proudpapa
Jul 24, 2012
What are your thoughts on the best approuch for schooling our children Public , Christian , or Home ???
What are your thoughts on the best approuch for schooling our children Public , Christian , or Home ???
As a public school teacher who has had my children in both public school and christian school, and who has had many friends who have home schooled, here is my take.
I think it is very important that what your children are taught at home agrees with what they are taught in church and with what they are taught in school.
My first choice is home-school, but it has to be done right. It is not the lazy parent's way out. That is a disaster. But for a parent who is diligent and focused, it is an amazingly rewarding experience for both the parent and the child, and is academically superior in every case I have seen where the parent took the responsibility seriously and went about it diligently.
My second choice is christian school, but choose a good one. Some are better than others.
My last choice is public school. I have known of parents who raised their children in a home school environment or in christian school who sent them to public high school. This is very dependent on how strong in the Lord the individual child may be.
Lord told us to raise our children at home when my 1st was little. I have 5 now and all are home-schooled. Most all Christian schools now are like sending them to youth group at the local mega church. Not God's Biblical plan for raising kids. Public schools are government sanctioned schools of learning the ways of this world. Many a true Christian parent has sent them off to later have nothing but grief and regret. There are many Home-School Co-Ops now and even an amazing idea known as University Model Schools, which is a hybrid of homeschooling and Christian schooling. It's very expensive though (especially if you have a house full of kids).
I came home years ago (about 10 now) and told my wife the Lord would have us homeschool our children. She said, "I can't do that". I said, "I know, but the Lord will empower you/us as we trust and obey Him." He has been more than faithful.
We use the Hooked on Phonics, Hooked on Math, & other workbooks until 3rd grade. Then, in 3rd grade we start them on a christian computer based software program curriculum called "Switched on Schoolhouse" (S.O.S.) by Alpha-Omega. It is PHENOMENAL. It is a help to a mother/teacher in auto-organizing and helping keep their learning on track, we buy them used when there are good deals for reselling used ones on EBay (full curriculums for each grade, including Bible - all with videos, reading, typing, writing, grading, planning, etc.). I can't recommend this particular curriculum enough. But ultimately, the Lord put it on our heart to train up our children at home away from this crooked and perverse generation, and He has been faithful.
Other PHENOMENAL resources are the "Titus 2" ministry website of the Maxwell Family (WHAT A BLESSING), and the "PEARABLES" stuff - WOW! You only get one chance as a parent. Pray, fast, and choose wisely your course. God has been faithful to bless us. The whole single parent income was a hurdle mentally, but again we went to God's Word and trusted Him as we take our individual roles as husband and as wife seriously, and He has never failed us but blessed us.
I know many on this forum even reject Biblical roles of men/women as "restrictive" based on other recent threads. The spirit of this age and our culture is so pervasive that we can be acting as Jezebel and Ahab in our own Christian home and not even realize it. You have to act as if you had never been born into this culture, go back and just read God's Word as a child, believe what it says, and walk ye in it. What a blessing God pours out on you when you do! The feminist spirit is as pervasive, sneaky, and entrenched as the Roman Spirit. Jesus spoke to one of the churches in Rev 2-3 and rebuked one of the churches for to.erating that woman Jezebel in their midst. And the result was sexual immorality. Has anyone noticed the rampant sexual misconduct these days initiated by the women?
Better take note, go back to the Word of God people and see what God says about men/women roles. Don't attack me and tell me about the extreme cases of "abuse" in this area. Obviously there are, but does that nullify the Word of God? If some people beat their children unmercifully, does that nullify spanking entirely? If some people chain their kids up in the basement, does that nullify genuine Biblical home training in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? Don't let the devil's extreme counterfeits make you throw out God's genuine "baby" with the bath-water. That's the devils intent in sowing such tares. Are we that foolish, undiscerning, and Biblically ignorant? We have His Word and access to His Spirit through Christ. We have no excuse for such ignorance and we will give an account at the Judgment Seat. That is sobering. Time is short. You only have one life and one shot as raising children and having a family. Don't assume all kinds of cultural norms. Read & obey the Word of God by the Spirit of God.
Home-school vs conventional schooling - this potentially could become a hot thread...
In any case the question was asked.
Scripture does not teach us which school is the ideal for children. We do know the Jewish synagogue was used as a place where Jewish children were taught/educated. Later, the church continued this practice of taking responsibility of teaching their young. Back in the 1800s the gov got involved with the idea they can better manipulate the people if they take responsibility for their education. It took a while but they accomplished this task quite well.
In response to this many christian folks again took the initiative to school their own children. In the community where I grew up in IN there were no Christian schools - the public schools were pretty good back then but some thought otherwise. So one was built in 1950 and that is where I got my elementary education. It was a good school...Today, this school has embraced a sports program that differs little from the surrounding schools. In the process it is little more then a public school except that it teaches Bible and operated by local churches... Having said all this, there was a segment of concerned parents who withdrew their children and started their own school and it is doing quite well, as I understand it.
So much for history.
As I look at the education system, be it public, Christian school or home-school, all have their problems and one is going to have to make a choice and work to eliminate them.
I included home-school, yes, and for good reason. It is not for everyone. We have many in our church who did so and some did a poor job. Some of these children cannot read well and when this is the case it will hamper all other learning. The males are expected to be leaders in the church and how can they if they do not even read well?? They can make a lot of noise but it is just that, noise. Sorry, folks...
My point is that if you do decide to home-school you must teach these children well. If you fail the gov will feel justified to outlaw it. It is up to the parent.
Our children went to a Christian school sponsored by our church. After graduating from high school they went to state universities and Bible Schools/Institute. The lessons they learned in grade school/high school are those that impacted them for life. (The youngest wanted to be home schooled and in hindsight this was not good for him even though we used the A Beka video program.)
Generally speaking we feel very good about their education. Most of our grandchildren are attending schools similar to what their parents did.
My opinion is that there is no one-size fits all solution because communities differ as do their schools. This is something that requires prayerful consideration by the parents.
God bless...
Personally we home school. My wife is (was) a public and private school teacher, along with my father and both brother-in-laws.
I feel that if you let your children go to public school for 8 hours a day, you better be ready to deprogram them for another 8 hours after school is over.
6 children, all will be homeschooled... As long as my wife can take it at least. I'm sure some of you can understand this :)
I can only echo this from TWAYNE and confirm in my own experience that this is correct.
But for a parent who is diligent and focused, it is an amazingly rewarding experience for both the parent and the child, and is academically superior in every case I have seen where the parent took the responsibility seriously and went about it diligently.
Pilgrim
As an encouragement & exhortation, I would say this:
Anyone who has been born again & filled with the Holy Spirit should fast & pray about this matter. Seek the Lord. Anyone who thinks the Lord is telling them to place their children in the public school system, please reply back. It's like anything else-today we look at things, even Biblical matters, through Greek eyes of logic, bullet-point comparisons, & polling (even of others who profess Christ). We have the Holy Spirit accessible to us through Christ. Seek God. I'd be VERY interested in hearing from anyone who said:
A.) I'm a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ
B.) I've been Born Again from above & am a new creature in Christ
C.) I've been baptized/filled w/the Holy Spirit that God promises to all who believe & seek Him for it.
D.) I've fasted (that means literally "shut the mouth from food") & prayed about this extremely important matter of my children's upbringing for which we only get one chance.
E.) God told me to put my kids in public schools.
Don't argue about E.) with me unless you can honestly answer yes to A.), B.), C.), & D.) FIRST! If you make sure A.)-D.) are handled, then come back and tell me what you think about the matter.
proudpapa,
Do all in your power to keep your children from MIXTURE while they are in your care and personally take it upon yourself to teach them about the Lord and most importantly to walk before them in love and in the Spirit. This will take sacrifice and you and your wife are personally responsible for them.
Meditate on this extract from an article of mine and you will realize that the principle of separation is tied in with righteousness. What you want in your family is order and peace which is the kind of environment that your children will flourish in and eventually establish a relationship with the Lord for themselves.
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God brought forth everything on a principle of separation establishing an order in creation that preserved all He made. Separation is the first principle of righteousness. On the first day of creation God brought forth the light that separated darkness from darkness and it was the first day. On the second day, God separated the waters from the waters and the earth appeared. And on each succeeding day in all that He made, life was separated from life in all its forms. This is righteousness coming through order.
There is order in righteousness that maintains life. Because God is righteous, the sun comes up every morning, the earth maintains its orbit around the sun, the clouds water the earth and the earth blossoms. Because God is righteous, there are no monsters, no crossing over of life forms. Kind produces kind and all is good, just as it was when created. God set everything in its order, so life was established. This is righteousness.
Mixture is contrary to righteousness. In all creation mixture was not found except for a tree called 'the tree of knowledge of good and evil,' which became the place of man’s fall. Evil comes through mixture. Here one finds the first principle of evil. The incorporation of evil is sin. It is the nature of sin to break down order and cause disintegration. All kinds of disorder come until all the life support systems of one’s life are destroyed. The working of evil is always death.
It is mixture of good and evil that destroys righteousness. Evil can look good, but when evil comes in, it destroys all that righteousness has made. How many of God’s people are feeding upon mixture? The tree could be a book, a TV, a movie, a magazine, a philosophy or a relationship. The world today is full of mixture. It will excite the flesh but result in death for the soul.
Through mixture one loses the discernment of evil. In looking upon evil, one comes to accept evil; to experience evil, one loses the discernment of evil; and when discernment of evil is lost, evil has overcome. Not following the first principle of righteousness allows evil to enter. A prophet pronounced judgment upon a nation because they had lost discernment.
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isa 5:20
God’s people must separate themselves from evil and draw the line between the clean and the unclean, between the holy and the profane. Fathers must teach their children to draw this line. The mixture of evil must be eliminated from the home and from the church. How much one allows the principle of separation to work in his life will determine how much God’s righteousness will work in his life.
Righteousness brings order and peace.
And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;
Isa 32:17-18
Here is God’s call to righteousness.
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 2Co 6:14
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 2Co 6:16
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 2Co 6:17
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2Co 6:18
Pilgrim
jeffmar,
Both your posts were spot on, and I do hope you'll continue with the "encouragement & exhortation" as you put it.
You're so right that many here on S.I. "look at things, even Biblical matters, through Greek eyes of logic, bullet-point comparisons, & polling (even of others who profess Christ)."
Beware of the many closet femnists who will crawl into this thread and leave their brown trail spewing from their americanized minds.
Apparently you're privy to the manifold schemes the adversary is making use of to promote his agenda in opposition to the Kings' order. Yet it is ever true,"To be fore-warned is to be fore-armed."
It was refreshing to read your posts jeffmar. Just when I thought nobody out there was reading those threads you mentioned. At least nobody who had the mind of Christ on it and was taking every thought captive. Sadly, so few know what God's Mind is regarding these monumental truths.
Press on jeffmar!
Pressing on,
Savannah
edit:for conviction purposes, I give my apology
Feminism is a serious problem in our culture but
I would ask that this thread stay on topic
One or more of my four children have participated in all of the above. After I was forced back to work, I had to work 5-7 days a week, and no longer could afford a Christian school. After a brief sojourn in public, my youngest two graduated from an incredible charter school. The baby was in an Independent Learning Program (ILP), and finished her junior/senior year in high school and freshman year in college all in one year. In California the state even pays for high quality teachers to help home school parents choose the right curriculum for each child.
Having said that, I have found that younger children do better either home schooled or in a Christian school that is not considered an "outreach" (i.e., including non-Christian families). We've done both - and it's not a good idea for kids to socialize with kids who are exposed to bad things at home (both "Christian" or not). There are so many awesome programs for home-schoolers and ILP students, that the socialization myth should no longer be a factor. Many parents incorrectly believe that they'll save private school money for high school, and that it won't be problematic to put their kids in public K-8, which is a very risky move.
The decision for high school is varied, and depends a good deal on the heart and personality of the child. Some Christian kids do great, find a good group of godly kids, and avoid trouble. My younger two were uncomfortable around the sexuality, drinking, drugs, and, bullying, so we chose charter.
The times are very dark. I suggest seeking God for direction and His will, know your child's strengths, weaknesses, and heart for the Lord.
God Bless your family.
Proud papa,
What you need to see is that feminism has EVERYTHING to do with this topic. Unless you pray to discern this, you'll be considering this matter through the natural mind of logical deductions between this possible choice and that one. That same spirit that that was in Jezebel (the ultimate feminist - & it started with Eve who wondered away from both God and Adam to listen to the devil and lead her family astray through her deception). It was also allowed to be propagated through that same spirit of Ahab. He was a weak-kneed, non-leading excuse of a man who followed his wife in her deception instead of leading her. He Learned this from his father Adam who knew better but went right ahead with Eve's sin, too weak a leader to stand up against his own wife for her sake, & God's Glory. I'm convinced this spirit is being allowed to totally pervert the American church in more ways than you know.
It is this same spirit that has led to the "day-care"/public school/"Christian school society we live in today. The woman's "right" to "her" work (& neglect all the work God commands her to do in scripture from Proverbs 31, Titus 2, Ephesians 5, 1 Peter 3, etc., etc. it is the norm now, just like women bible "teachers" who apparently can do everything Paul laid out in scriptures they could not, while neglecting the very things God commands they must do! Amazing! Where are the real men to stand up in love and humility and speak the Word of God and lead in love? Where are the Sarah's, Hannah's, & Esters who will read the Word of God and take their roles as women seriously as unto the Lord?
You see this has EVERYTHING to do with the topic. If a man/woman understood their biblical roles and responsibilities, this discussion on what to do about raising/teaching the children is inherently understood. My experience is that the "church" on America doesn't recognize this spirit in themselves even less then they detect the political nationalism pride that they hold to either. Attack if you want, or go and read those chapters I listed, fast, & pray and see if the Lord doesn't open eyes/hearts to His truth.
I pray we would, turn to Him in truth and humility, & let the Holy Spirit lead is. Then we don't have to poll others for what God wants of us as parents. We will know His Word & have His Spirit.
PaPa, good topic. If I could recommend what parents 'should' do, I'd also say homeschool and have always stood strongly for homeschooling .... But - Most times, a couple want children but can't afford it and more times than not - it's the husband that tells the wife that she 'has to' work, because he's trying to make the bills and just can't stretch it far enough.
Granted there are some women that want babies "and a career" but I wouldn't say that that is the chief cause of why people don't homeschool.
Any Economist can show you from back to the 1940's, how our economy has been geared toward an "Anti-Family" agenda and have forced the vast majority of women to also have an income.
I've heard them for many yrs now, calling in on the Christian radio program "Crown Ministry", a Christian Economic Advisor Program and other Programs.
There are many couples that manage to work different shifts, just so that one of them is always with their children ... but they don't see each other that much.
There's countless reasons of why every Christian home isn't homeschooling or sending their children to a Christian school and most especially since our economy took that fairly surprising Dive in 2007/2008.
Most can't afford to stay home anymore, nor can they afford a Christian School - So what do we do with the children of those people? They need answers as well.
I assumed that you were asking about "Christian" Parents and that is where my sights are as well, with this reply.
Fact is, it's better to live in an RV, eating noodle soups every day, & clipping coupons with a family set on God's plan than to live in a mansion with all the "luxuries" we do (that's what they are, we are just so accustomed to them that We take it for granted) and live out family lives like the culture. Im not even going to go into the obstacles we faced & how cultural logic was all against our decision, but God is faithful. You will have to make sacrifices to follow Christ. You will find that you should have made long before you did. Don't use the economy as an excuse. "Is The Lord's Arm to short to save"? Of course not!!
Jeff, I don't have little children and I live in Senior Housing but am very conscious of what goes on in this country. Many private schools have had to close because the money just isn't there. Last I heard, 45% of Americans are on food-stamps or other type State assistance.
Yes, I agree that some people live too high-on-the-hog but we're talking about just putting food on the table. So many men have been unemployed or under-employed now, it's totally insane.
Crown Ministry is one that I recommend because they do believe a Mom should stay home and homeschool and try everything that can be conceived to counsel families. They tell the husband to get a second job, etc. etc..
My niece is a teacher in private schools and they've shut down the last one that she worked at.
I recommend you read this book before you judge another person.
https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=12995&forum=34
I don't particualarly care for stero-typing people or putting all of the blame for why children aren't being home-schooled on just one gender.
Let's talk common [Christian] sense and look at this country as a whole. Unless you're an expert in Economic Forecasting, it's difficult for you to put yourself in other young couple's shoes.
I will say though, I personally would do virtually anything under the sun that isn't a sin, to keep my children out of public school - if I had school aged children.
Generalizing doesn't help anybody, when 'sound' answers are what these couples are looking for and ministries like Crown is a good source of common sense for today's couples with children that need help with the financial situations that prevent them from doing what they want to do.
I appreciate your concern in telling me that I'm judging people by telling them they can trust God against the odds and He will make a way. I'm an ex-convict felon who has been to prison with a rap sheet longer than this thread. If I were looking for an excuse, like the economy of whatever else, not to trust the Lord, I could come up with plenty of them. Or, I can just trust God, pray, & believe God to make a way where would seem to be no way. Thanks for your concern about my "judge mentalness", but I stand by what I said. You can trust God when your heart is set on following His Word, you cry out to Him, you believe in faith He will make a way (although you may have to make some sacrifices), & you stand firm in the face of trials in this matter.
I'm going to believe & trust God. If you think that telling others they can do the same and trust the Lord is being judgemental, I'm sorry that's your understanding. When are we just going to read the Word of God (for the family & whatever else), believe it, trust the Lord & not waver because of what the economy is doing, how many people are on food stamps, etc?
When I was locked up for Organized Crime (I came to the Lord within the first week of solitary confinement), I met tons of people on welfare & food stamps who used them for crack cocaine. I don't care what those statistics are frankly. MANY (not all, but many) of those statistics don't want to work and wont take a job "below them". I started out working anything/everything available before me to do (deliveries, construction, etc.). I praised the Lord for making any way for me to work. When we started having kids (my wife made 2-3 times what I did), we knew God's plan and she quit working and I made $20,000+ yr working 2 jobs. It looked crazy, but we trusted the Lord.
I later got a job in sales, and was later promoted to district manager, & later corporate regional manager. Then, the Lord called us to move from Dallas to Albuquerque (for home fellowship/ministry) & take a 50% pay cut! It doesn't matter. The Holy Spirit is perfectly able to lead us without the help of national statistics, polls, & stories of "I knew this one guy", etc. "I have never seen the righteous forsaken, nor His seed begging bread."
Sorry you think that's judgemental. Hopefully you just misunderstood me? The Lord honors those who honors Him. He leads us and can be trusted. If I looked at the economical statistics for direction Id be a consistent mess all over the map. Thank God I can trust the Lord to lead me and my family. That's available to all. That's not judgemental. That's an exhortation and encouragement to trust/follow the Lord.
Blessings in Him,
Jeff
By the way, I never advocated Christian schooling, but homeschooling. It's free & allows you to raise your children and train them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, rather than being schooled daily with some true believers, some quasi-christian kids, & some children of appostatized churches. Like youth groups. Don't even get me started on how the "youth group" is not/was never God's plan. Don't find that line of thinking in God's Word. Raising/Training children is a God-given responsibility for parents. I understand you don't have children, so you have probably read/studied/prayed about this matter little. I have 5 kids. I have not stopped crying out to God, searching the scriptures, & praying for the Holy Spirit to lead me. We will stand at the judgement Seat and give account for our parenting decisions. Those excuses about the economy, statistics, this one bad homeschooler I knew, etc. won't even date to be uttered before Christ. All the parents here should deeply consider this and pray about it. It's worthy of fasting, prayer, & intense study of scripture, otherwise, "every man just does what is right in his own eyes". God forbid
You're totally misunderstanding me and not seeing that I'm on your side but I suppose I'll have to explain myself because I'm a female and females have been the cause of all the problems in the lack of homeschooling, from your perspective.
The economy may not matter to 'you' now, but if you have any idea of where I was trying to point to earlier, that since the 1940's, the GOVERNMENT is being controlled to force what is here and my main point is - what they plan for all of our futures.
You're looking at today - I'm looking at it from the 40's until they either take our life or ..........
Everything wrong is in this world and this country is "by design". The breaking up of the sovereignty of the Family is under-fire and is getting worse every day.
I posted an article in the News section of the UN's plan to take over "parenting".
The Global Planners have pushed women into the work force. They control ALL media and the media programs the minds of anyone exposed to any of it.
My friends children homeschool their children and do you know what they're teaching all of their children? They're teaching them about the coming persecution.
You and I think very much alike in everything I've read from you but you're not understanding what I'm getting at.
Feminism came from the same Global Planners that are pushing pornography on men. We learned that in the Military back in the very early 70's. It's how you take down a nation and chiefly by dividing families.
When a man gets on the "feminism alone" bandwagon, they're falling for the Satanic trap that is in the mind of these Global Planning Engineers. The world is given over to Satanic powers that are controlling all the governments of the world - including and powerfully - This Country - because we're the Chief Exporter of Hollywood, Styles, Fashions, Trends, Lifestyles, Economies, Mind-sets and anything else that we can think of. They're even infiltrating so-called well known "Family" Ministries.
One would have to write a mile long post to explain all of this but my Biblical Beliefs are no different than yours.
There is a major attack on the middle to low class families. Lastly, the so-called wealthy ones will be hit as well -- and the Bible does not guarantee that persecution of Christians will not happen - as it is in many other countries right now. We just don't see it in plain view as yet - because they haven't 'fully' turned US over to the UN ... but they're working on it. The IMF will hold a global economic system that people will need to go digital to buy and sell.
In the meantime, many families are being hit very hard, either financially or otherwise. Men leaving their wives for other women, as the world tells them that's "genetic" as well. On all fronts the family is under attack and by design [= on purpose] to destroy this and every other country through this country.
The number of Americans on food stamps has gone from 26 million in 2007 to 43 million today. Do you think there are any Christian families in those numbers?
It would be nice to think that it won't affect every family.
[Y]our enemy is not your average person - male or female.
Again, if you'd understand that we're actually on the same page regarding training our 'own children' from our 'own home', you wouldn't be seeing me coming against you in any way -- but just stating facts about where we're at as a country and where we're headed - and gloabally and every parent should be mindful of it all.
GOD Bless you, Brother Jeff.
I understand what you are saying, trust me. But the govt can't make me doubt God and go with the flow of their plans. If I had to go in hiding to obey God and scavenge the fields for food - I would. In fact, we may have to. I'm aware of all the history. Doesn't change individual choices by people to trust/obey God at all costs. I hope I didn't come across wrong. I'm passionate about believing God to do what He calls us to do. The "judge not lest thee be judged" thing gets old to me at times, cause what a lot of what that can be is actually judging God.
What? How? Well, God said something in His Word & calls us to do certain things and we judge Him & His Word as unable to be obeyed because of.......govt.......the economy.....society.........whatever, etc. He's God. To not trust Him to enable us to do what He calls us to do is an affront to His Goodness, Mercy, & Power. It is a form of "doubt & unbelief". Government hasn't forced anyone (yet) to not accept lower living standards, not eat cheaper food, not do less that costs money, not pay for cable tv, not have more one on one time with kids and bible study and teaching, etc. or else they will steal your kids. So, if 72 years have passed since 1940 and no American govt has forced any of these things (mandating women work instead of living more frugally) & we have steadily went against God's plan for the family, who's to blame?
The Government? Economy? Society? No. Precious saints, anyone who follows man/self rather than God carries their own responsibility for this. The judgement for this may actually be that one day the govt does step in and try to enforce these matters! Will everyone then conform cause "you just don't understand. Everyone has different issues. Don't judge others." Etc., etc. I will flee for the mountains if/when that day ever comes, and go back into the burning cities to preach in the midst of the chaos, Lord willing. At the judgement Seat of Christ, all will be laid bare and known. All our excuses will be shown to be just excuses and nothing more. Like the servant who hid the one talent.
My heart is to stir people up to quit taking cues from the world and return to the purity and trustworthiness of God's Word! He is all-knowing, all-powerful, onnipresent, etc. & He can't help a family who's heart is truly set on following Him to obey His Word & follow His Spirit's leading? I think we have a bigger devil (or govt, or economy, or self, or circumstance) than we do an all powerful God! Faith is not for stuff. Faith is for believing the promises of Hod before you can see them. It's the only way we can please God. It's the only way we make it into "The Promised Land" & don't "Die doubting in the Wilderness". Are we gonna be like Caleb & Joshua and see the promise, or everyone else and see the Giants in the Land?
Remember the 3 Hebrew boys in the fire?
"Our God is fully able to deliver us, but even if He doesn't, we may burn, but we will never bow."
We need to return to that Spirit of believing God. The Government told Daniel not to pray to His God. He never wavered though they threw him to the lions.
This may look like another issue, but it really isn't.
Are we going to read God's Word, pray & be led by His Spirit, trust & believe in faith, never wavering, or are we going to just keep conforming to the ways of this world & making excuses as if our God can't enable us to obey Him?
God is watching us in the "little things" now. If we can't trust God and stand against culture/govt/society/economy now, what will we do when persecution really comes? Honestly. If we reason away God's plan for the family, don't trust God, & blame the govt now, what will we do when the Antichrist tells us to hand over our kids to their schools, or deny Christ to feed them, etc.? Well,"you can't judge everyone". Don't have to. They already have a judge who wrote it down 2,000 years ago and who will judge the living and the dead.
The whole matter, like most in our walk, is one of faith or unbelief. Trust or doubt. God's Soveriegnty or our pragmatism. "Did God really say?" Not training up our own children, not resisting the patterns of this world, not following God's pattern for the family and roles but "giving way to fear" & the feminist Jezebel spirit, etc. I don't know why I feel so led to share this except that it's the truth. "Without faith it is impossible to please God.....must believe that He is, & that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." That's not hyperbole. It's not theological aspirational statements of doctrinal thought. It's the truth spoken by God.
Praise the Lord that He can ALWAYS be trusted regardless of what we see. Hallelujah to the Lamb of God!
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