God in our schools...

There’s no question our society has seen a steady moral decline in the last decade or so. 

To our disappointment, as parents of school age children, we’ve personally come head-to-head with some of the alarming controversies.  My husband and I have been torn on the issue and have been seriously considering removing our children from the public education system.  

My latest frustration has been with libraries and the material found disguised in what appear to be innocent children’s books. And of course, my girls love to read. 

On one occasion, I was so disturbed, I kindly brought it to the attention of the teacher.   She too, being a mother of three boys, became very concerned.

 “It’s got to be a mistake! I don’t think the school library staff know about this!”, she said.  

May I add, it was a current New York Times Bestselling Author.  

Our conversation ended on such a positive note however, that when I was on my way home, I was reminded of the purpose of every believer here on earth. 

God has called us to be light in a very dark world.  

It’s much easier to retreat and say I want nothing to do with this toxic environment.  But truth is, when we retreat, we remove Godly influence from that environment.  Whether it’s the school, the workplace, or the marketplace.   

I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. (John 17:15 NLT)

Christian activists have been on a long mission to bring some of the prominent symbols of our faith back to the public place.  For instance, the Ten Commandments on school walls or the cross symbol in our hospitals and courtrooms.  

And that’s all very good. 

But I’m convinced God’s greatest weapon and influence are believers who have been changed into the likeness of his son.  God lives in those hearts, and they bring him to those public places.  

They may be able to remove symbols of God from public walls, but they can’t remove Godly influence as long as God’s children are present.  

Before we demand that the ten commandments be displayed on school plaques, we need to strive that they be written on our hearts and minds.  

Before God can purify and influence our schools, our workplace, and the marketplace, he needs to purify and influence our hearts.  

I have no intentions to critique or support a particular schooling style.

I support every parents’ decision to do what they feel fits their family best. There may come a time when the public system becomes so toxic, we too may have to retreat.  

But our goal at home should always be to equip our children with truth so that they can navigate a fallen world.  Whether it’s on the internet, on the playground, in the libraires, or at school.

 

 

Supporting Text

Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.