptures we are going to obey? Doesn't the Word of God state that children should be trained in God's ways from morning to evening, and at every opportunity and circumstance along the way?

James 4:2 says, “You have not because you ask not.” I submit that any Christian family that endeavors to obey God and keep His commandments should hold fast the profession of their faith without wavering, for He is faithful that promised. (Hebrews 10:23).

For those who are tempted to take the easy way out, let me remind you that 1 Corinthians 10:13 states,

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

For anyone who needs some encouragement in this area, let’s talk: lessons.learned@yahoo.com.