Last year, we heard Israel Wayne speak at a homeschool conference. Many of the things he said resonated with us, but one statement he made blew me away and ever since then I have been trying to find the words to express to all of you what it has meant to me.
He said:
“2 fish + 5 loaves does not equal a Christian worldview education.”
That may seem a bit obvious, but really let it soak in for a moment.
That great little workbook from that fabulous Christian publisher that includes Bible stories and moral lessons on every page is not necessarily giving your child a Christian education. You cannot think that simply because you place Christian materials in front of your children that your job is over and they are somehow going to soak it all up and become a Christ follower via the cutely illustrated Bible stories they read every day.
Take a look at Prov 4:11 (in fact, take a look at the entire chapter! Good stuff!) –
I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths.
This is a father speaking to his son, but in this chapter he also mentions the child’s mother and her teachings as well. The point I want to make here is contained in these words…
I have taught
I have led
This is not someone else’s job, and you would think as homeschoolers we would understand that. Unfortunately, all too often, we bring our babies home only to hand them over to that great Christian curriculum we bought at the homeschool convention.
But perhaps you are sitting there thinking,
“You’ve got it wrong! I DO teach the curriculum!”
That’s not what I’m talking about here. I don’t have a problem with Christian curriculum in workbook form or computerized form or independent study form. And it makes no difference to me if you are teaching every single subject or allowing for independent study in most everything, the fact remains, there isn’t a single curriculum out there that can give your child a Christian education because a Christian education is a living, breathing, ever-searching, ever-seeking thing.
We have to think bigger. We have to quit looking at the trees and start focusing on the forest. We have to lead our children in the right paths. We can’t expect anyone or anything else to do it for us.
If your day is so full of curriculum that you don’t have time to “go on a God hunt” (as Israel Wayne calls it), then you aren’t truly giving your child a Christian education. You are filling them with knowledge, but never leading them toward wisdom.
Bluntly put, you are wasting your homeschooling years.
So, perhaps the question isn’t, “Is your curriculum biblical?” but rather, “Are you using your curriculum in a biblical way?” Don’t go searching out your next homeschool curriculum based on how well IT teaches your child about Christ, but rather how well you can USE it to disciple your children and how well it fits with what a real Christian education looks like.
Is it a bunch of busy work? Learn to tweak it or ditch it!
Does it take entirely too much time out of your day, leaving you very little time for deep and meaningful conversations with your children? Look for something that doesn’t monopolize your life.
Learn to see homeschooling as a lifestyle and not something you do in order to check off SCHOOL on your To-Do List. It’s time to really start teaching and leading and quit thinking your curriculum has anything to do with it.
Samantha says
Sometimes when you write, I honestly believe you were in my home the day before, saw what happened and knew exactly what my heart needed to hear. I was so wrapped up in “doing” school that I lost it. Completely and totally lost it. This is the reminder I needed today. Thank you!
Amy says
Ugh – hate those “lost it” days, except for the fact that they ALWAYS lead me back to Christ. God uses those days too!
Laura says
Yes! Well-written! This is exactly what caused me to take a hard look at what we WERE doing in our homeschool and change things up a a couple years ago. I am sooo glad we did! You have said here what I have tried to express to those who asked me why I changed my curriculum. 🙂 Excellent post!
SARAH says
Ok, I agree with you. Wholeheartedly agree. BUT… What does that type of teaching/leading/discipling LOOK like?? I’m not relying on my curriculum to point my kids to Christ, but I am a bit at a loss as to how to model my “schooling” into a daily “God search”.
Israel Wayne says
Sarah,
I don’t want to be self-promoting here, but I wrote my books, “Full-Time Parenting: A Guide to Family-Based Discipleship,” & “Homeschooling from a Biblical Worldview,” for the purpose of demonstrating practically and systematically how to do just that.
http://www.WisdomsGate.org/store
Israel Wayne
Angela J says
I’m with Sarah Miss Amy. I have age ranges of 15, 9, 2 1/2, and 12 months. I desperately want to raise and teach my babies in a biblical way as I truly feel God told me to homeschool them. However I feel as though I’m failing miserably because of extenuating circumstances, age ranges, personalities and one I admit has needs that I feel unequipped to handle. In curious to what advice you could give Sarah or myself on this one. Oh and I must admit that I myself struggle with personal space issues. Please don’t judge but sometimes I’m in floor playing having a great time then others I feel like I could climb out of my own skin, feeling crowded in a public and shamefully by my own precious babies. Thanks for your time and wisdom as it is truly appreciated. Blessings to you.
Amy says
No judgement here…I fully understand. I’ve had so many people ask for more information on what this looks like, so I plan to do a post, but I want to do it justice, so it might take a while. 🙂
Amy says
I do plan to write more on this. Israel’s book are wonderful, as is Kevin Swanson’s “Upgrade”. Also, take a look through my Homeschooling page – especially at the Lifestyle of Learning series and the Delight Directed series. Let me know if you have any specific questions too. 🙂
Tauna Meyer says
This is good. Looking up Israel Wayne and hoping you expand on what this looks like in your home!
Denise says
YES!!! I have felt this for several years, but keep getting sucked back into the curriculum. Thank you for sharing this, it has spoken to me today. It is encouraging to know that I am not the only one.
My oldest is going to be in High School this next year and I have been thinking a lot about what I need to do. However, just the other day I was thinking what if I get to the end and wish I wouldn’t have focused on this (because my friends say it is important) or that (because everyone else is doing it). I get caught up it “your High Schooler needs to study this during their High School years”, and then it is just a check off of getting things done and not about leading and teaching like you said. The moments in our homeschool journey that have meant the most and made more of a difference is when we get to discussing scripture, a current event, or a heart issue that affects their life or helps them walk with the Lord. Sometimes I feel like I have to rush through those to “get to the school work”. I don’t know what the answer is, I wish we were more relaxed.
Thanks you for your post!
Amy says
It’s a constant struggle, and I think homeschooling a high schooler compounds that because suddenly, you feel as if you’ve run out of time. My oldest is 15. I understand. 😉
Kate @ Modern Alternative Mama says
I wasn’t sure what to think when I saw this post title in my inbox. I’ve been inundated with Christian curriculum lately — as part of a project I’m working on and my MIL gave me a box of it this past weekend (she homeschooled). It’s all been focused on character training-type stuff. I felt…bad. I felt like all these Christian moms somehow knew things I didn’t and I was failing. I wanted to reject it all because I don’t see how a book alone teaches character anyway. I wondered if your post would be more of the same — telling me I don’t have the ‘right’ curriculum and I’m not doing ‘enough’ to be a real Christian mom.
But you said the opposite. Ironically, so did a random commenter on an old post on my blog yesterday. I think God is trying to tell it’s okay.
My kids know Jesus. They love Him. They talk about Him a lot. We talk about the ways we fail and how Jesus would like us to be instead. We pray together when we feel like it. We read the Bible together.
So what if we don’t have built-in prayer times or special curriculum or activities. Developing a relationship with Jesus is what really matters, no? And if we are working towards that regardless of what materials we do or don’t use, I can’t be failing too much!
Amy says
The verses in Deuteronomy speak of a family who is living and breathing Scripture. Sounds like this is exactly what you are doing, Kate!
kendra zickafoose says
Homeschooling as a lifestyle. I love that.
Mrs. Mom of 6 says
Amy, I need more information. 🙂 Can you elaborate on what it means to teach your children a Christian worldview. I mean, I think I see a shadow of what you mean…. that its not the curriculum, or whether we actively teach or have independent learners…. but somehow I’m foggy on what it really IS. Presence of mind? (forgive my lack of understanding, it’s probably me… since I haven’t had good sleep in a long while).
Meg
Kristin says
I highly recommend a book about raising your children for Christ and making disciples. It’s written by Andrew Murray and is by far the best parenting book I’ve ever read. The book is 100% biblical unlike many parenting books today. Here is the link for any that’s interested. I bought a used copy for a penny on Amazon and only paid for shipping. http://www.amazon.com/Raising-Your-Children-For-Christ/dp/0883680459/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366763255&sr=8-1&keywords=Andrew+Murray+children
Amy- This was such a great post! Thanks for the reminder! It’s so easy to get caught up in the curriculum and lose sight of the bigger picture. To raise disciples for Christ we have to BE disciples of Christ ourselves and truly be sold out for the Lord. For as we live, so our children will follow. We can teach character using curriculum, but it means nothing if we don’t model it ourselves. I have to remind myself of this daily.
Israel Wayne says
Kristin,
I have to ditto your recommendation of Andew Murray’s book. It is the best Macro-Vision parenting book I’ve read.
Israel
Amy says
Thank you for the recommendation! I can honestly say I have never heard of that book, but I’m so glad to have another resource to look through on this subject!
April Christmas says
I follow you on Twitter and saw this post. I think what you wrote is great and has put a lot of what I have been doing into perspective and I thank you for that. Well written.
Amy says
Thank you, April!
Becca says
Amen, we all come to realize this many times in our year, but it takes courage to shake off the plan and sit at the feet of Jesus and really learn. Thank you for reminding me why I am shaking off the plan in favor of the relationship.
TexasTess says
Another great post, Amy.
At the end of the day, it does not really matter if the kids have mastered their consonant sounds, or their states and capitals, or their long division.
We need to ask ourselves, have I helped my children advance in their faith today? Are they better people today? Do they love God more today? Have I taught them to practice virtue to a greater degree?
Ultimately, that is of utmost importance. The math and history and science and reading skills are so important, but not THE most important skills we must teach our kids. It’s easy to forget in the midst of piles of school books.
Cathy K. says
Amen!!! I was just realizing this week, that I’m afraid our family has been successful at living “Christian and homeschool culture” in our home, but not necessarily “chasing after and loving Christ above all”. But, if our children are wonderfully educated with a strong Christian worldview, but don’t know and LOVE Christ…what have we really done? They are so vulnerable to being seduced away — or fall into a self-righteous, religious trap. It is the relationship that makes all the difference — not just right knowledge.
Father, we ask You to equip us to not only educate our children, but to truly lead them to You. Please, through the power of Your Holy Spirit, baptize our children into a passionate love for Your Son. Awaken their hearts and stir their spirit to hunger for and deeply desire You! Jesus, we claim your truth that in our weakness You are strong. And, that we can do ALL things through You. Help us!
Amen
Nellie van Donkersgoed says
There is great faith-based curriculum published by the Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools for the elementary grades. Their Primary and Junior curriculum about socials and science is one of the best when it comes to a Christian world and live view. You may wish to consider contacting them. They are no longer printing curriculum, but may be able to provide an avenue where you can either purchase old inventory, or become a member of their online curriculum website. http://www.oacs.org
Karina says
I am in year 2 of homeschooling my 2 children and I am very blessed with your posts. Thank you so so much. God bless you.
Amy says
Thank you, Karina!