Posted on 01/29/2008 1:53:39 PM PST by pray4liberty
Voddie Baucham advocates Christians pulling their children out of government-run schools. He has a response for those who say they can't afford private education or home-schooling -- find a way.
(Excerpt) Read more at onenewsnow.com ...
Yep
Also, Thanks for the link ...
Look! More "SELF-PROCLAIMED-CHRISTIAN-TEACHER" insults and spam from WINTERTIME...(((GOOD DAY)))
ahhh, for once in my life, I’m ahead of the curve.
“Christian teachers in public schools”
from Making a Homeschool Decision by Marilyn Howshall
“I wish to address two possible categories of Christian teachers in the system-those who think of it as their mission-ground and those who are career-oriented simply because their children are in school.
I have heard it said many times by Christian teachers in the system that they are there to contribute to positive changes and improve the system in some way. If we look closely at this principle we will be able to see that this will only work upon condition.
A foundation always determines what is to be built. Jesus Christ must be the original foundation in order to continue godly building. In the early years of our country, schools were run by churches and parents but slowly the government was given more and more authority. We were not careful how we build upon our intuition and the day has revealed the results-it crumbled. Today we no longer have a godly school foundation on which to build.
The principle suggests that if one desires something different he must lay his own foundation. There are examples of this principle at work throughout history. The Pilgrims and Puritans had differing views as to how to bring about change to the church of their time-the Church of England. The Pilgrims felt they must leave and begin afresh following God into the application of the wonderful truths they uncovered in the Word of God. The Puritans felt they must stay and work within the church to bring about change. Both groups of godly Christians had been enlightened by the Word of God but they had very different approaches for how to bring about change. The day has revealed the results, the fruit is unmistakable and lasting. The Pilgrims brought an enlightened Gospel to a new nation and were significantly used in its beginnings. The Puritans remained within the existing structure of the church and while they may have affected individuals within that organization, they did little to bring about any significant changes to its life. There is a valid reason why it works this way, it is scriptural!
“According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become manifest; for the day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.” I Corinthians 3:10-14
As you study church history you will be able to see this principle at work. Whenever God wanted to increase revelation, a break away from the old was necessary to establish the new. When a government, church, or educational system, becomes corrupt, or simply refuses to embrace additional growth, then making changes within the establishment will not bring about the desired results unless those changes are initiated by the leadership involved. Any changes within an already established organization, to be effectively made must begin from the top down because that is where the vision is. Everything flows out from the vision of the leadership.
When leaders stand still or hinder the work of God, He will lay new foundations elsewhere. Tremendous fruit will grow from a new foundation, but those who stand still will often feel threatened by the new move of God and respond in favorably toward it. It must surely be a fundamental defect of our sinful human nature that produces the short-sighted and arrogance to think that God’s work begins and ends with our efforts and those of our own generation. We must be willing to acknowledge God at work and allow it to continue through us to the next generation, as growth will continue from generation to generation; either by existing leadership who will embrace change or by newly ordained leadership of God’s choosing.
While there are many teachers who are called to remain in the system, I believe that God’s reasons for them to be there are more people related than system related. God’s will is for His people to reach individuals with the Gospel no matter where we find ourselves. The teacher who is able to witness in addition to impacting the lives of children and other teachers with a sense of healthy values and live of learning will earn a reward. I do wonder, however, how many teachers who also have young children of their own would continue to think it their personal mission-ground if they had to conduct their ministry within the context of a different set of values-one that would include personally assuming responsibility for their own young children’s education. Ministry is not our reason for being someplace. It is our responsibility to know for sure where God wants us to be; which set of responsibilities He wishes us to assume for our life, and which roles we are to play. Healthy and fruitful ministry can only flow out of an obedient life. If this speaks to you, then you might seriously consider that God would have you do.
Another category of teachers in the system is in regards to the career-minded Mom who is there simply because that is where her own children are-it is their family’s lifestyle-the children go to school and Mom gets a job or pursues a career of her own. If you have simply assumed roles and lifestyles placed upon you by cultural values without seeking God about it then please reconsider and spend a season listening to Him speak to your heart.”
Well?,,,,It may be that there are a very **few** Christian teachers who have a **true** calling to be teaching in the government schools. My question to them would be, "OK!,,Just exactly how are you doing that?" The rest are merely self-deluded while they happily pick up their paychecks.
85% of children of Christian parents no longer practice their faith within 2 years of graduating from high school. Of those who do claim to be Christian their belief system is not gospel based but is a combination of "we should be fair", "feel good", New Agey mish mash. In contrast, 90% or more of homeschoolers remain faithful. Could the difference be due to the example of their **teachers**? ( I have links)
Christian teachers should examine their true role in the government schools. If Christian teachers are not **vigorously** protesting, resisting, and refusing to cooperate with the secular humanist, Marxist, atheistic, anti-Christian, anti-Westertern Civilization agenda of the government schools. Then they should get out!
Why?
If they aren't. If they are silent, if they try to go along, if they don't make waves, if they are not working strenuously to abolish the abominable NEA, reject offensive textbooks, protest offensive school programs and events, then they are setting a very poor example for the all the students ( Christian and non-Christian) as well as for all the non-Christian teachers.
For example, the Amherst, Mass. high school a few years ago had a "Vagina Monologues" week long festival. I don't recall Christian teachers outside the school protesting it.
The Christian teachers that I personally know are trying not to make waves, do not protest, and do everything possible to protect their jobs and paychecks. What they do is try to sneak a little Christian philosophy and thought ( without ever mentioning the words Jesus Christ, of course), into their lessons. They hope that, against all the odds, their their example will stand as a witness for Christ.
What about their example?
These Christian teachers are teaching by example, that Christianity is the religion of the weak, sneaky, timid and lukewarm. They are NOT helping the cause of Christianity. They are impeding it! Christ has said that he would spit these people out of his mouth! I am not surprised that the 85% of Christian kids who leave the religion have done so as well.
If Christian teachers think that they can bring students, and non-Christian teachers to Christ by being silent, weak, agreeable, and conforming,,,then I suggest that they also try putting out a forest fire with a water pistol!
There is another problem with government schools. Government schools and freedom of conscience and the First Amendment will always be in conflict. There is no such thing as a religiously neutral education. If it isn't Christian based then it will be based on some other religious ( non-Christian) philosophy
In the essay by Marilyn Howshall, she states,"A foundation always determines what is to be built. Jesus Christ must be the original foundation in order to continue godly building."
If Christian teachers were to be successful in restoring a Christ based foundation to the government schools, these Christian teachers would be trampling the freedom of conscience of many students who are in the school under police threat and do not want Christianity forced upon them. Many children are in government schools, because if they didn't show up, police action would taken against them and their parents. I don't think you will find anywhere in the gospels where Christ said we should subject people to Christian belief by threat of government police action! Nor does Christ preach that we should take taxes from people ( by threat of force) in order to pay for His message!
The Christian teacher is in a no win situation. If he is quiet and agreeable, he teaches student that Christians are timid, weak, and will sell their principles for a paycheck.
If he protests and aggressively counters the anti-family, pro-Marxist, atheistic agenda of the existing government schools, he just might win that battle. But,,,In winning this battle he would be violating the freedom of conscience of many of his students who do not want to be subjected to a Christ-based education!
The teacher who is able to witness in addition to impacting the lives of children and other teachers with a sense of healthy values and live of learning will earn a reward.
Ok, witness. But, don't be weak, timid, sneaky, or sly about it. Of course, that would get the teacher fired. Which by the way, would probably be the best example to set for non-Christian and all students to see.
I do wonder, however, how many teachers who also have young children of their own would continue to think it their personal mission-ground if they had to conduct their ministry within the context of a different set of values-one that would include personally assuming responsibility for their own young children’s education.
A Christian teacher's MOST urgent and important mission field is that of his or her OWN children!!! The second MOST important mission field is that of the children of his or her congregation!!!
Ministry is not our reason for being someplace. It is our responsibility to know for sure where God wants us to be; which set of responsibilities He wishes us to assume for our life, and which roles we are to play. Healthy and fruitful ministry can only flow out of an obedient life. If this speaks to you, then you might seriously consider that God would have you do.
While it is possible that there are some teachers with a true call to be in the government schools, I believe the rest are merely deluded, and seduced by a paycheck and pension.
Another category of teachers in the system is in regards to the career-minded Mom who is there simply because that is where her own children are-it is their family’s lifestyle-the children go to school and Mom gets a job or pursues a career of her own. If you have simply assumed roles and lifestyles placed upon you by cultural values without seeking God about it then please reconsider and spend a season listening to Him speak to your heart.”
The MOST important mission field of any Christian teacher is his or her OWN children!!
The second most important and urgent mission field of any Christian teacher is that of the children of his OWN congregation! (
MOsby,,Here is your cue for **your** big brown spam.)
In conclusion to posts #45 and #46:
Christian kids should get out of the government schools, and likely %99.999999 of the Christian teachers, as well!
Once again....not exactly.
It's "free" to some.....
The rest is your opinion, which you are completely entitled to.
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Are you a government school teacher who calls him or herself a Christian? Just wondering.
Any criticism that I may have posted of the government schools and particularly Christian teachers is somehow a criticism of YOU personally? Wow! What a LEAP!!!
I see this as a tactic to shut down all criticism of Christian teachers who claim to be Christian!
I have never claimed that my posts were anything other than MY opinion! And,,,in my opinion, teachers in government who claim to be Christian are in my opinion “so-called”. Why? Because, in my opinion, a true Christian teacher would have been fired or quit long ago! This is NOT a personal criticism of YOU, because I have absolutely NO idea what your profession might be!
So...feel free. Object any time, but,,,hey!,,,It isn’t my big brown spam, it is YOURS!
This is true 100% of the time, but folks don't like having logic pointed out to them, and when it is, they react with anger.
Like you, I support the concept of school choice, be it public, private, home, Christian, and even un-schooling. What I object to is having my faith questioned and being told I am a child-abuser for my choice, especially when I am as big of a school choice advocate as they come.
But folks should take care of the beam in their own eye, before looking at the mote in others.
Softballmom,
It is impossible for you to know if I am angry or not. Attempting to divine this is known as “armchair psychology”. I am completely certain, since you are perfectly **TERRIFIC** teacher and certainly neither an “A, B, or a C”, that you would never use armchair psychology with your naive and easily manipulated students.
Since I know that you are wonderful teacher and absolutely NOT an “A,B, or C”, you will certain be able to see that I have not questioned **your** personal** faith. Sorry, but your formula does not apply to **you** personally, or to any other perfectly exemplary teacher.
As for Mosby,,,Well?,,,I don’t know his or her profession, or if it is even appropriate to apply **your** A, B, or C formula to him or her. But,,hey!,,,Using armchair psychology maybe **you** could tell us both.
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Softballmom,
**YOU **personally** were called a child abuser!!??
Really? Gee! I follow these education posts very closely, an I have never seen where anyone has ever called **you**, Softballmom, a child abuser. Do you have link for that? I can hardly imagine anyone ever doing that to you? Here on Free Republic? Wow! I am shocked.
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