Part of the series Questions For Home Education
Written by Léo Gaumont, published on 2014-09-29.
The which, where, how, when and what of home education is actually determined by one simple thing, our faith.
Our world view is shaped by everything we have experienced, whether true or false. We tend to trust what we have come to believe as true and may even defend ourselves when presented with opposing thoughts. This series is meant to challenge your world view.
Bible Reference: Luke 16:15
I find that whenever I am asked to summarize my thoughts about a subject, I usually come up with the same answer. The way we do things is rooted in what we believe. The Bible is clear on this issue, calling belief in what is true, faith and in what in not true as, a lack of faith. The world seems confused on this point, mixing up faith and lack of faith under the banner of “world view”, which can be defined as the sum of all that we have come to believe to be true and accurate, regardless of whether or not, it is in fact, true or accurate.
Jesus questioned whether He would find faith on earth upon His return (Luke 8:18). He was asking if there would be people who believed more in God than human institutions, who trusted more in God than human accreditation and who would follow God rather than pursuing money? Faith or lack of faith? Trust or fear? Confidence or confusion?
While we all demonstrate some degree of faith in our lives, we also demonstrate a clear lack of faith at the same time. Take home education for example. While most may believe that God created the children, most are also fearful that God has no interest in their futures! Somehow, we believe that the creative genius of God ends when the children are born and that their futures depend on us! Our actions demonstrates more of a belief that God creates and abandons than in His ability to create and direct, especially when it comes to the “high school” or secondary level education. Until our children reach puberty, it is easy to have faith in God, but when outside influences start whispering in our ears that God doesn’t care and that we have to do something, our fear takes over and our faith disappears. We try to appease these fears of the unknown, particularly the future of our children, by putting our trust in the world and its system of accreditation rather than in the all-knowing power of God. Faith in God yet fearful of His failing our children. Faith in God but uncertain of His abilities. Faith in God but following the constructs of man. Is this really faith? Small wonder Jesus doubted He would find faith on earth at His return!
Yes, it is true that home education can be summarized as being a question of faith. What do we believe about God? Can he finished what he started or as the Apostle Paul so clearly put it, “having begun by the Spirit, will we seek to be perfected by the flesh”? Faith or lack of faith? Trust or fear? Confidence or confusion? No matter what, it is faith, or a lack thereof.