Immersed in God's Word

I was reading Ruth Beechick's book A Biblical Home Education over the weekend and a couple things truly impressed me.  I have read quite a few books written by Ruth Beechick, and I must admit that I like her style.  I don't always agree with everything, but much of the advice she gives is awesome and practical.  In this book Ruth talks about a skit between an American boy and a Muslim friend.  The American boy is a Christian and he is talking to his Muslim friend about Jesus.  The Muslim boy asks the Christian about the number of hours a day he studies his Bible.  The American boy stammers and stutters.

Sadly, this is true for so many Christians, not just children.  Islam and many other religions have devout followers that don't just read about their beliefs, but spend hours per day meditating on and memorizing what they believe.  If there is any area where Christians today don't excel, it is in this area.  Bible is often an extra subject in the day, not an integral part of the education process for many homeschoolers.

Ruth Beechick goes on in this section about worldviews to discuss the New Age movement and Humanism.  She talks about how these views pervade our schools and society, and how homeschoolers have the opportunity to push it back for their children.

I, personally, have thought about this quite a bit.  I went to public school.  My children have attended public school.  I have seen how the thinking of a child is directed by nearly every influence available.  The teachers, the curriculum, and the peers all combine to make it very difficult to hold onto your views.  It is hard to argue against evolution in science or history when you are never taught about creationism.  Churches are sadly failing and even compromising in this area.  To be honest, many have taken to ignoring the subject altogether.  The school systems have succeeded in indoctrinating the students for so long and for so many years that many Bible colleges and Churches have compromised their teachings and in some cases even changed their core doctrine so as not to offend.

I have come to realize that many Christians believe they have strong Biblical knowledge when they don't.  I don't want that for me or my daughters.  I want them to be immersed in the Bible.  I want the Bible to play in the other subjects we study.  I want the Bible to play in the attitudes we have in our home.  I want the Bible to play in how we think.  I want the Bible to be such a major part of our lives that we live our lives by its Word and Teachings.

I am saddened when I see Christian children fall.  I have seen it so much that it is almost expected.  I pray hard that my children stay strong in their relationship with Christ.  I worry that my older ones didn't receive all that they need since it took so long for my husband and I to turn our lives over to Christ.  Even once we did, we made so many mistakes that I fear our children will pay the price.  I am trusting God to help and to be with all my children.

Immersion in the Bible definitely has a strong impact in how we homeschool.  I want my children to know Jesus.  If I fail in that, I have failed in everything.  It won't matter how well my children do academically, how many friends they have, or how much money they make.  This world is a temporary dwelling. Our home is with Christ.