WARNING!

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

AREN'T FOR CHRISTIANS!

A Biblical Perspective

by Richard "Little Bear" Wheeler

Part 2

 

GREAT, WISE MEN AND WOMEN

Proverbs 13:20

The Bible admonishes us to be under the influence of wise people, and this includes wise educators. The Bible further warns us not to be under the influence of fools.

"He that walketh with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of ,fools shall be destroyed" (Proverbs 13.-20).

Parents, are your children surrounded with wise, Godly teachers and fellow students? If not, they may likely be destroyed in only a very short time in this environment which is hostile to Biblical principles and filled with improper role models.

I trust that most parents are familiar with America's history and its past Godly leaders who are now so often regarded with disdain. George Washington in many cases receives less respect, attention, and "textbook space" than Marilyn Monroe.

Christopher Columbus is called an "Indian killer." U.S. History is taught from a non-providential perspective, and all acts of God, prayer by the Founding Fathers, and references to God directing the affairs of this nation have been removed from textbooks.

How do parents expect their children to rise to ever-higher levels of ability and to have goals of becoming great men and women when the government schools have removed or destroyed almost everything of lasting value in their histories and biographies? Children are being taught to walk with fools-not the wise.

We are commanded by God to teach only what is good and noble. We do not need schools that emphasize the faults of historical people and glorify those about whom we should be ashamed-a prevailing trend in today's history books. It is obvious that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3.-23). We need to teach children that which is of value and that which is good in the lives of historical figures.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do, and the God of peace shall be with you" (Philippians 4:8-9).

Are your children in a school that is fulfilling Philippians 4:8-9? Are they learning to become great men and women of God? Are they walking with the wise and learning of the wise?

 

RESCUE YOUR CHILDREN

Psalm 144:11-12

King David cried out in a Messianic prophecy which echoes the cry of Christ among sinners. It can also apply to children crying out to parents to rescue them from the hands of sinners. A good point to keep in mind before reading the next Scripture is that if it were natural for children to leave parents and be indoctrinated in government schools at an early age, why do the majority of children at the age of five or so cry when taken to the bus stop or dropped off at school, "Mommy, please don't send me to school; I don't want to leave you; I'm scared!" Mom's cold reply is, "Grow up! It's not that bad. All children your age go to school. The end of the day will be here before you know it.

The Bible warns parents, "Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood. That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth,- that our daughters may be as cornerstones, polished after the similitude of a palace" (Psalm 144.11-12).

Do you wonder why America is not producing tender, precious, innocent, pure, and holy youth fit to adorn the palace of God? Consider where they spend their days.

Many educators do not send their own children to the current government schools. Even many of our government officials, who favor more and more government education financing, send their children to private schools. The maxim for a corrupt government is "do as I say, not as I do." Hypocrites! Parents, deliver your children now!

 

THE WRATH OF GOD REVEALED

Romans 1:18

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness" (Romans 1:18).

In this passage we can see that the Bible warns us about God's idea of those who hold truth in unrighteousness. They receive the "wrath of God." In government public schools today they teach evolution and godless science as truth-not theory. The danger lies in the fact that those who teach such lies will receive God's divine displeasure. When the judgment of God falls, it is not safe to be around. Why expose your children to an institution that will incur the divine judgment of God? The tragedy with Lot of old is that he became so accustomed to living among sinners, that he could not recognize impending judgment.

"And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him; and they brought him forth, and set him without the city" (Genesis 19:15-16).

When fire and brimstone fell on Sodom, it would not have been safe to remain within the city limits. Can you imagine Lot telling the angels to wait until his girls came home from school before leaving the city of Sodom? Or that he needed a school transfer to move to the city of Zoar to re-enroll them in the Sodom Unified School System? Yet this is exactly what Christian parents do when moving from place to place. The only difference is that they do not recognize the hand of God's judgment on the government schools of America today.

 

COME OUT FROM THE UNCLEAN THING

II Corinthians 6:14-18

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 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. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (II Corinthians 6:14-18)

Most Christians apply this passage as a warning to their sons and daughters not to marry unbelievers. Businessmen apply it to becoming business partners with Christians instead of unbelievers. These are proper applications; yet, why do most parents not see that the warning applies to all areas of life-including sending their children to a school system that is not equally yoked with Christianity?

The Bible makes it clear that we should come out from among those who attempt to destroy our faith. The American school system, as it currently stands, is established for the purpose of destroying faith in the God Who created the world and in His Son Who died for the world.

The Bible also says that Christians are the temples of the Holy Ghost, and as such, we need to remain sanctified-set apart to hear and receive instruction that is pleasing to the Lord living within us. The conversations in classrooms and lunchrooms, more often than not, grieve the Holy Spirit living within us.

"What! know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's " (I Corinthians 6.-19-20).

"And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4.-30).

 

DISCERNING GOOD FROM EVIL

Hebrews 5:14

"But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Hebrews 5:14)

Do the public school systems in America teach discernment of good from evil? The obvious answer is "No!" In reality, they teach how to have "safe sex" by using condoms and birth control. That is not discernment, for the Bible warns that those who practice fornication, whether erroneously "safe" or not, will be thrown into the lake of fire.

"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers [sexually immoral], and sorcerers [drug users], and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death " (Revelation 21.-8).

Children kept in the public schools lose the ability to discern good from evil, because the schools teach that there are no absolutes, that parents are not always right, and that there may not be a God Who judges right from wrong. The American schools have become like the nation of Israel of old, as the Prophet Isaiah warned:

"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!" (Isaiah 5: 20)

 

THE FEAR OF THE LORD

Proverbs 9:10

The Bible tells us that a good education consists of teaching the fear of the Lord.

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding " (Proverbs 9:10).

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. A good understanding have all they that do his commandments,- his praise endureth for ever" (Psalm 111:10).

In the national Standard Achievement Tests, scores are declining year after year. Rest assured, the schools are not teaching the fear of the Lord. Without being taught the fear of the Lord, children will never gain proper God-given wisdom. The books of Psalms and Proverbs are full of admonitions to parents and others to instruct children in wisdom. Government schools are not teaching wisdom; therefore, students are being trained to be self-centered and godless.

Government schools willfully neglect teaching the fear of the Lord and true wisdom because they do not believe in the Lord, nor the eternal punishment visited upon those who disregard Christ and God's divine mercy on sinners.

Within my lifetime I have witnessed a generation of students being trained to become atheistic and fearless of judgment for sin. The thought that American schools are producing reprobates and a godless, perverted generation that will rise up and root out Christ and the Christian principles that helped make America the greatest nation upon the earth is disheartening!

The Bible implies that sinners w ill continue to sin because there is no fear of God in their lives. "The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes" (Psalm 36:1).

To prove this, observe the government schools across America. It is not uncommon for some schools to be engaged in a losing battle of trying to control the use of guns, knives, sex, violence, profanity, drug use, alcohol addiction, lying, stealing, and disrespect of teachers and administrators among students.

Ask yourself, "Are schools better today than they were twenty years ago? Is there more fear of God and respect for His Word in the schools today-or less?" The answers to these questions will tell parents that public schools are not fit for the public-let alone Christian children. The Bible clearly tells us that a good education consists of teaching the fear of the Lord.

 

TRAIN UP A CHILD

Proverbs 22:6

The Bible makes it clear that parents are to train up their children.

Proverbs 22:6 states, "Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Seriously ask yourself whether the public school teachers and staff are going to care as much about your children's upbringing as you. Do they love them as much as you do? Will they use the rod of correction as God commands on sinful, self-willed, rebellious children who need training?

"He that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes." (Proverbs 13:24).

The modern American public school today has removed the "board of education" FROM rather than applying it TO "the seat of knowledge," as was practiced in the early American schools. As mentioned earlier, I received corporal punishment throughout my school years, my last swat coming in the eighth grade at John Adams Jr. High School in Santa Monica, California. Although not appreciated at the time, those instances of correction helped me become more civil.

One major cause of the moral waywardness of our children is that the government schools have departed from a Christian-based education and the proper discipline that alone can change the hearts of children by "training them in the way they should go." Instead, the schools have been training them in the way they should not go. Look around you. Do you see children lining the halls of public schools who are kind, genteel, obedient, respectful of their elders? Are their countenances full of innocence and joy? My experience has been the opposite.

Judgment is going to fall not only upon the government of this land, but also upon the parents who have allowed these corrupting influences to run unabated in our society.

Hosea 4:1-7 states the following: "Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel; for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they breakout, and blood toucheth blood. [Sounds like government schools in local neighborhoods throughout our nation.] Therefore shall the land mourn, and everyone that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes 6f the sea also shall be taken away. Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another; for thy people are as they that strive with the priest. Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother. [Parents will receive judgment of the Lord.] My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shaft be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame."

If you want to see where a nation is heading, take a close look at the youth it is producing. God judges a nation by the shame of its youth. Far too many of America's youth are shameful in clothing styles, hairstyles, attitudes, and the marking of tattoos and earrings they wear all over their bodies. The above text from Hosea lays the judgment of a nation on the priests and parents of the land. Biblically speaking, Christian parents are kings and priests in their respective families. As priests, they are responsible before God to train their children. As a home-school parent, I often discipline my children in a multitude of ways to produce Godly, Christlike character. However, if my children were in a public school, I know full well the officials would not be nearly as committed to their character development as I am. Even if a public school teacher had great intentions of helping students develop character, there are neither the disciplinary resources available nor the time to do a thorough job in light of all the other students and responsibilities a teacher has.

A possible response to my arguments might be, "You may have described unbelievers' children, but not my children who attend the public school system. They are wonderfully well-behaved children. "I applaud you if your children are remaining sweet, tender, and loving to you as parents, and hungry for the things of God and His Word. If that is the case, why are you sending your lambs to be educated among wolves? The prophet Ezekiel lays a great judgment upon the prophets and priests of a nation. Those priests and prophets who lead by bad example receive judgment. The role of a prophet and priest is to lead the people of God in the ways of the Lord. By setting a bad example and not teaching right from wrong, the priests and prophets lead the flock of God to the paths of destruction.

Ezekiel 22:25-30: "There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls. Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things.- they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean. And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none."

I believe the Lord is looking for parents, pastors and church leaders in America today to stand up for principles and pull their children out of godless, Christ-hating, socialistic, sexually perverted, unpatriotic government schools across this land. Those pastors and parents who accept and condone the government schools in America today will have morally and spiritually bankrupt children as the consequence of their choice. As an evangelist who has traveled through 48 states, I know countless pastors and church leaders whose children have become sexually promiscuous and carnal in their life goals and aspirations. The godless schools of this land have helped destroy church leaders' children right under their noses. Church leaders also need to question why they are sending their children to godless institutions of higher learning. Perhaps it is because of the peer pressure that other government school devotees place upon them. Have the church leaders of this land become fearful of men instead of God? Have they become like Aaron - bowing down before the golden calf and pressured into idolatry by a rebellious people?

 

SPORTS PROGRAMS

1 Timothy 4:7-8

Many Christian parents have told me that they placed their child in a government school, knowing it was not the best choice, simply because it had a great sports program. They claimed that since their child loves sports and finds fulfillment in them, they were doing what was best for the individual "needs" of the child. In answer to this excuse I often quote 1 Timothy 4:7-8: "And exercise thy self rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little; but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." Jesus told us to "Seek ye first the kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:33), not basketball or football.

Frankly, parents and church leaders would have to admit that America has made an idol of sports and entertainment. One cannot deny this in light of the tremendous salaries of professional athletes and entertainment celebrities. Where are our nation's values when athletes and entertainers receive far more money than do Godly teachers dedicated to train students to become moral, productive citizens? What does it say about our culture when entertainers receive more than medical doctors?

To place a child in a government school for sports is a poor and short-sighted decision. When I served on a school board several years ago, another Christian man and I suggested that high school students not be permitted to participate in sports for the school unless they had at least a "C" average in all their subjects. After the vote was approved and the policy implemented, some parents cried, "Unfair!" because their children were not getting C's. These parents contended that denying their children a chance at competitive sports would damage their self-esteem. Even more disturbing to me was that many of these complaining parents were from the church where I was youth pastor at the time. Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also " (Matthew 6.-21.)

Furthermore, organized competitive sports, especially in a public school, can be spiritually dangerous to the Christian, for two reasons.

First, if a student excels in a sport, the popularity without the mature fruit of humility accompanying stardom can produce a spirit of pride. Admiration by other students can influence the Christian student to be silent about his or her faith, for fear of rejection and loss of popularity. For the boys, sports involvement usually causes girls to notice and pursue them, which can lead to immorality. The world's strongest man, Samson, was destroyed by a foolish weakness in his character.

Second, if the student does not excel in competitive sports, he or she tries all the harder to derive self-esteem from peers, which will lead down the road to ruin. Seeking the praise of man over the glory of God will always bring problems.

Many government-school sports players that I have known throughout my life have had temptations along with their sports. For the boys, the temptations were of the "wine, women, and song" variety. The "party animal" is usually closely intertwined with the school sports scene, and in this arena, the temptations are too great for the young Christian. During the teen years it is difficult to pursue God and the disciplines of a Godly Christian life while developing a competitive edge. This is why the Apostle Paul said, "Bodily exercise profiteth little."

Are parents sending signals to their children that sports is the ultimate fulfillment in life? Have sports become a "sacred cow" to many well-meaning Christians?

All this is not to say, however, that physical exercise is wrong. Not at all. We are to be good stewards of our physical bodies, and this concept would include maintaining physical fitness. There are many opportunities for family sports activities, and certainly, much work around the house, garden, and farm involves physical work-and some of it, hard work

Children and teens can be taught to serve widows: cleaning, gardening, mowing the lawn, chopping wood, shoveling snow, trimming trees, etc. Churches, retreat centers, and Christian camps are always in need of volunteers for manual labor.

Older teens may want to consider starting a local moving business. People are always looking for reliable, responsible, low-cost moving help. Other home businesses available to teens would be yard/garden work, window-washing, heavy house cleaning, and much more, all of which would build physical strength and fitness, but for Godly purposes.

 

WHERE ARE YOUR CHILDREN ROOTED?

Colossians 2:6-8

The Bible tells us that after becoming Christians we are to become "rooted in Christ" (Colossians 2: 6-8). We are warned to beware of "vain philosophy" and improper "rudiments of the world" that teach ANTICHRIST doctrine. Schools capitalize on vain godless philosophy; therefore, placing a child in the system as it now stands is in direct disobedience to God and his Word.

"As ye have there re received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him; Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ"

(Colossians 2:6-8)

It is helpful to break down the amount of time into hours per year children are being subjected to negative influences in the public school. Let's assume a school day starting around 7:55 A.M. and dismissing at 2:55 P.M. Taking into account that they have one 20-minute recess period and a 30-minute lunch period, it can be assumed that they receive about 6 hours of instruction per day. Now multiply that by the number of scheduled school days (177 days) in the school year, to total 1062 hours of classroom instruction yearly. In twelve years of public school education, a child will have received 12,744 hours of humanistic instruction.

The defense parents often make is, "I teach them the Bible, and they go to church and receive Bible training." Let us look at the facts of this self-deceptive thought. If your child is in school and away from home 7 hours a day, you have the opportunity for parental guidance from about 3:30 P.M. to 9:30 P.M. Realistically, how many of those 6 hours that your child is home and awake do you spend debriefing him or her and giving Bible study? For argument's sake, let's assume that you are extremely disciplined and diligent to do daily study and fulfill the above admonition in Colossians of rooting and grounding your children in Christ.

By spending 1 hour a night, 4 nights a week, in focused Bible study, 4 hours of study will have occurred by Friday. Taking into account church time, there is a possibility of 1 hour at a midweek service, 2 hours Sunday morning and 1 hour Sunday night. With the combination of home and church, your child could amass a total of 8 hours of Christian study and fellowship weekly. Assuming that you maintain this schedule every single week for 52 weeks in a year, your child will have received 416 hours of Biblical instruction for the year. Compared with the 1062 hours of humanistic instruction in a year, the 416 hours of Christian instruction seems rather paltry. Remember the figure of 416 hours represents the rather unrealistic assumption that families would have the discipline to maintain this demanding schedule without fail.

In reality, the average family lifestyle is so fast paced that unless there is a commitment to its importance very little time is spent in dedicated instruction of children. The schools have plenty of time to give to your children since, after all, they are hired by you through property taxes to do this demanding job every day (however poorly they do it).

American parents have been brainwashed to believe that cc professionals" should do most of the instruction of their children, Why have they allowed themselves to persist in the deception that public schools are far superior to what they could offer their children themselves? A major reason, if forced to admit it, is that many parents make the excuse they are too busy to spend the necessary time teaching their children. Parents have become selfish with their time. They also feel, although they may not admit it, that their children are too difficult to deal with. They would rather let "professionals" deal with the behavior of their children. In God's eyes, the title "professional" does not qualify someone to instruct or teach. If the professionals" are godless, they cannot be Biblically qualified.

 

SALT AND LIGHT

Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus said in Matthew 5:13-16: "Ye are the salt of the earth but if the salt have lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden underfoot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick- and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven.."

Far too many Christian parents use the above Scripture to justify Placing their children in a local government school, saying that their children are commissioned to be "salt and light" on the school campus. Or that they lead Bible studies and prayer meetings, that they meet with other Christian youth once a year at the flag pole. For years, Christian parents have told me that they place their tender children in public schools so their children will evangelize other lost youth and teachers.

I would like to challenge this weak use of Scripture. Obviously, Christ has commissioned believers to "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28.-19-20). However, in Luke 24:49, Jesus commands the disciples to "tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." Mind you, he is speaking to adults to tarry. It stands to reason that if Christ admonished his own adult disciples, who were with Him night and day for three years, not to go out and evangelize until they received "power from on high," how then is it that parents can send their young inexperienced children to convert the campus? Christ sent out His adult disciples two by two, knowing the dangers and pressures they would face in a hostile environment. In the New Testament, a person studying the texts will never find reference to Christ sending youth out to change the world and evangelize the lost. Believe me, youth between five and eighteen are the mission field. They themselves need to be discipled and built up with the power of God's Word. Even after David the shepherd boy killed Goliath, he returned to shepherding, not a public ministry.

Apart from a very small percentage of cases, the grim reality is that Christian youth are influenced by the unsaved youth and their subculture. I speak from experience, having worked with youth in government schools for more than 24 years. Just look at the facts. Normally it is not the Christian students who are doing the most to promote Christian values among unsaved students; rather, it is the unsaved youth who are doing the most to destroy the morals of the Christian students. Christian boys did not learn to wear earrings from hanging around Godly Christian boys in a Christian church or home school. The weird hairstyles did not come from the Christian home. The taste for wild music and godless movie viewing did not come from Godly parents or pastors. The haughty rebellious "bad attitude" toward adult authority did not come from a Godly environment. It came from the godless government school system. As a former youth pastor, I recall visiting our church youth at the local high school campus on various occasions. Several were actually embarrassed at my presence. After all, what would their peers think if they were seen with a pastor?

For years I have heard Christian parents tell me that their children are going to make the difference in the local school systems, yet how many schools do you know of that are changing their curriculum for a more moral and Godly one because Christian youth have "evangelized" the schools? How many schools have sought to improve their baccalaureates, making them more Christ-centered because of the influence of the Christian youth in the school? How many have cut out pagan Halloween festivities because of the Christian influence? How many schools have returned to the celebration of Hanukkah, and a Christ-centered Christmas? How many schools are reinstating the Ten Commandments on the school walls? How many schools are teaching the youth to pray for their teachers and their nation like the Christian students at the flag pole? The answer is none. Why? Jesus tells us why. "If you are not for me, you are against me" (Matthew 12:30). Wake up! Children should not be in a system opposed to Christ and the Gospel. The current schools are openly hostile to Christ, but tolerant of all other world religions.

If every evangelical Christian family in America that had their children in the state schools across the land decided to protest and say, "Enough is enough!" and seek private Christian or home school education, then the government would be faced with one of two choices: Either force parents by law to enroll their children in the government school (God forbid we succumb to that someday!), or repent and apologize to parents for the lack of foresight on their part, and invite Christians to have complete control of the public schools, as in the early days of our nation. Your cry is, "That would be impossible!" I heartily agree with you. The system has become so intolerant toward Christianity that the Lord must write Ichabod (the glory has departed, see 1 Sam. 4:21) on its doors.

If Christ Himself applied for a teaching position, He would be denied under the false understanding of the "Church-and State-separation issue." Please do not try to defend the godless government school system. There are no Biblical positions to stand on. "Do not cast your pearls [precious children] before swine to be trampled underfoot"

(Matthew 7:6).

 

COMBAT ZONE

Ephesians 4:32-5:7

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them."

(Ephesians 4:43 - 5:7).

What would you think of parents who allowed their children, while vacationing at the beach, to swim in shark infested waters? What if you approached the parents to warn them of the dangers, and pointed out to them that those fins are man-eating sharks, and they retorted, "Oh, it's not that bad. Besides, my child is going to have to face sharks someday, so it may as well be now."

This example is not too far from the truth of the conditions in the current government schools in America. Parents are blindly placing their children in "shark-infested" schools.

The other day, while doing some shopping, I ran into a Christian friend from our local church. After small talk, the home-school mother told me she had placed her thirteen-year old daughter into the "good local neighborhood junior high," because the girl was "scared of public school kids," and she wanted to help her daughter overcome the fear. The mother then proceeded to tell me that within two weeks, the daughter was accosted by three lesbian classmates who wanted to include her as a lover.

The mother brought it to the attention of the principal when the girls were persistent in pursuing the daughter. Additional false accusations spread that her tender, innocent daughter had had an affair with a faculty member. As I walked away, I was grieved that the mother still felt that the public school was the best place for her daughter. What will it take for parents to wake up?

I do not know about your junior high school years. Perhaps you went to a nice junior high school, so to speak. Well, I certainly did not. I spent the entire three years fighting for my rights to my lunch and well-being. Today I suffer the ill effects of a broken nose from fist fighting my way through those three years. It was in junior high that I was introduced to pornography, profanity, drugs, and sex. Why would parents in their right minds want to expose their child to such corruption at such an early age, in light of Ephesians 4:32-5:7?

You may say that it is not that bad in the particular school in which you plan to place your children. My challenge to parents is to go to the school for a few days, with spiritual eyes open, and observe the attitude of the students and teachers. I believe that you will change your mind after that experience.

The Biblical goal of parents should be to keep their children tender and innocent to evil, and prepared for the Lord. The government schools in some communities are so dangerous that many schools throughout the land where Christian children attend have to have metal detectors to help confiscate dangerous weapons. The local public school is certainly not a place for right-minded Christian parents to place their beloved children unless they do not care that they become tough and hardened in order to survive.

I found a good test to see how tender children are toward their parents. Walk around the campus and hold your teen's hand, or kiss him or her on the cheek as he or she is dropped off for school. I have found that the majority of Christian youth will shun the parent in embarrassment.

Our pre-teen son, and our teen and young adult daughters welcome our attention and associate with peers and adults alike. They are not embarrassed to be around us, and are not pressured to think like most peer-oriented youth that parents are "nerds." Could you imagine Christ being embarrassed of Mary and Joseph at the age of twelve when they found Him in the Temple among the Jewish leaders?

What makes tender children into hardened rebels is the constant barrage of godless peer conformity. It is "survival of the fittest." Look at the "Infested waters" of current government schools' combat zones:

1. One in five American high school students regularly smoke marijuana. Fifteen percent of teenagers have tried cocaine.

2. Teenage sex has produced 250,000 illegitimate births annually and countless abortions. There is an epidemic of venereal disease. Six out of ten 16 to 18-year-olds say they have had sexual intercourse. In the 13 to 15year age group, the number is 1 out of 3.

3. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among teenagers. Of the young people who committed suicide in 1996, 4,000 were 15-19 years of age, and 550 were 14 or under.

4. In one major, well-known city, 19% of the teaching staff of 3,000 live in fear of student attacks. Ten percent of the teachers have been attacked, and this fear shapes their reluctance to deal with problems that arise in the classroom.

One Christian high school teacher of a supposedly small community "safe" school district told me on various occasions she witnessed teens necking in class and engaging in other deeds too vile to mention here. She said she would not report them for fear she would lose her job, or be assaulted by the students. Teachers have reported that 40% of the students have been assaulted by other students. Is it any wonder that the many government school teachers do not have their own children in a government school?

Parents may respond, "My school district is not that bad, because we live in a small community." Parents, I pastored in a small community, and no community is spared moral decadence.

 

WHERE IS YOUR CHILD "SITTING"?

Psalm 1:1-6

The Bible makes it very clear where we are not to sit and receive instruction. I believe parents are aware that the government of America has allowed social architects to alter the public schools from their Christ-centered foundation in early America. These social changers have an agenda to make the government schools into secular humanistic institutions, where man is honored-not God.

This may sound far-fetched, but consider this quote from The Humanist Magazine, a magazine subscribed to by a multitude of educators:

"I am convinced that the battle for humankind's future must be won in the public school classroom by teachers who correctly perceive their role as the proselytizers of a new faith: a religion of humanity that recognizes and respects what theologians call divinity in every human being. These teachers must embody the same selfless dedication as the most rabid fundamentalist preachers, for they will be ministers of another sort, utilizing a classroom instead of a pulpit to convey humanist values in whatever subject they teach, regardless of the educational level-preschool day care center or large state university. The classroom must and will become an arena of conflict between the old and the new-the rotting corpse of Christianity, together with all its adjacent evils and misery, and the new faith of humanism... It will undoubtedly be a long, arduous, painful struggle, replete with much sorrow and many tears, but humanism will emerge triumphant. It must if the family of humankind is to survive." (The Humanist Magazine January/February 1983, p.26)

Read the following passage in the Bible and ask yourself if your child should be sitting under the instruction of a godless system of government education. The first Psalm is so familiar that often one does not consider its ramifications and applications to daily life. It only becomes a psalm we memorize because it sounds so good. The danger with Christians is that we can often read the Scripture and become, as the Apostle James warns in James 1:22-23: "A hearer of the word and not a doer of the word."

Psalm 1: 1 -6 sounds a warning: "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers o water, that bringeth. forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous.- but the way of the ungodly shall perish." (See also Psalm 26.)

 

THE UNIVERSITIES OF THIS LAND

Proverbs 3:5-6

Even the secular universities of this land are, by and large, politically and morally corrupt. Sending a child to receive an education in a system and giving thousands of dollars to a system that is helping to destroy our nation does not make sense. I believe that only in rare cases have leaders and parents truly heard from the Lord that they should send their children to a secular college or university-and only after serious prayer and fasting. Do not be deceived into thinking that just because the student is receiving a scholarship and the school is being paid for by others, that this is the will of God for your child. Even Satan offered Jesus the world if He would surrender His Lordship to Satan. Other options are available, and the Lord will lead those who seek Him as to the future of their (His) children. The "sacred cow" of godless education is not always God's will. Yes, He can lead a young person there and make what is "meant for evil, good." The important thing is this: Do not send a young person to a school of higher learning unless you have heard from the higher power-God. My life verse applies here: "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3.-5-6).

Since you have read this far, and you perceive how radical and extreme I appear, I may well drive in one more "nail" before making my closing statements. My wife, Marilyn, and I have had to cross this higher learning "bridge," since at the time of writing this guide, we have a 20-year-old daughter. After spending time in prayer and Bible study, we have adopted a position that seems extreme in light of America's current trend.

Biblically speaking, you cannot find that God places responsibilities upon women other than as a wife supporting her husband by being a helpmeet and raising Godly children. I do not intend to imply that a woman is to be intellectually suppressed, but rather propose that there are alternatives in preparing young women for their elevated role as wives and mothers or single women of Godly character. Have you investigated the Spirit-led alternatives, or are you simply pursuing the traditions of men by enrolling your daughters in heathen universities which have no regard for their spiritual instruction?

Think this through. The young collegiate woman graduates after years of study and having spent a small fortune. At best, she finds a well-paying job in the profession she pursued, meets Mr. Perfect, gets married, and within a year or two finds herself with a child, and is now faced with a dilemma. The God-given instinct is to be a stay-at-home mother, but their financial trap of relying on two incomes and a godless society pressure her to go back to work. After all, she is a "career woman." If she chooses to go to work and have the day-care center raise her child, society applauds her, but God is grieved. If she chooses to stay home and give up her profession to raise a Godly family, society frowns and says, "How wasteful! You spent your parents' life savings to receive a degree to prepare you for a professional career, only to find yourself choosing to raise your children at home." I would have to agree that the money was poorly spent. A better investment would have been to apply it toward a house and baby furniture, leaving the support of the family to the bread winner-the husband-to toil by the "sweat of his brow." The breakdown of our society is caused partially by "stay-away-from-home" mothers who think they will find fulfillment in the work world. All they will end up with is frustration and desiring a family at a time when perhaps it will be too late.

As for me and my house, we have chosen to keep our daughters home-protected, sheltered in love, and trained to become Godly, submissive wives someday. Lord willing, our greatest joy will be that their husbands will someday come up to us as parents and say, "Thank you for relying on Christ in raising the most wonderful, submissive wife I could have ever imagined. She is content to love me and find complete fulfillment in supporting me and being a Godly mother raising Godly children."

Again, I challenge parents to consider why are they sending their daughters from the home into secular universities. Alternatives may be private tutoring or correspondence courses that fulfill their desire to learn. To clarify a young woman's goal in continued education, she should ask herself, "Is what I am learning going to be a benefit to my relationship with God my father, and perhaps future husband and children?"

For the sons in a family, again, the general rule "trust in the Lord" applies. Prayer for direction is extremely important. Not all young men need to go to universities to become successful. Success comes from the Lord, "For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south" (Psalm 75.-6). In our next section I will address the issue of success and promotion.

 

GAINING FAVOR WITH GOD AND MAN

Luke 2:52

"And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man"

(Luke 2:52). What good is a profession and lots of success and money if you have not "gained favor with God?" If a person has not gained favor in the sight of God first, then he or she has missed life's fullest joy and purpose. The majority of universities, and unfortunately, some Bible schools, have missed the mark in their real purpose in training their students. Look at the early universities of America's past to see the purposes in their establishment. They were run and operated by committed, evangelical Christians who wanted to train students to serve Christ in all walks of life. The Bible was the major source of education, and the goal of professors was to train the students to reason Biblically. With a Bible training basis, a graduate could enter a profession and apply the principles of the Word of God in his other chosen field, therefore establishing and keeping America a Godly nation, full of Biblical principle and character. Look around at this sin-sick society, and you will see that the schools of "higher" learning have neglected their proper job of education.

William Henry Seward, Secretary of State under Lincoln, was also vice-president of the American Bible Society. He said:

"I know not how long a republican government can flourish among a great people who have not the Bible; the experiment has never been tried; But this I do know, that the existing government of this country never could have had existence but for the Bible.

And further, I do, in my conscience, believe that if at every decade of years a copy of the Bible could be found in every family in the land, its republican institutions would be perpetuated."

America's "republican institutions" are on the verge of collapse because the educators of America's students have willfully neglected God and have lost God's favor. We have not only lost God's favor, but we have lost favor with man. The nations of the world once looked to America as their example. Today, America is viewed with disdain and hatred by many formerly loyal nations.

I believe Christ should be our example in all areas of life. In the area of education He serves as a wonderful example, as seen in Philippians 2:3-9:

"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name."

Christ, as God, humbled Himself and became a man. As a man, He humbled Himself and emptied Himself of His preexistent "Godness." In Greek, this emptying is called Kenosis, which implies that Christ retained His divine nature, but limited Himself to human attributes and powers during the days of His flesh, so He could be a true example of a sinless human anointed with the Spirit to defeat Satan. His power and ability came completely by dependence upon God.

During the time of Christ, there were educational facilities. The Greeks, Romans, and Hebrews loved the quest of knowledge. As a human, Christ chose rather to depend upon the Spirit, not on an education, to be all the Father called Him to be. Prior to Christ's ascension He commissioned His followers to wait for the Holy Spirit before moving out to serve Him-not to go to school. The Bible says that the haters of Christ disdained the disciples as mere "ignorant fishermen." Would God we had more such "ignorant fishermen" today!

With this in mind, should parents not wait for the same Holy Spirit to lead them to place their young adult children in higher fields of study? Could not the same Holy Spirit Who moved Christ, and later His followers who turned the "world upside down," not empower our children to be used where He leads them to impact the nation and world? Can parents not see that it is not the education we have or do not have that changes the world for God's glory, but it is the Holy Spirit in an individual yielded to the Lord who is going to make the difference in life! Parents must understand that education is not an end in itself-Christ is! As a parent, I would rather protect my children from schooling that is not led by the Spirit of God. Our goal as parents is not to produce educated children, but children who will "gain favor with God" first, and man second.

 

WHAT'S A PARENT TO DO?

Deuteronomy 6:1-7

"Now these are the commandments, the statues, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love they LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 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 6:1-7)

 

THERE ARE TWO CHOICES

A. Church/Community Christian School

If both parents feel that they must work, or in the case of the single parent, there is the alternative of Christian school education. These parents can choose to delegate their God-given responsibility to Godly educators within the confines of a Christian school. I applaud the fact that Christian educators have sacrificed a higher standard of living by choosing to teach in a Christian school, as they earn a fraction of the salary that government teachers do.

I also wholeheartedly commend Christian educators who work within the government schools throughout the land. The mature, Godly Christian teacher has one of the greatest mission fields in the world right in a public school classroom. While I heartily approve of Christian teachers in the public schools, I believe it spells disaster to place your impressionable children in that same hostile environment.

Parents, it is important to realize that although your child may have a Christian teacher in a government school, the environment, textbooks, and other students exert a far greater influence on your child than does that teacher. If you allow your child to remain in that school, you would still be sacrificing him or her on the altar of humanism.

A word to the wise in choosing a Christian school: Just because the name on the building may be a Christian name, beware. Satan specializes in appearing as an angel of light:

"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light"

(II Corinthians 11:14)

Use the following suggestions in evaluating and choosing a Godly Christian school:

1. Walk around the campus; watch how the students behave toward one another. Listen to how they talk to each other. Is their speech honoring to the Lord?

2. Sit in on several classes and observe how the teachers instruct the students entrusted to them and if the students are respectful to the teachers.

3. Look at as many textbooks as possible. Some Christian schools use government textbooks in major subjects such as history, science, and health.

4. What is the school environment like? (Posters, displays, etc.)

5. Attend at least three chapels to see the caliber of the spiritual climate the school is attempting to foster. Some Christian schools do not even have chapel.

6. What are the students' clothing styles like? Hairstyles? Jewelry? Make-up? Are the girls modest and distinctly feminine? Are the boys distinctly masculine?

7. Observe the lunch area. Remember, your child will learn from peers about movies, music, and fads. Are you prepared for this? In many of the 500 or so Christian schools that I have spoken in over the past 18 years, the students, for all practical purposes, talked, behaved, and dressed, like government school students. The only things that could be called "Christian" were some of the teachers, the name on the building, and perhaps the textbooks, along with a handful of faithful students.

8. Watch the behavior of students in grades 5-12 in the area of boy-girl relationships. Do the students seem preoccupied with the opposite sex? Do they hold hands or even hang all over each other?

9. Investigate the sports program, if your child is inclined toward sports. What is the attitude of team players? I have seen Christian students and sometimes even coaches use profanity and display bad attitudes and poor sportsmanship. And many girl cheerleaders dress very immodestly.

You may be thinking that no school would have such high standards. I admit that these standards are high, but your children are worthy of high standards. Paul admonishes Christians to "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). I can assure you that there are many Godly Christian schools throughout the USA that do meet the above standards. I have ministered in them. There are also many Christian schools that fall tragically short of these standards.

I vividly recall ministering in a large, well-known Christian school in Southern California. I asked the principal if I was going to address mostly non-Christian students or Christian students. He assured me that the majority would be believers, and that in order to attend the school, at least one parent had to be a professing Christian. With this in mind, I chose my Scripture text and planned a powerful conclusion with an altar time of repentance and prayer. Of the 500 ninth-through twelfth-grade students, only two came forward.

One of the two, a twelfth-grade boy, told me that the students were mocking me and that they thought they were saved. His father was one of the pastors on staff at the church which sponsored this school. He told me that the majority of students got drunk on the weekends, had wild parties, and that the girls who appeared to be the most chaste were "all show," because on the weekends they were sexually involved.

This big, strong eighteen-year-old broke down and started sobbing. He told me that he was fooling his family and acting like a Christian, but living like the devil with all his school buddies. He had recently repented and found true salvation, and he now really cared for the other students and was concerned for their salvation. Make sure you investigate thoroughly what appears to be a Christian school.

 

B. Christian Home Education

Having had two of our children in Christian schools for part of their elementary education, and now home educating all three, I can speak from experience on both sides. By far, the most challenging form of education is home education; however, as with most difficult undertakings, the results often prove to be the most rewarding. Anything worth attaining in life is difficult. Carrying a child for nine months and then going through labor and delivery is difficult for any woman, but who would negate the value of such work?

Home education is just an extension of the love that parents have for their children. Why go through five or six years of early training only to turn your children over to others to educate for the next twelve years? It just does not make sense to allow someone else-and in most cases, perfect strangers-to have such a tremendous influence on your children.

Home education allows you to hand-pick the curricula your children need. It removes the unfair pressure on their young tender spirits that they are not as "smart" as the peers whom they look up to. It allows them to learn at their own speed and develop the God-given gifts and callings instilled in them at conception. Unencumbered by government school regulations, many home-educated students graduate from high school at age 15 or 16, and they can then move into the areas of life to which the Lord has called them.

After 14 years of speaking to thousands of home-educating parents in 48 states, I can honestly say that the fruit of home schooling is by far the most rewarding. The students are more wholesome, "innocent to that which is evil," intelligent, well-adjusted, and able to communicate in an adult fashion with adults, and in a loving fashion with younger children. What is more, they score higher on the Standard Achievement Tests.

Most parents feel incapable of teaching their children, and many do not want to have their children around all day. Sending their children to an outside school is a relief in some ways; yet, deep down, parents who send their children out for others to educate feel guilty. They know, whether or not they will admit it, that their children are their primary responsibility. On the day we stand before the Lord, we will not be able to say, "Lord it's not my fault my children turned out so badly; it's their teachers' fault."

Another reason parents will not educate their children at home is they feel that they must have two incomes to make ends meet. It has been proven that when a woman works outside the home and adds up all the extra expense of travel, clothing, insurance, taxes, child-care, lunches out, and fast-food dinners for the family, she brings home very little. I firmly believe that the Lord will reward parents who are committed to training their children at home. I even know of single parents who are so committed to raising Godly children that they home educate and hold down a full-time job.

If you are interested in home education, there are several sources of help and information available to you:

1. If you subscribe to an on-line service, look up the word home school, and you will find a multitude of message boards, websites, etc., that will help you.

2. Your church probably has some home-educating families. They can help steer you in the right direction.

3. The Teaching Home magazine has information on home-education leaders in your area who can help you:

The Teaching Home

P.O. Box 20219

Portland, OR 97294

(503) 253-9633

 

CONCLUSION:

I realize that this booklet is difficult for many readers to digest. All I ask is that you pray about it, with no preconceived notions. Ask the Lord to show you His will for your family in light of the Scripture passages you have read.

I recall the time that I went to an evangelistic meeting where the now-deceased Keith Green was ministering in music and the Word. I walked out because I felt that he was harsh, uncaring, and did not understand the grace of God. Two years later the Lord got hold of me and revealed areas in my sinful life that showed me that what Keith Green preached was exactly what I needed to hear. The problem was not with Keith Green-but with me.

Today, eighteen years later, I am harder on myself than Keith Green ever was. I have grown spiritually and have seen things differently. Change is good when the Lord is allowed to direct. May He direct your steps in this most vital area of life-the education of your precious children more than you do. Your children look to you, trusting you to do what is best for them. Don't let them down.

If you would like a free catalog of Mantle Ministries' books, tapes, and videos, or to set up a meeting for Evangelist Richard "Little Bear" Wheeler, Write to:

Mantle Ministries

228 Still Ridge

Bulverde, TX 78163

Office: 210-438-3777

Fax: 210-438-3370

E-mail: mantle3377@aol.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Recognizing the Providential direction of the Lord Jesus Christ, Evangelist/Historian Richard "Little Bear" Wheeler, through the vehicle of MANTLE MINISTRIES, has integrated his theological and theatrical training to reach believers with a message that will alert, equip, and commission them in their God-ordained responsibility to raise a generation that will uphold the standards of Christ Jesus.

Evangelist Wheeler's approach is to correlate historical facts with Christian influences and tradition and to "re-educate" adults and children via dramatizations demonstrating the spiritual foundations of our nation. Using authentic costumes and props, "Little Bear" (his trade name) presents enthralling portrayals of historical events and stories found neither in public instruction today nor in books published in the last 100 years.

Evangelist Richard Wheeler completed his theology studies at Christian Associates Seminary in Los Angeles and received his ordination to the Christian ministry from Berean School of the Bible in Springfield, Missouri. Prior to his becoming a Christian in 1972, "Little Bear" received music and theater arts training at the Los Angeles Metropolitan Civic Light Opera. He worked in numerous professional productions before entering into full-time evangelistic work in 1979.

Complementing Wheeler's work through Mantle Ministries is his experience as all associate/youth pastor. He also served as an educational instructor with Child Evangelism Fellowship ill Southern California. Mr. Wheeler is involved ill his local church, Harvest Fellowship, San Antonio, Texas, under the pastoral leadership of Peter Spencer. "Little Bear's" unique and challenging presentations come highly recommended by church leaders and school administrators in 48 states.

Evangelist Wheeler's commitment to public ministry encompasses more than dramatic portrayals, motivational workshops, and keynote speaking engagements, however. He has also founded a publishing organization, MANTLE MINISTRIES PRESS, which re-publishes books written in the 18th and 19th centuries which concentrate on our Christian heritage and Biblical values.

Richard Wheeler married Marilyn on July 29, 1972, and they have three children: Noelle, Aimee, and Joshua. They live in Bulverde, Texas, just north of San Antonio.

THE END

Click Here to Access Part 1 of this essay ==> WARNING PART 1

Click Here to Return to CEANet Home ==>Click Here to Return to CEANet Home Page.