Friday, October 31, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
The Requirement of Obedience
"Man was created to be a moral being, and moral choices are inescapable for him. They do not disappear when he denies them. God’s test of men is in terms of their choices: if they are of Christ, they reveal it in their works, their fruits.
The commandment therefore is plain-spoken: “And ye shall observe to do all the statutes and judgments which I set before you this day” (Deuteronomy 11:32). The statement is not an appeal, saying, Think about it, and make God happy by doing what He suggests! It is a blunt command: do it. Man is not asked to reflect on what God says, nor to understand it, but to obey it.
"Contemporary education stresses the participation of the child, who is urged to comment on the teaching, express opinions, and to treat the body of knowledge as something to be judged, to be taken only at will. The result is ignorance, because the self-importance of the child is cultivated rather than his self-discipline. Education for ignorance and arrogance is the result.
"The antinomianism of the churches has been a major force in this evil development. We have had a child-centered education, and not only God but subject content has lost its rightful place. Life is neither child-centered nor man-centered, and it is an illusion to think so. Life is God-centered. It serves His purposes or incurs His judgment. Curses and blessings, rewards and punishments, are therefore inseparable from life. The disaster of "public" education has been its abandonment of rewards and punishments. In the 1950s, a woman was called to the school for consultation about her son, described on the telephone as a "social deviate." She hurried to the school in shock and alarm. She found that her son's problem was that he read books during recess instead of playing. We can see why education has been going downhill since then. Such rewards and punishments as do exist are not in terms of any valid standard."
The commandment therefore is plain-spoken: “And ye shall observe to do all the statutes and judgments which I set before you this day” (Deuteronomy 11:32). The statement is not an appeal, saying, Think about it, and make God happy by doing what He suggests! It is a blunt command: do it. Man is not asked to reflect on what God says, nor to understand it, but to obey it.
"Contemporary education stresses the participation of the child, who is urged to comment on the teaching, express opinions, and to treat the body of knowledge as something to be judged, to be taken only at will. The result is ignorance, because the self-importance of the child is cultivated rather than his self-discipline. Education for ignorance and arrogance is the result.
"The antinomianism of the churches has been a major force in this evil development. We have had a child-centered education, and not only God but subject content has lost its rightful place. Life is neither child-centered nor man-centered, and it is an illusion to think so. Life is God-centered. It serves His purposes or incurs His judgment. Curses and blessings, rewards and punishments, are therefore inseparable from life. The disaster of "public" education has been its abandonment of rewards and punishments. In the 1950s, a woman was called to the school for consultation about her son, described on the telephone as a "social deviate." She hurried to the school in shock and alarm. She found that her son's problem was that he read books during recess instead of playing. We can see why education has been going downhill since then. Such rewards and punishments as do exist are not in terms of any valid standard."
~ R.J. Rushdoony, Deuteronomy p. 183-184.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Sightings
One of the favorite activities of our early homeschooling days was family reading time. My husband or I would pick a series (e.g., The Chronicles of Narnia, Little House on the Prairie, or Anne of Green Gables) and witness the curiosity and enjoyment of individual children as a new world was opened to them. The one I enjoyed the most was The Tales of the Kingdom trilogy – an allegorical depiction of the Kingdom of God and how the fallen world under the control of the devil seeks to dislodge and overturn it.
A running theme throughout the stories is the battle the Enchanter carries on against the King. The greeting of Rangers (those faithful to the King) went like this:
“How goes the world?”
“The world goes not well. But, the Kingdom comes!”
(spoken together) “To the King; To the Restoration!”
The Enchanted City, where the Enchanter ruled, was a place where those faithful to the King were under constant attack. The Enchanter’s henchmen, the Burners and Breakers, would seek to steal children away from their parents and claim ownership of them as orphans. The Enchanter would challenge the existence of the King as mere myth and fable. His mantra was “Seeing is believing,” while the King’s faithful declared “Believing is seeing,” This always brought to mind the words of St. Anselm of Canterbury, a monk, archbishop, and theologian, in his well-known prayer:
As a result of our interaction with these books, we adopted the practice of sharing our “sightings” with each other. In the stories, sightings were those instances where Hero (the main character) chronicled occurrences where the King was spotted in disguise: sometimes as a beggar, a woodcutter, or a caring friend. This concept of looking for and sharing about situations in our lives where we spotted King Jesus in action became such a part of our lives that we incorporated sightings into our house church services. Time was set aside to share our sightings of Our Lord in our day-to-day life. We developed an expectation that we would encounter Him regularly, and witness the power and victory of the Christian life on a daily basis.
One eight-year-old boy (who was a heart transplant and cancer patient) had the best sightings. He recounted his conversations with anesthesiologists and medical personal at Stanford Children’s Hospital prior to his biopsies when he would ask if they knew Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Or, how, when waiting for an outpatient procedure, he would be able to comfort other children who were frightened and crying, praying with them to ease their fears. He always expected to see Jesus at work in and around his life. Sightings became a favorite portion of the service for us.
It is very important in trying times to remember that God is on the throne and, despite how things may appear, and how strong the wicked seem to be, that we should “fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them” (2 Kings 6:8-17).
A running theme throughout the stories is the battle the Enchanter carries on against the King. The greeting of Rangers (those faithful to the King) went like this:
“How goes the world?”
“The world goes not well. But, the Kingdom comes!”
(spoken together) “To the King; To the Restoration!”
The Enchanted City, where the Enchanter ruled, was a place where those faithful to the King were under constant attack. The Enchanter’s henchmen, the Burners and Breakers, would seek to steal children away from their parents and claim ownership of them as orphans. The Enchanter would challenge the existence of the King as mere myth and fable. His mantra was “Seeing is believing,” while the King’s faithful declared “Believing is seeing,” This always brought to mind the words of St. Anselm of Canterbury, a monk, archbishop, and theologian, in his well-known prayer:
…I desire in some measure to understand your truth, which my heart believes and loves. For I do not seek to understand in order that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand. For this too I believe, that "unless I believe, I shall not understand."
As a result of our interaction with these books, we adopted the practice of sharing our “sightings” with each other. In the stories, sightings were those instances where Hero (the main character) chronicled occurrences where the King was spotted in disguise: sometimes as a beggar, a woodcutter, or a caring friend. This concept of looking for and sharing about situations in our lives where we spotted King Jesus in action became such a part of our lives that we incorporated sightings into our house church services. Time was set aside to share our sightings of Our Lord in our day-to-day life. We developed an expectation that we would encounter Him regularly, and witness the power and victory of the Christian life on a daily basis.
One eight-year-old boy (who was a heart transplant and cancer patient) had the best sightings. He recounted his conversations with anesthesiologists and medical personal at Stanford Children’s Hospital prior to his biopsies when he would ask if they knew Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Or, how, when waiting for an outpatient procedure, he would be able to comfort other children who were frightened and crying, praying with them to ease their fears. He always expected to see Jesus at work in and around his life. Sightings became a favorite portion of the service for us.
It is very important in trying times to remember that God is on the throne and, despite how things may appear, and how strong the wicked seem to be, that we should “fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them” (2 Kings 6:8-17).
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Mirror Mirror
Just because you homeschool doesn’t mean that you are “sinning” if you take time for yourself. Having the opportunity to get some relief from your day-to-day activities rejuvenates the homeschooling mom, enabling her to resume her 24/7 job.
This is especially true for women who have spent a good portion of their recent lives either being pregnant or caring for infants and children. With so many demands on their attention, spending time replenishing themselves spiritually, intellectually, and physically often gets placed on the back burner. Concerns about physical appearance and how it changes with motherhood can cause insecurities to arise.
At times like this, returning to the Bible for instruction and guidance is useful. Rather than use the standard of men, in general, or current cultural fashion, a wife should derive her perception of herself not from her own eyes, but from her husband’s. It is more important to endeavor to please the one person God says has ownership of the wife’s body – the husband -- than try to conform to the standards of the world.
How does this play out? After our conversion, my husband and I began to attend church. I became aware that, in many churches, there is a standard that women only wear dresses and skirts. I adopted that standard. However, my husband’s preference was for me to be in tailored slacks that were more of a sports/casual style. For years, I was more concerned with what the ladies of the church would think of me than pleasing my husband and I dressed in a way that failed to value his preference. 1 Peter 3:2-6 helped me to see that my priorities were wrong.
Likewise women often get preoccupied with how much we weigh, what dress size we’ve graduated to, and the killer question, “Does this make me look fat?” (which a wise husband learns how to answer diplomatically very early in his marriage). The real question should be, “Are you, Dear Husband, happy and comfortable with my appearance and the way I am dressed?” Since no one anywhere had the right to encourage, urge, or demand that a person violate God's law, providing that the husband is not asking his wife to do or wear anything that violates a clear Scriptural mandate or perspective, a woman should make her husband’s wishes paramount in her thinking. Such an attitude would alleviate much of the self-inflicted pressure we women put on ourselves.
So, ladies, instead of looking in the mirror for your feedback, it is much better to gaze at your reflection in your husband’s eyes.
This is especially true for women who have spent a good portion of their recent lives either being pregnant or caring for infants and children. With so many demands on their attention, spending time replenishing themselves spiritually, intellectually, and physically often gets placed on the back burner. Concerns about physical appearance and how it changes with motherhood can cause insecurities to arise.
At times like this, returning to the Bible for instruction and guidance is useful. Rather than use the standard of men, in general, or current cultural fashion, a wife should derive her perception of herself not from her own eyes, but from her husband’s. It is more important to endeavor to please the one person God says has ownership of the wife’s body – the husband -- than try to conform to the standards of the world.
How does this play out? After our conversion, my husband and I began to attend church. I became aware that, in many churches, there is a standard that women only wear dresses and skirts. I adopted that standard. However, my husband’s preference was for me to be in tailored slacks that were more of a sports/casual style. For years, I was more concerned with what the ladies of the church would think of me than pleasing my husband and I dressed in a way that failed to value his preference. 1 Peter 3:2-6 helped me to see that my priorities were wrong.
Likewise women often get preoccupied with how much we weigh, what dress size we’ve graduated to, and the killer question, “Does this make me look fat?” (which a wise husband learns how to answer diplomatically very early in his marriage). The real question should be, “Are you, Dear Husband, happy and comfortable with my appearance and the way I am dressed?” Since no one anywhere had the right to encourage, urge, or demand that a person violate God's law, providing that the husband is not asking his wife to do or wear anything that violates a clear Scriptural mandate or perspective, a woman should make her husband’s wishes paramount in her thinking. Such an attitude would alleviate much of the self-inflicted pressure we women put on ourselves.
So, ladies, instead of looking in the mirror for your feedback, it is much better to gaze at your reflection in your husband’s eyes.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Feedback
When I first began discussing the idea of continuing education for homeschooling parents, many felt that I was positing an "ivory tower" endeavor divorced from their everyday lives. Certainly the sheer size of Rushdoony's Institutes of Biblical Law convinced some that life was just too busy, and taking care of infants and children too time consuming to derive any present-time benefit.
I thought I would share some feedback from a young mother of two (ages 2 and 4)who has begun the mentoring program I've outlined. After every chapter read, we discuss it (via online chat) and then I "assign" the task of applying it to her everyday life. Here is what she reported:
Now I ask you: Would a paid day-care worker (no matter how pleasant and nice) be as invested in these children as their God-ordained mother whose responsibility it is to train her children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?
I thought I would share some feedback from a young mother of two (ages 2 and 4)who has begun the mentoring program I've outlined. After every chapter read, we discuss it (via online chat) and then I "assign" the task of applying it to her everyday life. Here is what she reported:
I thought I would let you know that I am doing my homework. :-)
On Saturday, the kids were fighting over some toy, so I took it away from them. They asked me why I took it away and I responded angrily, "Because I don't like you fighting!" But then I remembered our chat and turned back to them and told them about how God says, "As far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men," and how God wants us to think more highly of each other than ourselves. So that is why they shouldn't fight over the toy, but should be happy to share with each other.
And today I was doing an exercise video and my daughter was standing behind me having a fit because she wanted a sippy cup and I had given her a "big girl" cup. I was tempted to keep exercising (so as not to let my heart rate go down) and just ignore her whining. But I remembered your earlier comment about how developing character is more important than academics (and, by implication, my waistline) so I paused the video and talked to my daughter about having a God-pleasing attitude.
Thanks again for sharing your wisdom.
Now I ask you: Would a paid day-care worker (no matter how pleasant and nice) be as invested in these children as their God-ordained mother whose responsibility it is to train her children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Where Sin Abounds, Grace Does Much More Abound
We live in dark times. Threats exist on every side to that which is godly, holy, and righteous -- such as the assault on biblical marriage that permeates our secular institutions and media propaganda machines. But, God is never without His witness. That's why I whole-heartedly recommend that you take your family and friends (Christian and non-Christian) to see the newest movie by the Kendrick Brothers, Fireproof.
Sure, there are uncomfortable topics such as adultery, pornography, and divorce that customarily don't make for after-the-movie conversation, but you'll also have the opportunity to discuss the powerful depictions of repentance, atonement, sacrificial love, and redemption. And, if you make it all the way through to the end of the movie credits, (as I customarily do), you will be happily greeted by Romans 10:9.
I assure you that your time and money will be well spent.
Sure, there are uncomfortable topics such as adultery, pornography, and divorce that customarily don't make for after-the-movie conversation, but you'll also have the opportunity to discuss the powerful depictions of repentance, atonement, sacrificial love, and redemption. And, if you make it all the way through to the end of the movie credits, (as I customarily do), you will be happily greeted by Romans 10:9.
I assure you that your time and money will be well spent.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Keep Them in the Loop
I recall the day vividly. It was New Year’s Eve. My husband, two daughters, and I were spending Dad’s day off at the movie theater. It was raining, as it had for the past few days, and I was sure that a cold was coming on since I had spent the previous days on a golf course with my daughter in the pouring rain. The movie was 101 Dalmatians and I was struggling to stay awake. So much so, that I had to hold my head up by placing my elbow on the arm rest to my side. As we were leaving the theater, I received a call on my cell phone from my son who reported that he had just been in a car accident. He gave me his location and we headed off to help him. It wasn’t an easy task as the accident had occurred on a busy expressway and there was considerable traffic due to the holiday.
About ninety minutes later, we agreed that I would take my daughters home while my son and husband accompanied the tow truck to the repair shop. I was about to begin my journey in the pouring rain when I got some pretty severe pains in my upper arms accompanied with a tightness in my chest. Not wanting to be irresponsible, I told my husband of my symptoms, and let him know that I didn’t think I should be driving. My husband wanted me to go to the emergency room right away in case something serious was going on. The girls were too young to drive and we agreed that my husband needed to accompany the tow truck and that our son should drive me to the hospital.
After the EKG and all the necessary tests were completed, and I was deemed low risk for a heart attack, the doctors concluded that the chest tightness was most likely from a cold and that the arm pain must have resulted from my use of the arm rests in the theater. My husband arrived at the ER just in time to hear the doctor’s conclusions. He was relieved that the news was good.
In the midst of all this turmoil, no one ever told my daughters what was happening. They were totally in the dark. When I walked in to the waiting room, I had three children with very different expressions on their faces and diverse understandings of what had gone on. My son’s face was a combination of guilt, worry, and horror still contemplating the reality that there was significant damage to the car and he might have given his mother a heart attack. My older daughter (then ten) looked agitated, bored, and fed up with the wait and wanted to know when we were going to get the pizza she’d been promised at the movie theater. The youngest (three) had a look of joy and expectation on her face, and asked with delight, “Mommy, where’s the baby?” sure that all hospital visits resulted in a new brother or sister!
This taught me a valuable lesson: just because we adults know what is going on, we should not assume our kids do. We do a disservice to them and complicate our situations by not keeping them informed. For example, current economic events have many adults perplexed and agitated about the future. If you do not take time to explain to your children what is going on, they cannot understand why you may be making some difficult choices. And, they lose an opportunity to help in some way.
To explain the situation to them, you have to understand the economic crisis yourself.* In these dark days, there are many Biblical lessons to be taught about money, economics, and God’s judgment on sin and so on. Use these trying times and your family financial planning to teach your children well so that they can learn from the sins of their grandfathers and fathers. Consider it a first step in reconstructing a Christian society.
* Books like Larceny in the Heart and the Politics of Guilt and Pity are fundamental to understanding our times.
About ninety minutes later, we agreed that I would take my daughters home while my son and husband accompanied the tow truck to the repair shop. I was about to begin my journey in the pouring rain when I got some pretty severe pains in my upper arms accompanied with a tightness in my chest. Not wanting to be irresponsible, I told my husband of my symptoms, and let him know that I didn’t think I should be driving. My husband wanted me to go to the emergency room right away in case something serious was going on. The girls were too young to drive and we agreed that my husband needed to accompany the tow truck and that our son should drive me to the hospital.
After the EKG and all the necessary tests were completed, and I was deemed low risk for a heart attack, the doctors concluded that the chest tightness was most likely from a cold and that the arm pain must have resulted from my use of the arm rests in the theater. My husband arrived at the ER just in time to hear the doctor’s conclusions. He was relieved that the news was good.
In the midst of all this turmoil, no one ever told my daughters what was happening. They were totally in the dark. When I walked in to the waiting room, I had three children with very different expressions on their faces and diverse understandings of what had gone on. My son’s face was a combination of guilt, worry, and horror still contemplating the reality that there was significant damage to the car and he might have given his mother a heart attack. My older daughter (then ten) looked agitated, bored, and fed up with the wait and wanted to know when we were going to get the pizza she’d been promised at the movie theater. The youngest (three) had a look of joy and expectation on her face, and asked with delight, “Mommy, where’s the baby?” sure that all hospital visits resulted in a new brother or sister!
This taught me a valuable lesson: just because we adults know what is going on, we should not assume our kids do. We do a disservice to them and complicate our situations by not keeping them informed. For example, current economic events have many adults perplexed and agitated about the future. If you do not take time to explain to your children what is going on, they cannot understand why you may be making some difficult choices. And, they lose an opportunity to help in some way.
To explain the situation to them, you have to understand the economic crisis yourself.* In these dark days, there are many Biblical lessons to be taught about money, economics, and God’s judgment on sin and so on. Use these trying times and your family financial planning to teach your children well so that they can learn from the sins of their grandfathers and fathers. Consider it a first step in reconstructing a Christian society.
* Books like Larceny in the Heart and the Politics of Guilt and Pity are fundamental to understanding our times.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Standing on Whose Promises?
In spite of the economic disaster we are facing, compounded by a presidential election that offers no hope for a substantive change in the way our country is governed, many professing Christians express confidence that “God will see them through.” I’m seldom in a position to carry the discussion further, nor would it be particularly productive if I did. These folks are believing God for things He did not promise. Theirs is a mushy, emotional reliance on a god of their own making, rather than the God revealed in the pages of Scripture.
A radical conclusion, you may say. A quick read of Deuteronomy (the O.T. book that Jesus quoted from the most)reveals that God is very clear about the behaviors He will bless and those He won’t. Unjust weights and measures (inflationary economy), sacrificing to idols (leaving the education of children to the authority and teaching of the State), failure to respect the holiness of covenant marriage (homosexual marriage) have been all but ignored by modern man, as well as the majority of professing Christians. Why should any believer who has systematically ignored (deliberately or otherwise) God’s Word have any reason to suppose he would receive blessing from God?
A very frightening passage of Scripture is found in Matthew 7:19-23:
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
We live in an age of preaching and pew sitting where many violate the first commandment by allowing or adhering to standards of worship that are not Biblical. Many give lip service to the Bible, but in actuality live their lives as though there is no God or Word of God telling us how to worship and obey.
That is why the primary focus of the newly formed Chalcedon Teacher Training Institute is to get participants on sure footing when it comes to bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Without the perspective that every area of life and thought is and needs to be under the authority of God and His Word, there is no significant way to maneuver through the perils of any age, let alone the times in which we are living.
Matthew 7 concludes:
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
It’s time for those of us entrusted with stewarding the lives of our children to respond in deliberate obedience to the One who spoke authoritatively, and abandon the empty promises of the world, no matter how piously they are presented.
Won’t you join me and my friends at the Chalcedon Teacher Training Institute as we study and discuss Rushdoony’s Institutes of Biblical Law in an effort to be faithful in our callings in these difficult times? Contact me at lessons.learned@yahoo.com.
A radical conclusion, you may say. A quick read of Deuteronomy (the O.T. book that Jesus quoted from the most)reveals that God is very clear about the behaviors He will bless and those He won’t. Unjust weights and measures (inflationary economy), sacrificing to idols (leaving the education of children to the authority and teaching of the State), failure to respect the holiness of covenant marriage (homosexual marriage) have been all but ignored by modern man, as well as the majority of professing Christians. Why should any believer who has systematically ignored (deliberately or otherwise) God’s Word have any reason to suppose he would receive blessing from God?
A very frightening passage of Scripture is found in Matthew 7:19-23:
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
We live in an age of preaching and pew sitting where many violate the first commandment by allowing or adhering to standards of worship that are not Biblical. Many give lip service to the Bible, but in actuality live their lives as though there is no God or Word of God telling us how to worship and obey.
That is why the primary focus of the newly formed Chalcedon Teacher Training Institute is to get participants on sure footing when it comes to bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Without the perspective that every area of life and thought is and needs to be under the authority of God and His Word, there is no significant way to maneuver through the perils of any age, let alone the times in which we are living.
Matthew 7 concludes:
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
It’s time for those of us entrusted with stewarding the lives of our children to respond in deliberate obedience to the One who spoke authoritatively, and abandon the empty promises of the world, no matter how piously they are presented.
Won’t you join me and my friends at the Chalcedon Teacher Training Institute as we study and discuss Rushdoony’s Institutes of Biblical Law in an effort to be faithful in our callings in these difficult times? Contact me at lessons.learned@yahoo.com.
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