Strangely, this is one of the hardest posts I’ve ever tried to write; it seems everything got in the way of writing it.  I am now wondering if there is some spiritual warfare going on over it, as the stakes in this endeavor of home education are incredibly high.  For even if we start strongly, with biblical reasons for homeschooling, Satan may subsequently distract us from a biblical educational framework, essentially pulling an educational bait-and-switch routine.  If, all the while, we still think we’re doing the right thing, then the Enemy has won a significant victory over us, and we may not even realize it.

“I say this so no one may delude you with persuasive argument.

For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit,

rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord,

so walk in Him,

having been firmly rooted

and now being built up in Him and established in your faith,

just as you were instructed,

and overflowing with gratitude.

See to it that no one take you captive

through philosophy and empty deception,

according to the tradition of men,

according to the elementary principles of the world,

rather than according to Christ.

For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,

and in Him you have been made complete,

and He is the head over all rule and authority. . .” 

Colossians 2:4-10

Here are some examples of what I’ve discovered:

One philosophy of education comes from the ideas of an educator, most of whose ideas seem to be in line with biblical principles, who believed that children could comprehend much, even when very young, and should not be talked down to.

In another case, I found an entire framework for a very popular educational system based on ideas which are rather child-demeaning, from a woman who neither was an educator, nor raised any children, who admitted that she was unqualified to address the topic of education, and is known for both feminist writings and humanist ideas.

At the heart of another homeschool methodology, I found the idea that each child’s spirit came from the spirit world and will be reincarnated into another body after it’s current life. Shocking, yes, yet this idea is more common than you’d suspect.

At the opposite extreme, another system begins with laying a scriptural foundation of truth and then measures everything else against it.

In contrast to the “The Bird Mother Philosophy,” one method starts with the idea that a child will construct his own thinking and should be left alone to explore a prepared environment, without direct instruction.

I honestly was amazed at the wide spectrum of ideas I discovered behind many popular homeschooling methods.  Some of the most alarming, which either contradict Biblical principles or are based on pagan worldviews, have a presence at even the more conservative homeschool convention exhibit halls.  I have come to realize that living by the oft quoted maxim, “All truth is God’s truth,” could land us in trouble if we are not discerning.  Perhaps it would be more accurate to say, “Not all so-called truth is really truth.”  After all, just because it’s called truth doesn’t mean it is.  If it’s not consistent with God’s truth, it’s not truth at all.

God’s truth, revealed in scripture, ought to be not only the catapult that launches us into homeschooling, but it should continue to drive, permeate, and purify our educational philosophy and methods.  If, after a biblical launch, we subsequently land on, and ride on, from there on out, a philosophical and methodological bandwagon driven by ideas not consistent with biblical principles, we are heading straight over a cliff.

Together let’s press on to walk in Christ in our educational choices, seeing to it that we are not taken captive by empty deception, and recognizing that He is the head over all rule and authority, taking His Word as our starting point, the heart of all we do, and our final authority.  For how could we ever expect to see godly fruit produced from unbiblical roots?

Homeschooling with her husband, Scott, since 2001, Carol believes nothing is too difficult for God.  She is a passionate encourager and loves using creative means–including writing music, singing, speaking, and blogging–to encourage others to trust God through all the adventures He calls them to.  You can read more from her at her Unsmotherable Delight blog (udelight.blogspot.com), where you’ll find faith-filled original songs, favorite scriptures, family stories, and even a little film about adoption, all designed to inspire and lift your spirit.  Her original ‘theme song’ titled Captain’s Anthem can be heard on Vimeo at http://vimeo.com/30769152.


Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.