Friday, July 18, 2008

The truth about homeschooling

This is going to be a lengthy post, one I have written over many days. I expose the common misconceptions about homeschooling using a letter from a pastor who thinks that it is a wrong choice. I then explain why the reasons given are invalid, misinformed, and sometimes just plain ridiculous.

No doubt, certain people will be offended by what I have to say. If you think you are one of them, please stop reading right now. If you do read on, don't bother to comment and tell me about all the things you didn't like.

The original letter will be in italics and red font, while my comments will be in italics and black font. All bold statements had the emphasis in the original and were not added by me, except when noted otherwise. All spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammatical errors were in the original - and yes, there are very, very many.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Parents and Students,

We believe that it is the God given commission of the Church, "the pillar and ground of the truth'' to teach our children that they be not tossed to and fr0 by every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men(like evolution, New Age and Satanic "Mother Earth", and "Mother Nature" teaching, etc.) but rather grow up into Him in all things. [Eph.4:14,15] We believe that it is the Church's God-given task to teach and train believers to grow up in the Lord in "All Things". We believe that the Church in the New Testament epistle's is a Local Church, a group of called out, born again believers, joined together for the cause of spreading the Gospel in their immediate communities as well as around the world through world-wide Missions. The word "church" comes from the Greek word "ecclesia" which means a called out assembly. At present, all believers are not a called out assembly. Someday at the Rapture we will all be called out and then will be together, the CHURCH the Bride of Christ. Right now the Church, is the Local, Independent, Self Governing, Baptist Church.

While education in academic subjects is certainly not the first or main goal of teaching our children, it is nonetheless an important goal, one that takes second place to teaching a love for God and the things of God. Shouldn't a preacher's command of the English language be excellent? Shouldn't he at least know the basics of grammar, such as when to use 's (to show possession) vs. -s (to show plural)? What about habitually using commas wrongly, and capitalizing nouns that ought to be lower case? The list goes on and on - I counted a total of 15 errors in this first paragraph alone. The only other explanation for such poor English would be to say that this letter was written in a hurry, but that brings us to the question why a subject such as this would be addressed in such a hurried and careless manner. As you read on, please know that I have only corrected a few of the worst mistakes in the text below - if the error was grievous and made it hard to understand the true meaning of the particular sentence.

We believe that God in His ultimate wisdom provided the setting of the Local Church as a functioning body to provide an educational as well as social environment to provide the child with a well-rounded education in truth. God knew that all the members of the body, were different people with various personalities, talents, levels of knowledge and abilities, as well as levels of spiritual depth.. Though he knew this, He considered it a good thing for all these different types of people to function together as a body. Each one has a use and an area of effectiveness. As each "joint" of the body supplies the blessing and ability that God provided it to do, the rest of the body is benefited. Many today think that all these different people and different levels of spiritual growth are dangerous and should be avoided, and thus, they "PROTECT" their children from all this perceived "DANGER" and keep their children home in a "home school", AWAY from the Local Church, the Body of Christ as much as possible, stopping in to visit on Sunday and Wednesday.

I really would have loved to see a single verse to prove the beliefs put forth in this paragraph. There is a reference made to the passage about the body of Christ, but according to the Bible that equals the local, independent church, not a school. "Church" is a general assembly of ALL members of a local church, not just the teachers and students. So if he wants to use the body of Christ allegory, we have to conclude that all week long in the "church school" the body of Christ is severely handicapped because it is missing many vital parts, joints, and organs - men and women who are at work or at home instead of at school. Calling their school a "church school" has more to do with the fact that they are meeting on the church property, are run by members of the church, and subject to rules put out by the church. Defining the building itself as church (as opposed to the people) is wrong and reminds me of Catholicism. In the last sentence, this pastor equals his school with the "Local Church, the Body of Christ" which is just plain wrong. I feel bad for all those people who are too old to go to school and thus are deprived of this "church experience" that they can only get during the services on Sunday and Wednesday.

Also, if the Christian school is equated with the church, why does it cost money to attend? After all, the services on Sundays and Wednesdays are free, as they ought to be. Why aren't the school expenses covered by the tithes and offerings? Maybe God DIDN'T design for church schools to exist. After all, if that WERE God's perfect plan, then wouldn't He have made sure to mention how to fund such an endeavor if tithes and offerings alone are insufficient? God only commands us to tithe. Yet parents are supposedly obligated to send their children to this place of education and pay for it in order to be in obedience to the Bible? The truth is that a school is a business, not a general assembly of the local believers.

But what about these verses that I found in the Bible:

Deuteronomy 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Deuteronomy 11:19 And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Don't these verses sound like the children are with their parent(s) from the time they get up until the time they go to sleep, being taught in the house and when out and about?

Here is another verse I found:

Deuteronomy 4:9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;

Again, the command is only to educate our own children and grandchildren. "Thou" is a singular word, talking to just one person in particular as opposed to "you" which is addressing any number of people at the same time. This is very well illustrated in Deuteronomy 11:19 above, where the entire nation of Israel as a group ("ye") is commanded to teach their children individually ("thou").

At [name of church], we do not believe that it is God's perfect will for families to keep their children away from the Local Church School. I have written an entire book on this subject and so I will not write it here. Suffice it to say, we at [name of church] believe that to take your children away from the body of Christ school that God has given, is short-sighted, un-wise and unnecessary. Such a decision takes your children away from the influences and blessings that each joint of the body supply's [should say: supplies] in God's incredible design, and basically tells the Lord that you have a better design than he does for the children He BORROWED to you!! I am reminded of the servant who went and buried his talent in the sand, instead of investing it as did the others. Anyone can provide the "facts" of education, like 1 + 1 = 2. Albert Einstein was very smart in many facets of "education", however he died and went to Hell. A Home School can teach the facts, the 1 + 1= 2 part of education, but think of all that is missed by keeping a child penned up within the four walls of a home, and not putting him within the living functioning Body of Christ, school, down at the Church House.

Several points on this:

(1) I have yet to find where the Bible says that children are on loan from God (the author of the letter erroneously used "borrowed" instead of "loaned"). Based on Psalm 127 I thought they were our heritage. I thought they were a reward. Even logically, this point doesn't make sense. Yes, we are commanded to teach our children about the right ways of the Lord. But what if people decide NOT to raise their children for the glory of God? Will he send the "heavenly CPS", take the children back, and give them to another family?!?

(2) I didn't know that Albert Einstein was raised by God-fearing parents but still grew up to be an atheist all because he was home schooled. In fact, I don't even know whether or not he was home schooled - maybe he was because he flunked out of the public school for being such a poor student. Rather, I think his parents were unbelievers, and if he did go to school it would not have been a local, independent, fundamental Baptist church where he could have gotten saved. Seems like the parents were the deciding factor, not whether or where he went to school. Besides, Einstein was one of the last great scientists who again and again said that all science points to the fact that there IS a God. I am not saying he was saved, but no modern scientist would even dare say that any more.

(3) Again, no verse proving this supposed design of God for children's education.

(4) Sticking your child in a school all day to be taught and cared for by others while mom goes off to work IS hiding your talent.

As children come to the Academy, in the setting of the local church, there are a multitude of blessings that come their way. First of all, they are provided an opportunity to establish a close lifelong relationship with their Pastor and the Pastor's wife. This will be a major strength to them as life moves along and they make decisions of who to marry, job decisions, and in times of trials and tragedies. Home School children seldom have strong and close relationships with their Pastor.

So are people who do not go to school not "provided an opportunity to establish a close lifelong relationship with their Pastor and the Pastor's wife"? Again, I feel bad for the average adult church member. If homeschooled children lack this relationship I venture to guess it is because of being ostracized due to the fact that they are home schooled.

They will also benefit from each member of the body of Christ who volunteers his or her time in the process of education. Children will learn from people who have not just perhaps gone to school themselves but more importantly, have real life experience in the subjects they are teaching. This is extremely effective and influencial in their lives and greatly increases and edifies the Local Church, the body of Christ.

They also benefit from the Godly influence of their regular daily teachers. These are people from the local church, whose lives and examples help them perhaps go on to serve Christ themselves. Because they are set in an environment with others besides their "'mommy and daddy", they gain ability to deal with one another's differences and learn to work with others. They learn to in honor prefer one another. They learn to not live for self and become loners, but rather to daily be interested in the needs of others. They learn to listen and obey authority in addition to and other than their mother and father. They learn to have to obey and suffer the consequences if they do not. They learn that other authority will probably not baby them as most mothers often fall into the trap of doing. They learn to have to toughen up, sharpen up and obey right away and soon realize that a little pouting will not change their punishment, but rather a change of behavior will keep it from coming their way in the future.

Homeschooled children are exposed to many people besides their "mommy and daddy". They are called siblings. They are called adults that they meet when they come along on errands throughout the day. They are called repairmen who come to the house. They are called coworkers and bosses when Dad takes them to work. There are many benefits to not being cooped up in a school room all day waiting for the slow kids to finish their assignments. The only distraction in that case is to play with other kids (since the teachers are busy). The Bible says that "foolishness is bound in the heart of a child", so wouldn't it be better for children to interact with mainly adults and not only other children (i.e. fools)? It is an old argument and one that has been disproved many times that homeschooled kids have the social competences of wood lice. In fact, quite the opposite is true.

Maybe this man is speaking from personal experience when he writes that mothers tend to go soft in punishing wrongdoing, but I think it is just rhetoric. There is NO SCHOOL in the world that would dare discipline a child the way a loving parent would, because they are not the loving parent. Love is the prerequisite to correct discipline, as outlined in Proverbs 3:12, Proverbs 13:24 and Hebrews 12:6. I love my children more than a "hireling" teacher. The hireling would be afraid to administer correct discipline because God never designed them to, and the law wouldn't allow them to.

They learn to participate and have team spirit and to not quit when it is something they don't particularly enjoy doing. They learn to choose proper friends and are in an environment whereby they can fall spiritually and yet not fall apart. Proverbs 24:16 states, "'For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again..." Under the daily refining of the Word of God, they learn to come to the Lord for strength to rise up and go on for Jesus. As young impressionable children and teens, they learn the team concepts in sports, and gain strength from teammates and coaches who are fellow church members rather than from teammates who are lost and curse and educate them in the ways of the world as they compete together. They see the other team as someone they can be an example to and witness to after the game, rather than participate with teammates who are lost and whose minds are filled with the stench of this world. They learn to get up in the morning and get to school as an appointment, similar to how it will be someday when they have a job, rather than rolling out of bed and gradually getting to things when it is convenient.

So being "in an environment whereby they can fall spiritually and yet not fall apart" is an advantage? Whatever happened to "make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lust thereof"? Just because the Bible states the fact that a just man will fall and rise up again, does that mean God wants him to fall in the first place? Is someone not a just man if they don't fall seven times? Are children grown men, physically or spiritually? Doesn't the Bible call new believers "newborn babes"? And yes, children even just because of their age are new believers.

To say that the children there are "Under the daily refining of the Word of God" is only true if that's what you call a short devotional in the morning. In our family, we read the Bible out loud for about 30 minutes per day, and then I work on Bible memory with each child individually at a rate where even my preschooler far exceeds what is expected of the students in this particular school.

Frankly, I don't know who the "teammates who are lost and curse and educate them in the ways of the world as they compete together" are. My guess is that the author of the letter is alluding to homeschool groups offering an athletics program. For one, I am against any homeschool group that is not organized and headed by a local church, and only has their members participating. Secondly, I doubt that the overly protective homeschool parents that we were told about a few paragraphs earlier would then join a homeschool group of potty-mouthed unbelievers for their kids to play with.

Most homeschool families, especially those with many children, have rather rigid daily schedules, and getting up early to get work done is pretty universal. It is a Biblical concept to rise early and work hard, and you don't have to go to school to learn to do so. This point was especially humorous to me because this particular pastor is ALWAYS late for EVERY appointment, and his wife dropped the kids off late for school more than any other mom, while the homeschooling ex-principal and his wife were the most reliable, organized, and punctual people you'd ever meet.

Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, they learn that they are a part of the Body of Christ, and must do their part, and fulfill their God given task as a "'joint" within the Body. They learn that God gave them their local church for them to fully participate in as an important part of the body. As a child 6 days a week(5 in school, plus Sunday), their life will be totally involved in the church and in the things of the Lord. This will give them more often than not, a strong love and attachment to it, and to the "work of the ministry", that will last a life-time. If you realize that your children are not really yours, but are simply borrowed to you for you to make sure that they are trained up in the way of the Lord, then you must see that God's most important institution for the preaching and teaching of the truth, is the Local Church. Having your children in a Local, Independent, Fundamental Baptist Church school is a wonderful decision to make as a parent.

Another very funny point: When children go the church school every day it "will give them more often than not, a strong love and attachment to it, and to the "work of the ministry", that will last a life-time." Anyone who knows what church and school I am talking about will find this as ridiculous as me. The majority of kids coming out of this school is either not in church any more, living in fornication, pregnant out of wedlock, drinking, living a horrible life-style, or (this is most of them) all of the above. Which is little surprising when you consider that one principal after another left the church because either their kids or they themselves were involved in heinous, disgusting sins. The one good principal they had homeschooled his own kids, and was eventually pushed out because of that.

This phenomenon is not unique to this school, but rather is pretty universal. Remember Dr. Bob Gray for Florida, who was arrested for molesting girls in his church school? What about Pastor Domelle from California who not only abused his own adopted daughter for years but also other disabled girls in the school? What about the son of Dr. Jeff Owens, who worked as a janitor at a public school, where he raped a girl? He had been charged in a similar case before but there was not enough evidence to convict him in that case. The list goes on and on.

With this in mind, [name of church] established [name of school] to train boys and girls in the things of the Lord, and to see them become Men and Women who serve God with their whole hearts. [Name of school] is not a separate entity, but rather is an extension of the ministry of the [name of church] of [city, state]. Just as we have a Sunday School to teach and train our children, so also do we provide a Monday through Friday School. [Name of school] is committed to a balanced education, meeting the needs of the total person spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, physically and socially. Like the Founding Fathers of this nation, we at [name of school] wish to be known for our love of God and country. It is our intention to uphold the Word of God in its proper place of supremacy, the position of the Local, Independent, Fundamental, Baptist Church as the "Pillar and Ground of the Truth", Christian Homes, Biblical Education and the virtues of America and the Republican form of government.

We believe America in its founding to be a Republic, not a Democracy. A republic is a government of the people, by the people and for the people. It is a government of representatives whereby men are elected by the people to go in good faith and honest character and make decisions regarding the laws of the land and the defense of the people. It is a form of government that allows the people if they do not agree with those who have been elected, to remove them from office by in fair elections, voting in someone else to take their place. A Democracy is a government that rules by majority. This is simply a guide to dictatorships. Rule by majority always eventually results in someone taking ultimate power. Leaders in a democracy, instead of voting by moral conscience and by the laws of the Bible, stick their finger in the air and vote according to the way whoever is making the most noise would have them to vote. These leaders are not leaders, but rather mindless robots desirous of simply retaining their positions of power. Eventually, because someone will always be the leader, a leader will step forward from the majority and because the majority hates the minority, this leader will move quickly to squash and eliminate the minority and anyone who might threaten his power. Thus he is the established dictator and a dictatorship is in place and rules the nation. See "Hitler" for further details!!

Our founding fathers did not want this to happen to America and they put in place guidelines to insure [should say: ensure] that America stayed a republic. However, this form of government is only possible to a people who are followers of the Bible and the God of the Bible, as the supreme authority. President John Adams our second President stated clearly, "Our Constitution was made for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." Benjamin Franklin stated at the Continental Convention, "l have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God governs in the affairs of men... We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it." "I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become reproach."

At [name of school] we share these foundational beliefs of our founding fathers and it is our goal to raise men and women who when called into positions of leadership will be true leaders, and available to serve in our republic. We love America and are actively training tomorrow's leaders. When God needed a man to step forward and put the Word of God back in its proper place in Israel, Ezra stepped forward, and the Bible says, he was a "ready scribe". This is our goal to prepare young men and women to be '''ready'' to serve the Republic of America. If God calls them to be a Pastor or Evangelist or Missionary, we want them to be ready. If God has a lesser calling for them, such as the President or the United States, we want them to be "ready".

Yes, that's what we need - another Hillary Clinton. Another Nancy Pelosi. We need more female preachers, judges, police officers, and military personnel. After all, if it is the goal of this Christian school to "raise men and women" to be true leaders, to "prepare young men and women" to be a pastor, evangelist, missionary, or president. If you do not believe me, notice the pronoun "them" in the second to last sentence. It goes back to its antecedent in the previous sentence, which is "young men and women". Whatever happened to "I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house" (I Timothy 5:14)? While that passage is talking about widows, I think it is safe to assume that if God is emphasizing that even widows need to marry again and raise a family, so does any other young woman. How about Isaiah 3:12: "As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them."

The "problem" is that if women were to obey the verse in I Timothy and stay home, have babies, and raise their own children instead of pursuing a career, who would be available to teach in the Christian school? Most church schools are staffed almost completely by women, women who do not have a baby or young child as commanded in the verse (if they do, it is raised by daycare and not the mother). Women who usually are practicing birth control in order to limit the size of their family to a few children. Women who are not keeping their own vineyard (Song of Solomon 1:6). Women who don't even like their own kids enough to want to spend the day with them, but who are put in charge of watching and educating dozens of other children.

We believe that this is best accomplished by teaching young people to first of all be true followers of the Lord Jesus and His precious Word. To accomplish this we have several goals that must be understood as our priorities. If you as a parent or guardian do not understand these foundational guiding principles, which are the core of our goals, you will find it difficult to understanding [should say: understand] why we do what we do.

As you read on please understand that we wish it to be known that our vision and our venture, our motive and our message is all to THE GLORY OF GOD. It is for Him and with eternity's values in view that we are doing what we are doing.

Since this is the end of the letter, I am still scratching my head about the "as you read on" part. Read on about what? The greeting at the end?!? This again just shows how little careful consideration went into writing this letter.

Your Friend and Preacher

[name of pastor]

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Sad to say, the man who wrote this pastors a local, independent, fundamental, KJV-only Baptist Church. Sadder yet, it is probably one of the best ones in his area, which is pretty bleak because the church has now abandoned soul-winning and instead believes in repentance from sins - a lazy excuse for why almost nobody ever gets saved or baptized any more.

Now that we have left fairytale land, let's look at the REAL reasons why churches like to operate a school:

- Money: That's right, these schools want more money coming it. While not all schools make a profit, they are staying busy and trading dollars.

- Control: Control over church members by way of school rules and dress codes. Control over the students' minds through mass education. Control over disgruntled members who don't want to leave the church in the middle of the school year.

I rest my case.

14 comments:

  1. I agree. I think the church school is as silly as public school if not more so. I am not surprised that the world would come up with an education system, but to see the church following this example is sad.
    I think Einstein was a fool. Does not the Bible say somewhere that people who do not believe in God are fools.

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  2. I think home schooling is a wonderful option. A number of my friends were home schooled. One will turn 32 in September. But we have to understand that home schooling is not for everyone. I think every parent should take time to pray to ask God what He would have them do about their children's educations. I think Christian school would be better than public school in many ways, but that is my opinion of course. I have some friends who sent their children to Christian schools. There are probably some good Christian schools out there.

    I am concerned about what you said about females not being police officers. There are a number of women who are still single or don't have children. I believe we need to have some policewomen. Let me tell you why. Do you realize that sometimes there may be situations where they need to arrest women who are naked? For example, let's say that there was a woman exposing herself on the street. What about a woman who is so stoned on drugs and she's naked? Do you think it would be appropriate for a policeman to arrest a woman who is naked in this situation? He would have to see her naked. Did you know that in prisons that women have to be stripped to make sure there are no drugs on their bodies? I think that this job is only appropriate for a policewoman period. I don't believe that policemen have the right to see naked women and it should be a policewoman's job to do that. I want to encourage you to reconsider what you said about policewomen.

    I encourage you to really think about this issue deeply. I am in total agreement with you that male gynecologists are wrong. I am concerned because it seems like you think that women should not have a career at all. I agree totally that you, Zsusanna are meant to stay at home with your children and I believe that is what God is calling you to do. If women were not allowed to have a career, we would not have female gynecologists anymore. I believe that the ob/gyn field should only be restricted to women. I believe that we should support women who want to become female gynecologists. Midwives can deliver babies and do some routine gynecological exams, but they cannot do surgeries. For example, what if a woman has a big ovarian cyst that causes so much pain? She will need a female gynecologist to remove the ovarian cyst. We should be thankful for female gynecologists and female nurses. A male gynecologist doesn't have the right to practice because he touches and sees the private parts of women who he is not married to. He is not morally above other men at all. There is nowhere in the bible that supports male gynecologists. There were not pap smears in the biblical times. Midwives delivered babies. Even the strongest Christian man lusts when he sees scantily dressed women. How in the world is it possible for a male gynecologist to not have lustful thoughts when he sees and examines private parts of a woman who he is not married to when a strong Christian man accidentally lusts when he sees a woman who is immodestly dressed?

    Misty

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  3. I want to add one more thing. I agree with you completely that women should not be pastors.

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  4. I grew up in our church-affiliated Christian school. The reason it was started was because the leaders of the church had a heart for opening up an alternative to public education in a Christ-centered, loving environment.

    It served me very well.

    At the moment, we are either planning on doing Christian school or home schooling for our little ones.

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  5. One other thing - I read that awhile back you said men shouldn't be ob/gyns as they should not see the woman's naked body.

    Should men also not be ER doctors or general surgeons? Sometimes a woman will come in and she might need emergency surgery in her chest. And the doctor may see a breast.

    Do you really think that all these men are thinking about while they are at work is lust for a woman's body part? Really? A woman needs a life-saving operation and he is too busy staring at her breast that he can't properly do the operation? I see many holes in your argument, a few of which I presented here.

    Honest question.

    I do find your blog interesting.

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  6. Misty,

    Thanks for your comments. I am not against women having an outside vocation, as long as they have no children that are still living at home, and their duties regarding being a wife and homemaker are still fulfilled. Personally, I would love to be a midwife someday when our kids are grown. Other women may be barren or single, and there are many areas that they can serve society well. I am glad that there are female doctors that I can go to when I need to.

    As far as police officers go, and I realize that this sounds radical, I think we need to do away with police altogether. It is a concept never found in the Bible. Rather, the people themselves were the ones carrying out the judgments passed down by the judges. I am not talking about the investigative branch of police, but the ones that are just out and about "policing" everyone. It is unfortunate that you cannot listen to the sermon that my husband recently preached on the subject. Most of what police officers are involved in these days are domestic disputes. It used to be that if a husband was beating up his pregnant wife, the neighbors would go take care of it. The woman who is found naked and drugged out in a drunken stupor has probably already been seen naked by other men and doesn't care. Nor does 911 ask "Is this a man or a woman involved?" before they decide what patrol car to send. Here in Phoenix, when a woman if found naked, they do try to send female social workers to the scene as well. But anyone who signs on with the police does so knowing that they will be exposed to seeing the opposite gender nude.

    As far as jails go, women are processed by other women during strip searches.

    Anyway, I know you won't agree with me on this, but that is fine. No two people will agree on all the same things.

    Pipsylou,

    There is a big difference between a severely injured woman coming into the ER with life-threatening injuries and severe trauma and a woman going to her ob/gyn in perfect health for a chechup. It is no coincidence that this is the only medical field that has 90% male physicians. Obviously, something is attracting them. It is not because less women go into that field - the per capita ratio of women doctors in about the same as in all other medical fields. There is just an overabundance of male doctors. No normal man can look at and examine a woman's private parts without feeling or thinking something about it. Looking at it over and over again does not make it less so, but more so. People who look at pornography become addicted to it, and have to look at more sick and weird stuff to tickle their fancy. The MORE they look, the weirder they get. Otherwise, I guess no ob/gyn would be attracted to their wife, either.

    Rinette,

    I totally agree that "them" is talking about the commandments (as opposed to the children). The verse says to teach your children God's commandments - from the time you get up until you go to bed and the whole time in between. These are the only verses in the Bible that tell us who is supposed to teach children, when to do it, and where. I do not think this is coincidental, and believe the verses still apply to us today. All academic subjects tie in to teach about God or to give a more perfect understanding of God or his Word. Parents who have a hurried hour with their children in the morning before school, and who don't see them again until it's almost time for dinner and then bed, have very little time for such teaching. The majority of time is spent with other teachers, which is not God's plan.

    Zsuzsanna

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  7. I think I asked this before but unfortunately I apologize that I haven't seen your answer. Could you point me to the answer? My question is: What is the difference between "soul-winning" and "repentance from sins"? (referenced at the end of this post)

    Also, do you have some sort of published data that supports your statement "Most of what police officers are involved in these days are domestic disputes"? I ask because I have several family members who are in some branch of law enforcement and I'm pretty sure not one of them would categorize their calls as mostly domestic disputes. Maybe you were referring to only your town, or some other statistic? Just curious.

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  8. I discovered your blog today and I couldn't believe it. You seem like a genuine nice woman who loves her family and wants to see them have the best. I applaud you. However as a female pastor I have never read in the Bible where it says that women cannot be pastors. Dorcas was a pastoral leader in the new testament and Deborah was a judge over all of Israel in the Old testament. THese were in times when it was even harder to be a female but God simply does not say because they are women I cannot use them. Yes I believe that when you have kids your first ministry is to them but I believe that for a man as well. A man should be the provider of his home but if he neglects his children while doing that, is that right???

    You talk about the passage in 1 Timothy 5:14 that is talking about widows and say "I think it is safe to assume"...We should never assume or put our thoughts into biblical passages. The Bible is not there so that our interpretation can be place on it. It is there so that the Holy Spirit can. When we start to assume anything that we want the Bible to say than the Bible does not become the infallible word. God's holy word. It simply becomes what we want it to be.

    I have my education and I have studied long and hard to become a pastor. And I do not say this simply because I am female. I believe God has called me to do so. It is not wrong and it cannot be proven against Biblically.

    Thank you,

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  9. leastofthese,

    my guess is that you are using one of the "modern", corrupt version because the Bible (KJV) is very clear on this subject.

    (1) A woman cannot be "the husband of one wife", which is the prerequisite for pastors/bishops:

    1Timothy 3:2 "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;"

    Tit 1:5,6 "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
    If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly."

    (2) Women are not supposed to teach in church, but rather learn in silence:

    1 Timothy 2:11,12 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
    But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

    1 Corinthians 14:34,35 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
    And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

    Revelation 2:20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

    (3) Just because the Bible gives accounts of women who were judges does not mean God condoned that. There are also accounts of polygamy, murder, incest, homosexuality, and many other wicked sins. Women ruling is the curse of God, and this verse shows the consequences of it:

    Isaiah 3:12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

    (4) If we are not supposed to "assume or put our thoughts into biblical passages" as you said, then how did you come to the conclusion that Dorcas was a "pastoral leader in the new testament"? From my reading, she sewed clothes.

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  10. Dear leastofthese,you can be proven wrong on your belief about there is nothing wrong with women being pastors. 1 Corinthians 14:34-35"Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.This is not my opinion,but the word of GOD from the only true bible the 1611 KJV. NOT THE PERVERTED niv,or other perverse versions.

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  11. While homeschooling is a great option, it's not for everyone. Some children are better off in school because their home-life is terrible. Some children only get that one hot (or warm) meal a day at school because there is no one at home to cook for them. It's very sad - but sometimes, for certain children, school is best.

    My sister is a minister - not a pastor. She is a children's minister at her church. That does not usurp the authority of man. I do agree she should not be a pastor. But, we are all suppose to minister. She just has a "title." (Note where I put that end quote, that is the correct way to do so.)

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  12. kd,

    I just now realized that I had never yet approved your comment. "Soul-winning" means going house to house, telling people the gospel (how to be saved by believing on Jesus only, no works). "Repentance" is a false teaching that people must give up their sins (or be willing to do so) in order to be saved, which is works salvation.

    My statement about domestic disputes was based on a speech given by an ex-police officer here in Phoenix. Police work should be investigative only, not going around mediating fights, patrolling the streets, or enforcing traffic laws. The government somehow has this idea that it is their job to prevent crime, when their job is in fact PUNISHING crime (which, indirectly, does deter crime). This is something they are failing at miserably, hence the condition our society is in.

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  13. "They learn to not live for self..."
    So apparently he thinks that homeschooled kids will automatically learn to live for self?

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  14. Hello! Here's a little bit of information about me, so that you can understand where I'm coming from!

    I was homeschooled k-12 and skipped k, 3rd,7th, and 10th grades! I graduated when I was 15, and immediately got a part-time job that I loved. My dad is a Pastor, and my mom was a stay-at-home mom until I was 12. I'm in Bible College now, and although your husband doesn't approve of Bible College, I love it. Daily, we are stretched and challenged in our walk with Christ!

    Anyway, the reason I commented was when you said that repentance is a false teaching, based on how you must do a work (giving up your sins). But, in the gospels, it clearly says that man is to repent! Here, in KJV, are some examples:

    Matthew 3:2
    And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

    Matthew 4:17
    From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

    Mark 1:15
    And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.


    Mark 6:12
    And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

    Luke 13:5
    I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

    And then later, in Acts, again we see that repentance is necessary for forgiveness of sins, which is repentance! Unless, you believe that you can become saved without being forgiven of your sins...


    Acts 2:38
    Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

    Acts 3:19
    Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

    Acts 8:22
    Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

    Acts 17:30
    And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

    Acts 26:20
    But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

    I'm sorry my post was so long! I get long-winded sometimes!

    I also want to say that I have alot of respect for what you are doing. It isn't easy homeschooling with 5 kids. You are doing what you believe is right, and I respect that, although I disagree with alot of your husband's teachings.

    Have a blessed day!

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Your KINDLY WORDED, constructive comments are welcome, whether or not they express a differing opinion. All others will be deleted without second thought.