During Thanksgiving, everyone was putting what they were thankful for on their Facebook accounts. Every day people would write something different. One day, I wrote that I was thankful for being able to provide a sound, Christian- based education for my children... or something to that affect. Many people said they liked my comment, some people made additional comments... one person was quite... vicious. That person will remain nameless, but they said something along the lines of me being a part of a cult and that meant my children were as well. Being a Christian, having the right to teach my children with a Christian education and putting God and Christ first means we are cultish? Wow, I have never heard that before.... WAIT, yes I have! Another person, who will remain nameless, also said something similar. Unfortunately, this person is a relative of mine. They said I was abusing my children and that being an Evangelical Christian must mean we are in a cult. Abusive? By giving my children a much higher education than the local school district, being able to go on any field trip we want, having quality family time any time of the day, traveling and learning about new places, having little to no pressure from our peers, not worrying about time lines every day, etc., etc... is abusive? They are unsocialized? Um, church, Awana, Girl Scouts, homeschool groups, dance class, swim lessons, and we are even surfing with friends in the middle of the weekday morning.... is that being not social?
I don't know what else to say, but the following section of this post talks about labels... Labels given to me, my children, our family.... our friend's families. EVERY parent has the right to raise their child and educate them. It's the parents responsibility to educate, not anyone elses.
Daily Devotional: Friday, March 12, 2010
What labels have been placed on your children because they homeschool? During our years of homeschooling, my children faced innuendos that ranged from mental retardation to religious fanatic. Today, the media still portrays homeschoolers as naive, unfashionably-dressed nerds. Even though studies prove the contrary, public educators also insist that homeschoolers are deprived of proper socialization. Why does the phrase "homeschooling" bring out such nastiness in people?
Unfair labels are nothing new. When Christ lived on Earth, He suffered from being misunderstood by the multitudes, Jewish leaders, and even His friends and family. Unfair labels like trouble maker, demon-possessed, and foolish fanatic were placed on Him, as He told the world about the Kingdom of God and His love. Although the label placed above Christ's head on the cross was intended to mock Him, it was the one label the world got right when it read, "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS" (Luke 23:38b).
So, how do you live in a negative, anti-homeschooling world and not become negative yourself? As Christian homeschoolers, we seem to receive a double whammy from the world — unfair labels for our faith and unfair labels for our homeschooling. As hurtful as these labels can be, Christ can help us forgive and move beyond the painful remarks when they come. Jesus' example of love on the cross shows us the way when He said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:24).
Lord, strengthen me to stand against the world's opinion of homeschoolers. Teach me to love as You loved when You died on the cross. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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