Christians and Public Schooling

By now many of you will have heard of overtures made to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America and the Southern Baptist Convention regarding Christians in public schools.

As reported by WorldNetDaily, last year the Southern Baptist Convention was offered a resolution encouraing the Convention to pull kids out of public schools:

Baptist activists Bruce N. Shortt and T.C. Pinckney, calls on the millions of members of the denomination to take their kids out of public schools and either homeschool them or send them to Christian schools.

While this was voted down, it appears that it may be coming back again this year, as Russell Moore notes in a June 17th entry on the Mere Comments blog.  This year it is coming back with the endorsement of Al Mohler, who is calling for the development of an exit strategy.

In my own denomination, the PCA, a personal resolution, somewhat modeled on the Baptist one from last year was offered by the Rev. Steve Warhurst, pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Kingsport, Tenn.  Although Rev. Warhurst may be unknown to you, his resolution had the backing of some powerful folks in the denomination, and the evangelical world at large.  It was backed by D. James Kennedy of Evangelism Explosion and Coral Ridge Presbyterian and Joel Belz, founder of World Magazine.

Like the Southern Baptist resolution, Mr. Warhurst's resolution to the PCA was voted down, and from where I sat, it looked like it was voted down by a fairly large margin.  I was one of those who voted against the resolution and I thought I would take some time here to explain why.  I'll do this through several posts instead of making this the horribly long, unreadable post.  Today, I'll voice some commendations and agreements with the resolution and in future posts I'll talk about why I voted against it.

I share many of the underlying concerns of Messrs. Shortt, Pinckney, Warhurst, Mohler, Kennedy and Belz.  This is why my wife and I have always had our kids in either private Christian schools or our own homeschool.  The concerns they raise are very real and similar concerns have played at least a partial role in our schooling decisions.

I also want to point out what it was that Rev. Warhurst was saying to the General Assembly of the PCA, lest I misrepresent him, or he be misunderstood.  The language of his resolution was the language of encouragement, not binding law.  In other words, his intention was to offer what amounts to pastoral advice, not a law. This was not presented as something that was to be binding on the conscience of the member of the PCA. I did not speak to him personally at the Assembly, but from listening to his humble and thoughtful presentation of his views I understood his intentions to be those of warning parents about the dangers of public schools and asking the denomination to encourage, not order, parents to pull their kids out of public schools.  I can't envision Rev. Warhurst or his compatriots attempting to bring church discipline on those who failed to heed his/their encouragement.

On the other hand, there are those who fault Mr. Warhurst for his methods.  Instead of asking the PCA to form some kind of study committee or to discuss this matter, they think he used political tactics to circumvent discussion and have the denomination endorse his position apart from substantive study.

I don't see anything nefarious in his motive in this regard.  For one thing, his resolution definitely brought the matter up for debate and discussion.  Also, I've been in the PCA for ten years now and I am still not sure of the procedural hoops one should go through to bring a matter to the attention of the denomination.  I'm guessing he just did what he felt was the right thing to do.  And, though this motion was defeated (rightly so in my mind) I think it will come back in the future.

I bring these things up for the sake of those who might unfairly vilify the proponents of such resolutions as legalistic and reactionary would-be demagogues, because they aren't.  So, I'll end here for now.  If you want to read some extended debate from friends and foes of the resolution you can find it in the comments section of this post on the PCAGA blog.

And, in case you haven't read it - here's the text of the resolution (with the names of its sponsors) itself from the Christian Communication Network (Hat Tip - blogicus):

Whereas, The Bible commands fathers to bring up their children in the training and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4), and all parents who have had a child baptized in the Presbyterian Church in America have taken a vow to strive by all the means of God’s appointment to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (BCO 56-5), and

 

Whereas, A truly Christian education begins with the fear of the Lord (Pr.9:10), and teaches children to think biblically about all of life (2Cor.10:5; Rom.12:2; Dt.6:6-9), and

 

Whereas, The public school system does not offer a Christian education, but officially claims to be “neutral” with regard to Christ, a position that Christ Himself said was impossible (Lk.11:23), and

 

Whereas, The public schools are by law humanistic and secular in their instruction, and as a result the attending children receive an education without positive reference to the Triune God, and

 

Whereas, Some courageous teachers in our congregations disregard this law. Obeying God rather than men, they try to give their students a truly Christian education (Acts 4:18-20). This resolution should not be construed to discourage these adult believers who faithfully labor as missionaries to unbelieving colleagues and students. However, these rare exceptions should not lead anyone to believe the public schools are regularly giving children a truly Christian education.

 

Whereas, Sending thousands of PCA children as “missionaries” to their unbelieving teachers and classmates has failed to contribute to increasing holiness in the public schools. On the contrary, the Nehemiah Institute documents growing evidence that the public schools are successfully converting covenant children to secular humanism, and

 

Whereas, We are squandering a great opportunity to instruct these children in the truth of God’s word and its application to all of life;   

 

Therefore, be it resolved that the 33^rd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America encourages all her officers and members to remove their children from the public schools and see to it that they receive a thoroughly Christian education, for the glory of God and the good of Christ’s church.

 

TE Steven Warhurst, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Kingsport, Tennessee

TE Dr. D. James Kennedy, President, Coral Ridge Ministries Media, Inc.

RE Joel Belz

TE Dr. Ronald Gleason, Grace Presbyterian Church, Yorba Linda California

TE Jim Schirmer, Heritage Presbyterian Church, West Columbia, South Carolina

TE C. Michael Chastain, Christ Presbyterian Church, Elkton, Maryland

RE Greg Beaupied, Coral Ridge PCA, Florida

 

Comments

[Dignan]

David,

Good stuff here. This is a topic near and dear to my heart as my wife and I have wrestled with this issue since before we had children. My wife and I have both been teachers at one point as have my brother and sister-in-law and my best friend. We have also gone through the process of trying to figure out how to best educate our children.

I am a bit dismayed by many of the comments on the PCA blog post on this issue. I wish I could see this issue with the same clarity that others can (which is surprising since I tend to view everything in black and white). There are few ideal solutions: home schooling is problematic if the parents are particularly lacking in certain subjects or are just not good at teaching academic subject. Public schools have the obvious problem of teaching from an anti-Christian perspective. But one thing that is often ignored is that public schools do such a poor job of teaching, period. I would be leery of public schools even if they taught from a Christian perspective. And Christian schools seems to have the same problem: most do such a poor poor job of actually educating.

So I'm baffled as to why so many people think this is such a slam dunk issue. And to that point, I can't imagine how the PCA can definitively state how Christian parents should educate their children.

[J A Greer]

I have absolutely no problem with the sentiment about public schools that was raised. Today is my second anniversary, so no kids yet for my wife and I. We are thourougly committed to raising Christian children. How we will do that is something we have not decided yet.

Christian schools and home schools are not panaceas. I graduated from a good Chrisitian high school, bu there are many bad ones - sometimes leaving the faith of kids more messed up at the end than in the beginning due to their legalism - defeating the purpose of them being there in the first place.

I would dearly love for their to be some type of denominational strategy, or even presbytery wide, on Christian schooling. And I would like the greatest needs to be met with the greatest resources. Kids who grow up in solid PCA churches, who can recite the cathecism are not prime candidates for extraordinary efforts for Christian education to me. I would much rather see inner city efforts made, as well as in thourougly destitute areas.

Overall, this has to be an area of deep wisdome, built upon by years of community with the church and learning from the Word by the parent(s).

[Eric]

Sucks to be a single parent, can't really home school them, and if your making ends meat then you'd be in even more trouble.

There is already a problem with youth feeling like they are better because they are going to a Christian school. This will make it a lot worse and only reinforce the problem, possibly making kids that can't go to privileged schools have an even harder time, and possibly push them away from the church. Especially since the youth of reformed churches are almost already militaristic in their faith. (Example being the youth you talked about that went off the handle when someone brought up Choice vs. Predestination)

[Mwalimu Daudi]

I look forward to reading your posts on this matter, as well as the comments from others.

[Tim]

The Bible commands fathers to bring up their children in the training and admonition of the Lord

I wonder how many father's have looked into their child's Sunday School class. I wouldn't turn my kids lose to some of the women who teach the things. We take it for granted that they're getting a solid "Christian" education on Sunday morning just because the classroom is under the roof of the church. It's just not always so.

[Lucy]

Why stop there? Why not encourage parents to set an example for their children by only working in a Christian workplace? Does the PCA want to tackle that one too! Or how about "encouraging" me to go to a Christian dentist or suggesting that the contractor working on my house should be a Christian.

It's a little hard trying to make a difference when other parents isolate their children--and consequently themselves--from the public schools. I volunteered at my children's schools, went to PTA meetings, viewed curriculum, and made my voice heard when I thought it was necessary. What society needs is more of a Christian voice in the public school system--not isolation.

Afraid to send your children in amongst the "wolves?" Why not volunteer to help at a public school in your community? I have carefully chosen books with a Christian theme and morals and read them to children in my local school - and nothing bad happened!

The Bible calls us to be salt and light to the world. Why not start with the public school system?

[Rob Leverett]

I'm prob coming in a little late on this issue but I missed GA. One issue that we hardly ever address is the racial issue & that some (not all) Christian schools have helped add to the racial divide. Look at it from the perspective of some African Americans. Before integration virtually all evangelicals sent their children to public schools. Many of the Christian schools started up alongside private segregation academies. If we were honest we would have to admit that at least a few Christian schools started during the 60s & 70s (primarily in the South)were started for reasons other than a need for Christian education. We also should be willing to admit that some parents send their children to Christian schools to avoid intgrated schools. I'm not saying that you should not send your children to Christian schools because an earlier generation had sinful motives but rather that the recent racial history & Jim Crow segregation makes the issue not as clear cut as some would have it.

[e. ray moore, jr.]

Thanks for your fair and careful treatment of the Warhurst resolution at the 2005 PCA General Assembly. This issue will be debated in evangelical denominations and churches over the next 3-7 years. By then serious and faithful Christian families and churches will have made the switch to one of the K-12 Christian education options, Christian day schools or home schooling. Biblical Theology demands this, but if this is not sufficient to convince you, the need for the survival of the Christian family and Church itself will help you in this decision. We will never defeat a post modernist culture as long as the majority of Christian families put their children in post modernist schools. To think otherwise doesn't pass the common sense test, much less the theology test. Study our web page at www.Exodusmandate.org.
E.Ray Moore,Jr, Chaplain (Lt.Col.) USAR Ret.

[Jamil Sadiq]

We are a prayer fellowship working inter denominationaly according to John 6 : 44 as there is written " No one can come to me unless Father who has sent me draw him near.........."We arrange prayer conferences,prayer concerts and conventions seeking and asking father for revival amongst ethno people of 10/40 window nations of pakistan.

" Operation Awareness Against Ignorance" is an en educational programm for the betterment of poor derlicts of the society.

We are registered with Govt of Pakistan under Societies Registraion Act,XXI of 1860.

We seek your assistance in this connection.
Be blessed and encouraged!!

[greg]

i pray crpc gets it .... together.

for 50 years this place has been marketing its religion!

example: Evangilsim Explosion! boring! i can share the gospel in 5 minutes and don't have to buy a corse on it!!! greed!!!this is not a christian church and you know as soon as you walk through the doors. a cold chill comes over you, no one smiles and the people are so phony! pca has such a boring dictatoral leadership! i can't believe they are about to do it all over sgain and replace the last dictator w a new one! the Lord will not bless this place!!!the Holy Spirit left the building at 20 years ago!!!!