So I need to do my rant!
From the dictionary..
so·cial·ize
v. so·cial·ized, so·cial·iz·ing, so·cial·iz·es
v. tr.
1)To place under government or group ownership or control.
2)To make fit for companionship with others; make sociable.
3)To convert or adapt to the needs of society.
As a Christian I do not feel any of these definitions apply to me. I am not of this world. I do not belong to the Gov. I belong to God as do my children. Companionship with Jesus is way more important then with others (society) and I do not feel my children need to convert or adapt to this world, on the contrary they are as christians to be set apart from this world.
Now here is a new word to be used in place of "socialization"...
fel·low·ship n.
1)
A)The condition of sharing similar interests, ideals, or experiences, as by reason of profession, religion, or nationality.
B)The companionship of individuals in a congenial atmosphere and on equal terms.
2)A close association of friends or equals sharing similar interests.
3)Friendship; comradeship.
How come no one ever asks me "What about your childrens fellowship?"
2Corinthians 6:14 "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?"
Kids do not only go to school and "socialize" with other kids. They also "socialize" with teachers whom do not concern themselves with the moral and biblical view but thier own political and idealogical views.
Now I know that people will ask "What about when your child goes out in the real world?".. My job as a parent is to teach my child that they are not apart of this world, but to also give them the knowledge of surviving this world. So they know about drugs, homosexuality, violence, bullies, temptations and on and on. But not only are we to teach them about these things but to give them the means of dealing with them. We are to help them put on the Armor of God so they can stand against evil. That doesn't mean they have to experience a bully on a playground in order to learn from it. It means to prepare them in case things do happen, so that know how to handle it.
Our kids will make mistakes. Do things that cause us to wonder what we did wrong. But God tells us, and we know better then to doubt him... That if we follow his lessons to us then he will not let us down.
Proverbs 22:6
"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." (notice it does not say socialize a child)..
Proverbs 4:10-13
" 10 Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.
11 I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life."
I searched but could not seem to find the word "socialization" anywhere in my Bible. I found lots about parents training their children, and about fellowship with other christians and about not being apart of those that may cause us to sin. In fact we are told to remove from us those things that may lead us to sin. Not to put ourselves or our children in situations where we will fail.
So the next time a Christian asks me about my homeschooled childrens "socialization" I well ask them to show me where in the bible that socialization is taught and if to them it means the same as fellowship. As for non-christians who ask, I guess I should ask them what things they see in me and my children that are so neggative that they feel we need to be more like everyone else and hope that I have demostrated a Christian behavior that might lead them close to an understanding and a relationship with Jesus.