I’m not a current events blogger. You will rarely see me address current events because I do not believe they should affect how we homeschool, manage our homes, or live our lives as followers of Christ. No matter what is going on in the world, God’s Word remains true, so the way I see it, this blog doesn’t need to address the latest scandal.
However, on occasion, events take place which deserve attention here on Raising Arrows because they DO affect those of us who have chosen to stay at home and homeschool our children (the main focus of my blog).
This past week, such an event came to light, and while I do not care to rehash the details or give credence to anyone’s “side” of the story or personal opinion on the matter, I do feel THIS POST from The Gospel Coalition speaks to something we MUST heed as Christian homeschooling families – the fact that we CANNOT keep sin out.
From the article:
We begin to believe that sin and rebellion is a problem outside of our home, not inside.
We start thinking our kids are basically good and in need of moral direction, rather than recognizing that our kids are basically bad and in need of heart transformation.
We communicate to our kids that it’s ”us” (good) versus “them” (bad) rather than helping them see our family’s role as one of service (“us” for “them”).
I must admit, there was a point early on in my homeschooling career when the children were all little and I was convinced if I did XYZ, I would get perfect children. I totally missed the fact that sin is within. Put a child on a remote island, and they will still find a way to sin. Put ME on a remote island, and I will still find a way to sin!
It runs deep…in everyone. So, yes, there are bad influences, and yes, we are still supposed to parent in a way that promotes righteous living before the Lord, but not a chance are you going to avoid that sin nature. We MUST stop believing we can follow a formula or method and reap perfection.
Please note, I am not saying methods are bad, but rather the unrealistic savior-esque expectations we place on those methods. Kelly at Generation Cedar speaks to this topic beautifully in her post, Are the Duggars to Blame?
If you, for example, homeschool because you think that is the key to raising godly children, you will be wildly disappointed. If you homeschool because you think you and your children are good and everyone else is bad, you are grossly deceived. But if you homeschool because you believe God has called you to disciple your children and you believe you need lots of time to do that, and because you want to help them avoid a peer culture that hinders them from walking with the wise (as Scripture encourages), if you entrust the souls of your children to the only One who can save them while doing your part to shepherd their hearts to love Him, then your motives are pure and right.
My dear homeschool mamas (and daddies), teach your children what it means to be a follower of Christ. Teach them that sin exists and they WILL have to learn to fight it…and IT may not always be outside of themselves. Teach them to stand strong. Teach them to persevere. And teach them to be humble…please, please, please teach them to be humble.
…Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
1 Peter 5:5b
Oh, how we all need that grace…
Mrs. A says
Amen!
Kim Crawford says
Amen and Amen! Jesus Christ and the Gospel must be center to our homes and our homeschool. Homeschooling has never saved anyone, only Jesus can. To believe that homeschooling will save my children from sin is to rob God of the glory that is His alone!
Angela says
Beautifully said. No one is perfect. We all need grace. We cannot ignore the world outside our doors. We will face trouble and temptation. How we equip our children to fight back against it is key.
Nikki says
So often we as christians don’t realize what grace is. We somehow turn what Christ did for us on the cross into a works kind of salvation even without realizing it. Sin is sad. There are consequences to sin but we are so thankful for a Savior who loves us and forgives us over and over again. His grace is sufficient!! This post was perfect!
Luke Holzmann says
Yes. Amen.
…at the same time, we must watch our lives and doctrine closely (1 Tim 4) because what we believe impacts how we live. There are many aspects of the “modesty movement” — including things Kelly seems to espouse in her post — that can lead to some really bad ideas (those ideas did, I am sure, impact Josh; similar ideas impacted me — though, thankfully, without the same horrendous outcomes). I’ve found Cindy’s post and Women Are Scary to be important reminders that the Gospel is much more than a list of techniques to gain “wise” life practices … it is a call to throw ourselves on Christ and follow as He leads (where the fear of God is the starting place for our wisdom). This ties in nicely with your point, “And teach them to be humble…please, please, please teach them to be humble.” I love that.
Thanks for sharing!
~Luke
Amy says
From what I have seen of the recent scandals in the homeschool community, so many of them resulted from pride. Pride keeps you from seeing the plank in your eye whilst you rail against the splinters.
Nancy says
Amen!!!
Kim says
Amen sister…..well said!!!!!
Tami says
APPLAUSE!!! APPLAUSE!!
PRAISE GOD!
Well stated my sister in Christ!!!
You have stated precisely what has been jumbled in my brain for some time now!
Isaiah 51 has come to mind, “For I know my transgressions, and sin is ever before me.” Remembering it is HE is who “purges” us to “be whiter than snow”
…nothing (and no one) else will do 😉
This has been the most refreshing blog articles I have read in quite some time now!
Jennifer says
I second this comment 🙂 Well said
Lisa Mitchell says
Amy, I just have to say that you are the best! I have been following your blog for a long time now and you always say the things I am thinking! Thank you for this awesome post! We are HUGE Duggar fans (the book by the Duggar girls changed my daughter’s life btw) and we totally support and admire them. You won’t find us casting the first stone nor denying them even in this awful situation. I read the article you put within your blog and that was SO helpful too.
Well, I just had to tell you how much I appreciate you and this blog and your honesty and openness about all things. As a fellow homeschool, Help-meet, Christian mom I wanted you to know that you encourage me in so many ways. If you ever come to Meridian, Idaho, please let me take you out for dinner at Texas Roadhouse (our fave!).
Amy says
Sounds lovely!
Rach D says
Hi Amy,
This post really hit the nail on the head for me. It really is a sin issue, and not a systems issue…in my opinion 🙂
Sharing on my social media, and do you mind if I reference it (link only) in a parenting post “When Your Heart is Broken” (as a Mama)” I really feel this post needs to get out there!!
Thanks,
Rachael @ Diamonds in the Rough
Amy says
Please do link! Thank you, Rachael!
Jennifer says
I disagree! Matthew 1: She shall bring forth a son and He shall save His people FROM their sins. Through Jesus Christ we have power to reign over sin. I John 3:8-9.
Reggie says
Yes, we have the power to reign over that sin, but ONLY if we PERSONALLY choose to live in that power, moment by moment, day by day. A parent cannot choose that for their child, no matter their upbringing, anymore than they can save their child by accepting God’s free gift of salvation for them.