March 17th, 2025
by Pastor Matt
by Pastor Matt
A Proviso
I am being asked more and more to give my thoughts on education and schooling. I have been slow to do this, as few things can be more contentious. Parents love their children deeply and want the best for them. As a result, conversations get hot, fast. Parents are passionate over what they’ve chosen for their children and will defend it until the dying day. I get it. Indeed, an alternative opinion can be received as an attack on the love you have for your child. You have chosen what you think is most loving, and when someone disagrees, or offers something different, it feels like an assault on your labor and sacrifice. But it doesn’t need to be that way, nor should it. Every family, child, and circumstance is different, and there’s no formula for this. While there’s perhaps a wrong or unwise decision, there’s not necessarily a right one. The old worship wars are now education wars in broader Christendom, and, in time, this too, will pass. I'm genuinely grateful this doesn't seem to be the case at the Vine, and unity of the Spirit must be maintained at all times (Eph. 4:3), but nevertheless, I offer the following with hesitation and prayer.
Several books could be written on each point, and they’re out there. Additionally, I realize exceptions, qualifications, and clarifications could be given for nearly every statement—so I ask that you read with charity and not hesitate to come and talk with me. This is the quick and dirty, written in no particular order, for the flock entrusted to me. I do not write as a subject matter expert, but as a pastor, husband, father, and fellow Christian. The goal is to offer my perspective, and it is merely my perspective. So, take it, leave, praise it, critique it. In the end, it’s just a perspective. Hopefully, you’ll find it’s a perspective not divorced from biblical principles. Nor is it a perspective void of experience, both in doing it, and watching others do it—but it’s still my perspective. I hope it will help, or at least get you thinking, as many of you are on the cusp of decision time.
Twelve Thoughts
First, it is essential you teach your children in a manner that goes beyond facts, equations, and grammar, and construct for them a biblical worldview. Show how facts are connected to truth, and truth is connected to God. It’s important to realize that facts are not the same as truth. Facts demonstrate the “what,” but truth declares the “why”—and that is where a worldview comes into play. This is a critical step, and often the difference between life and death. Then, it is essential you take every opportunity to teach your child how to interpret the world and act upon it from a biblical perspective. This is the idea of wisdom, and it’s a skill that must be cultivated. The majority of this will happen outside the time of formal instruction. Deut. 6:6-9 is a helpful principle. For a fuller treatment on the passage, and how it applies to the everyday discipleship of your child, listen to my thoughts here. The point, though, is that education is always discipleship, and if it is not distinctly Christian, it is distinctly anti-Christian. There is no neutrality. This, of course, eliminates public school as an option, but whatever your method of Christian education, don't be quick to assume it's wholistically Christian merely because of the label.
Second, there are plenty of fantastic curricula to help you. Curricula keep getting better and better. Ask around. Find out what’s helpful and why. Make a decision and just go for it. We’ve learned that curriculum is an excellent servant, but a poor master. As you teach your child, the curriculum is a suggestion to keep the education and discipleship of your child moving forward. Use it, but don’t serve it. This will relieve you from a lot of undue pressure to move mechanically through box-checking, lists, tasks, and benchmarks. Some of that is necessary, but not nearly as much as the uninitiated believe.
Third, must it be classical? Christians have always been good at baptizing secular, God-hating ideologies and practices. Classical Christian education is no different. It’s baptized paganism that can be helpful. Like everything, there’s strengths and weakness. Classical is not for everyone. It’s the newest watering hole from which many are drinking at the moment, but all movements come and go, ebb and flow. I say this as one who has chosen the classical route for my own... for now. We’re always analyzing and never afraid to change, should we deem something more helpful. Education is not a formula. Merley plugging in a certain method or curriculum won’t guarantee a product. There are several helpful methods, of which classical is merely one. What many forget is pre-modernity (i.e., classical education) birthed the failed enterprise of modernity. Modernity, then, birthed the chaos of postmodernity, and postmodernity has birthed the hopeless narratives of metamodernity. We’ve now put “Christian” in front of the “classical,” but often the “classical” gets marketed more than the “Christian.” If the “Christian” is the important part, then it stands to reason that other methods are perfectly acceptable—so long as they’re distinctly Christian.
Fourth, don’t overthink it. It’s just education. Education doesn’t save souls. It doesn’t cause the heart to honor and fear the Lord. It doesn’t change what a soul naturally loves. In the end, education plays a significant role in discipleship and the constructing of a biblical worldview, but it is not synonymous with it, nor is it the sin qua non of heart conversion. There is much more to discipleship than education, and parents can forget this.
Fifth, whatever your chosen method, make a decision based on the premise of what will maximize your voice and influence in your child’s life. Pros and cons can be argued for any approach, but don’t be ruled by a method or philosophy. Methods and practices should serve voice and influence, not the other way around. So, choose wisely, constantly analyze, and don’t be afraid to change. Resist the temptation to outsource your child to the shifting standards of "the experts," or be overly impressed by the word, "accreditation." Refuse to yield to other voices simply because you feel inadequate. If you sense you're beginning to lose your child's ear, especially as they grow older, consider making a change. It's never too late. Simply trust Christ and never act from fear.
Sixth, if you choose to homeschool, resist the temptation to think your child is missing out if they’re not part of a formal school. All things being equal, no one loves them more than you. No one will invest, disciple, instruct, discipline, and pray for them more than you. This is not an apologetic against formal schooling per se, but I want to encourage you to resist the thought that you’re robbing your children of excellence by letting them learn their math in pajamas. You’re not. Having said that, if you do choose to homeschool, resist believing it will guarantee their safety, protection, and salvation. Sin and unseen idols can abound in the home. Unless the inside of the cup is clean, the outside won't matter.
Seventh, try to avoid pragmatism. Multiple issues could be addressed, here, but to mention one; the “socialization” of your child should be a minor factor in your decision. To say what others have said, a school may equip in a social skill, but it’s a mostly useless one. I’ll be brief, here, as much has been written on this, but the specific social skills learned in a school environment rarely translate to anything significant in the real world. If you disagree, fine. I’ll let you do the research. My only encouragement is to say, it should be relatively minor in your considerations. For me, it wouldn't even break a tie. Much could be said here about extra-curriculars as well. Many opportunities are afforded outside formal schooling for which parents can be amply involved. Also, I would be remiss if I didn't say—it is also the value of being faithfully involved in a local church beyond simple Sunday attendance.
Eighth, no method of Christian education will matter if the home is not joyfully and genuinely Christ-centered. It must be biblically saturated in every possible way. This begins with the parents, led by dad. “Christ is Lord” is more than a profession; it is a dominating way of life in which Christ is actually Lord—over everything. The sacred/secular divide often exists right within the home. There is no quicker way to exasperate your children than by modeling hypocrisy. They will much prefer to find identity in a worldview that faithfully practices what it preaches—even if it means joining the cultural revolution.
Ninth, in God’s wonderful design and providence, not all children are equal. You know your children, and God entrusted them to you. One method may work well for one, but not the other. So, don’t be afraid to customize for each of them.
Additionally—and this is a subpoint—but women are not men, so girls ought to be raised differently than boys. If education is part of discipleship, consider the value in bringing your sons and daughters through the curriculum differently. At this point, it is important to realize curriculum is far more than what is laid out in a teacher’s manual. It involves every activity of the day— from wake to sleep. In the early years, much of it may look the same between your sons and daughters, but as they grow, look for ways to customize. For example, between their math and reading, my sons and daughter can be found cutting carrots in the kitchen. Other days, they might be sent to the backyard to cut a fallen tree. But as they’ve gotten older, my daughter wields the knife more than the loppers, and vice-versa. Reject the egalitarian cookie-cutter approach of feminism, which proffers that both can be approached the same. They shouldn’t, and ought not. Increasingly, my daughter, who’s being trained to be a worker at home (Tim. 5:14; Tit. 2:5) will stay in the home, while my sons, who are being trained to leave the home, go out to cultivate the earth. All of them still put on their aprons to cut carrots—and all of them still go out to exercise dominion over a tree—but not in equal measure. They’re different, and it’s been wonderful to see them joyfully embrace their differences in gender to the glory of God.
Moreover, the culture of your home is part of the curriculum. Your children will see how you think and respond to every detail throughout the day. This is fraught with opportunities and pitfalls. They will pick up on how you talk, laugh, grieve, and rejoice. Children take cues, constantly. They will discern what you love, value, and worship as they watch your face respond to a statement made by the local librarian, or a statement you yourself make when cut off in traffic. So, keeping them close is critical, but always remember they critically analyze that which is close. Everything you say or don’t say, do or don’t do, will shape them more than you know. The intangibles are often what cultivate the heart.
Tenth, don’t underestimate the sanctifying mechanism of educating your own children— both for them and you. Frankly, this is a huge issue. The family is God’s design, and one of the greatest instruments by which He brings maturation into our lives. Don’t be quick to remove that. God is at work. Trust Him and see what He might do. You will discover the ugliness of sin, impatience, and ungodliness in both you and your children no quicker than when you set your hand to the task of educating them. But you’ll also be presented with the opportunity to mortify that sin, and grow in wonderful ways—both you and your children. So don’t be quick to eliminate the opportunity. This is especially important for husbands, who often think their job is to remove trouble for their wives. Trouble is good—and often, God is the One Who gives it. So, don’t be quick to get in His way.
Eleventh, you can do it! I have seen moms, who didn’t think they could educate their children, wonderfully rise to the occasion. They’re regularly thankful, rehearsing the opportunities for growth they may have missed, had they chosen not to educate their own. Don’t worry about failure, or make a decision from fear. God is faithful and honors the heart. Get around others who are doing it, and be encouraged. Likely, you will find they had all the same fears. Draw on their wisdom and learn from those who’ve gone before you. It can be scary, but growth happens through pressure.
Twelfth, and most important, trust Christ and pray. Make the best decision you can with the information you have. Keep analyzing, never grow apathetic, and never settle for what’s easy. Educational fads come and go, especially in Christendom, but the soul remains forever. Your home is unique and you’re the only one who will give an account to the Lord for your stewardship of it. So, do what you believe is best for your family, and trust Him. In the end, never forget you always reserve the right to change. Your initial decision doesn’t need to be your final one. So, pray, seek counsel, pray some more, then decide. The character of God toward His own is one of grace. He will show you much as you faithfully love the little ones entrusted to you. God never demands perfection, but simple faith and a pure heart. Ultimately, your children belong to Him. He loves them more than you do. He'll abundantly supply you with the grace, wisdom, and patience needed—so take courage, entrust your ways to Him, and be faithful—whatever you decide.
Praying for you always.
Soli Deo gloria.
Pastor Matt
I am being asked more and more to give my thoughts on education and schooling. I have been slow to do this, as few things can be more contentious. Parents love their children deeply and want the best for them. As a result, conversations get hot, fast. Parents are passionate over what they’ve chosen for their children and will defend it until the dying day. I get it. Indeed, an alternative opinion can be received as an attack on the love you have for your child. You have chosen what you think is most loving, and when someone disagrees, or offers something different, it feels like an assault on your labor and sacrifice. But it doesn’t need to be that way, nor should it. Every family, child, and circumstance is different, and there’s no formula for this. While there’s perhaps a wrong or unwise decision, there’s not necessarily a right one. The old worship wars are now education wars in broader Christendom, and, in time, this too, will pass. I'm genuinely grateful this doesn't seem to be the case at the Vine, and unity of the Spirit must be maintained at all times (Eph. 4:3), but nevertheless, I offer the following with hesitation and prayer.
Several books could be written on each point, and they’re out there. Additionally, I realize exceptions, qualifications, and clarifications could be given for nearly every statement—so I ask that you read with charity and not hesitate to come and talk with me. This is the quick and dirty, written in no particular order, for the flock entrusted to me. I do not write as a subject matter expert, but as a pastor, husband, father, and fellow Christian. The goal is to offer my perspective, and it is merely my perspective. So, take it, leave, praise it, critique it. In the end, it’s just a perspective. Hopefully, you’ll find it’s a perspective not divorced from biblical principles. Nor is it a perspective void of experience, both in doing it, and watching others do it—but it’s still my perspective. I hope it will help, or at least get you thinking, as many of you are on the cusp of decision time.
Twelve Thoughts
First, it is essential you teach your children in a manner that goes beyond facts, equations, and grammar, and construct for them a biblical worldview. Show how facts are connected to truth, and truth is connected to God. It’s important to realize that facts are not the same as truth. Facts demonstrate the “what,” but truth declares the “why”—and that is where a worldview comes into play. This is a critical step, and often the difference between life and death. Then, it is essential you take every opportunity to teach your child how to interpret the world and act upon it from a biblical perspective. This is the idea of wisdom, and it’s a skill that must be cultivated. The majority of this will happen outside the time of formal instruction. Deut. 6:6-9 is a helpful principle. For a fuller treatment on the passage, and how it applies to the everyday discipleship of your child, listen to my thoughts here. The point, though, is that education is always discipleship, and if it is not distinctly Christian, it is distinctly anti-Christian. There is no neutrality. This, of course, eliminates public school as an option, but whatever your method of Christian education, don't be quick to assume it's wholistically Christian merely because of the label.
Second, there are plenty of fantastic curricula to help you. Curricula keep getting better and better. Ask around. Find out what’s helpful and why. Make a decision and just go for it. We’ve learned that curriculum is an excellent servant, but a poor master. As you teach your child, the curriculum is a suggestion to keep the education and discipleship of your child moving forward. Use it, but don’t serve it. This will relieve you from a lot of undue pressure to move mechanically through box-checking, lists, tasks, and benchmarks. Some of that is necessary, but not nearly as much as the uninitiated believe.
Third, must it be classical? Christians have always been good at baptizing secular, God-hating ideologies and practices. Classical Christian education is no different. It’s baptized paganism that can be helpful. Like everything, there’s strengths and weakness. Classical is not for everyone. It’s the newest watering hole from which many are drinking at the moment, but all movements come and go, ebb and flow. I say this as one who has chosen the classical route for my own... for now. We’re always analyzing and never afraid to change, should we deem something more helpful. Education is not a formula. Merley plugging in a certain method or curriculum won’t guarantee a product. There are several helpful methods, of which classical is merely one. What many forget is pre-modernity (i.e., classical education) birthed the failed enterprise of modernity. Modernity, then, birthed the chaos of postmodernity, and postmodernity has birthed the hopeless narratives of metamodernity. We’ve now put “Christian” in front of the “classical,” but often the “classical” gets marketed more than the “Christian.” If the “Christian” is the important part, then it stands to reason that other methods are perfectly acceptable—so long as they’re distinctly Christian.
Fourth, don’t overthink it. It’s just education. Education doesn’t save souls. It doesn’t cause the heart to honor and fear the Lord. It doesn’t change what a soul naturally loves. In the end, education plays a significant role in discipleship and the constructing of a biblical worldview, but it is not synonymous with it, nor is it the sin qua non of heart conversion. There is much more to discipleship than education, and parents can forget this.
Fifth, whatever your chosen method, make a decision based on the premise of what will maximize your voice and influence in your child’s life. Pros and cons can be argued for any approach, but don’t be ruled by a method or philosophy. Methods and practices should serve voice and influence, not the other way around. So, choose wisely, constantly analyze, and don’t be afraid to change. Resist the temptation to outsource your child to the shifting standards of "the experts," or be overly impressed by the word, "accreditation." Refuse to yield to other voices simply because you feel inadequate. If you sense you're beginning to lose your child's ear, especially as they grow older, consider making a change. It's never too late. Simply trust Christ and never act from fear.
Sixth, if you choose to homeschool, resist the temptation to think your child is missing out if they’re not part of a formal school. All things being equal, no one loves them more than you. No one will invest, disciple, instruct, discipline, and pray for them more than you. This is not an apologetic against formal schooling per se, but I want to encourage you to resist the thought that you’re robbing your children of excellence by letting them learn their math in pajamas. You’re not. Having said that, if you do choose to homeschool, resist believing it will guarantee their safety, protection, and salvation. Sin and unseen idols can abound in the home. Unless the inside of the cup is clean, the outside won't matter.
Seventh, try to avoid pragmatism. Multiple issues could be addressed, here, but to mention one; the “socialization” of your child should be a minor factor in your decision. To say what others have said, a school may equip in a social skill, but it’s a mostly useless one. I’ll be brief, here, as much has been written on this, but the specific social skills learned in a school environment rarely translate to anything significant in the real world. If you disagree, fine. I’ll let you do the research. My only encouragement is to say, it should be relatively minor in your considerations. For me, it wouldn't even break a tie. Much could be said here about extra-curriculars as well. Many opportunities are afforded outside formal schooling for which parents can be amply involved. Also, I would be remiss if I didn't say—it is also the value of being faithfully involved in a local church beyond simple Sunday attendance.
Eighth, no method of Christian education will matter if the home is not joyfully and genuinely Christ-centered. It must be biblically saturated in every possible way. This begins with the parents, led by dad. “Christ is Lord” is more than a profession; it is a dominating way of life in which Christ is actually Lord—over everything. The sacred/secular divide often exists right within the home. There is no quicker way to exasperate your children than by modeling hypocrisy. They will much prefer to find identity in a worldview that faithfully practices what it preaches—even if it means joining the cultural revolution.
Ninth, in God’s wonderful design and providence, not all children are equal. You know your children, and God entrusted them to you. One method may work well for one, but not the other. So, don’t be afraid to customize for each of them.
Additionally—and this is a subpoint—but women are not men, so girls ought to be raised differently than boys. If education is part of discipleship, consider the value in bringing your sons and daughters through the curriculum differently. At this point, it is important to realize curriculum is far more than what is laid out in a teacher’s manual. It involves every activity of the day— from wake to sleep. In the early years, much of it may look the same between your sons and daughters, but as they grow, look for ways to customize. For example, between their math and reading, my sons and daughter can be found cutting carrots in the kitchen. Other days, they might be sent to the backyard to cut a fallen tree. But as they’ve gotten older, my daughter wields the knife more than the loppers, and vice-versa. Reject the egalitarian cookie-cutter approach of feminism, which proffers that both can be approached the same. They shouldn’t, and ought not. Increasingly, my daughter, who’s being trained to be a worker at home (Tim. 5:14; Tit. 2:5) will stay in the home, while my sons, who are being trained to leave the home, go out to cultivate the earth. All of them still put on their aprons to cut carrots—and all of them still go out to exercise dominion over a tree—but not in equal measure. They’re different, and it’s been wonderful to see them joyfully embrace their differences in gender to the glory of God.
Moreover, the culture of your home is part of the curriculum. Your children will see how you think and respond to every detail throughout the day. This is fraught with opportunities and pitfalls. They will pick up on how you talk, laugh, grieve, and rejoice. Children take cues, constantly. They will discern what you love, value, and worship as they watch your face respond to a statement made by the local librarian, or a statement you yourself make when cut off in traffic. So, keeping them close is critical, but always remember they critically analyze that which is close. Everything you say or don’t say, do or don’t do, will shape them more than you know. The intangibles are often what cultivate the heart.
Tenth, don’t underestimate the sanctifying mechanism of educating your own children— both for them and you. Frankly, this is a huge issue. The family is God’s design, and one of the greatest instruments by which He brings maturation into our lives. Don’t be quick to remove that. God is at work. Trust Him and see what He might do. You will discover the ugliness of sin, impatience, and ungodliness in both you and your children no quicker than when you set your hand to the task of educating them. But you’ll also be presented with the opportunity to mortify that sin, and grow in wonderful ways—both you and your children. So don’t be quick to eliminate the opportunity. This is especially important for husbands, who often think their job is to remove trouble for their wives. Trouble is good—and often, God is the One Who gives it. So, don’t be quick to get in His way.
Eleventh, you can do it! I have seen moms, who didn’t think they could educate their children, wonderfully rise to the occasion. They’re regularly thankful, rehearsing the opportunities for growth they may have missed, had they chosen not to educate their own. Don’t worry about failure, or make a decision from fear. God is faithful and honors the heart. Get around others who are doing it, and be encouraged. Likely, you will find they had all the same fears. Draw on their wisdom and learn from those who’ve gone before you. It can be scary, but growth happens through pressure.
Twelfth, and most important, trust Christ and pray. Make the best decision you can with the information you have. Keep analyzing, never grow apathetic, and never settle for what’s easy. Educational fads come and go, especially in Christendom, but the soul remains forever. Your home is unique and you’re the only one who will give an account to the Lord for your stewardship of it. So, do what you believe is best for your family, and trust Him. In the end, never forget you always reserve the right to change. Your initial decision doesn’t need to be your final one. So, pray, seek counsel, pray some more, then decide. The character of God toward His own is one of grace. He will show you much as you faithfully love the little ones entrusted to you. God never demands perfection, but simple faith and a pure heart. Ultimately, your children belong to Him. He loves them more than you do. He'll abundantly supply you with the grace, wisdom, and patience needed—so take courage, entrust your ways to Him, and be faithful—whatever you decide.
Praying for you always.
Soli Deo gloria.
Pastor Matt
1 Comment
Thank you for this very thoughtful and pastoral word, Pastor Matt. I did have to look up "metamodernity" - perhaps it's a blessing that I still yet don't know what it means.