We had a special speaker, Voddie Bauchum. He’s a pastor in Texas and is committed to discipling (read that again, DISCIPLING not DISCIPLINING) his family for his children and his children’s children. I’ve read through his website and his church’s website. He’s got some really fresh and interesting views on having a family-integrated church with no age breakdowns. And he’s really into homeschooling. He says THE tool for discipling your kids is the HOME. Not the church. Yikes.
As a former Children’s Pastor, I’ve heard and taught from this passage many times. Dr. Bauchum taught it in a fresh way that hit you right between the eyes! Here’s what I’ll be mulling over all week:
These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.
Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. Deuteronomy 6:1-15 (emphasis mine)
We have to keep in mind that this command was given to the nation of Israel, and is therefore a command to the church corporate, rather than to individual families. IT has, unfortunately, been hi-jacked by the individualistic “Home-Rights” elements of Christendom which are causing such division in some branches of the Church right now.
Just a thought
I would second what Coralie says. However, I would add that it is important to remember that we as parents do have the primary authority in raising our children, and it is our responsibility to disciple them. That said, we don’t have to homeschool to achieve that. And of course the church has a lot to offer us, but ultimately we answer to God for what our children know.
I do like the model of no age-breakdowns within the church family. I think our society likes to put everyone in a box, and in larger churches, thee are so many sub-groups that can be divisive to the church body. There are other ways to structure our church into smaller groups without using age or stage in life (i.e. singles, divorced, young parents, retired, teens, etc.) that I think can be very beneficial to building the body of Christ.
I didn’t go to the website, so I don’t know exactly what this guy is about, but these are just some thoughts I’m throwing out there.
Wow…he doesn’t mix words does he! I read through his site. His views on education are pretty troubling to me. It sounds like he’s saying that the only way to be a strong christian is to be homeschooled. So what does that say about me, my parents, and all of my friends?! Why can’t children, teens, etc. be “salt and light” in their schools? Public education is not perfect (trust me, I know!!) but that doesn’t mean that it’s useless. What about pastors who have affairs, does that mean the church as a whole is evil? Course not. You can’t let a few isolated incidents dictate the whole institution.
It’s still hard to ignore the undeniable fact that most (the majority & about all I know) homeschoolers are “just a bit different”:)
I do agree that this was God’s original plan for families. I always felt when I was on staff as children’s pastor that we had a lot of families who just expected “us” or “the church” to raise their kids for the Lord and I just don’t agree with that. I feel that if they are in a Christian home then the church should only be supporting what the kids have already been taught at home. Obviously their are children who don’t have that Christian home so someone does have to take responsibility in leading the way to Christ for them. But it just seems that “the church” doesn’t want the kids to really be seen or heard much. Just at Christmas and such and then get them back in their spot so that we can do grown up things. Yes, I think that kids need to be taught on their level and that church needs to be a fun,safe place that kids love but I also agree that kids need to see their parents example of worship in church. As far as homeschooling goes, well I am not a fan of public school systems but that is not a debate that I am well educated in.
These are some of my favorite verses. It’s so good to be reminded of these things. Thanks for a great post!
The problem with public schools is that God is no longer included. He has been kicked out. You can argue that there are some Christian teachers; but they aren’t allowed to teach a Christian perspective.
Read Voddie’s book exceprt: “Education: The Lost Key to Discipleship” found here: http://www.voddiebaucham.org/Blog/4778995B-00A2-47D4-A5B5-BD3C720DC96D.html
Putting kids in the hands of goverment schooling for 8 hours a day or so, is giving them the right to direct your kids. Would you let your kids watch 8 hours of TV tht directly opposed your beliefs? And then throw in the mix of letting them hang with kids that are cussing, sexing, and drugging themsleves. And lets no forget the teaching of the alternate lifestyles and gender bending. This is a confusing time for kids and I want my kids to have ALL of the advantages that they can get. I want them to become Godly men and women that hunger and serve the Lord all of the days of their lives.
As Voddie says, “You leave salt by fish and it’s going to start smelling like fish.”
I was impressed by this guy’s ideas and the way that he places so much priority on his family and raising them for the Lord. I think his plan for the family is ideal, but I don’t know how “to get there from here” so to speak. I feel like our culture is so far off the target as far as our children go that his ideas seem absolutely radical and almost impossible for the average family. Also, how does this fit into my worldview – where my passion and life goals are to bring into the kingdom the children of families who barely know the name of Jesus? (Of course the plan is to tell them so that they can then RAISE THEIR FAMILIES FOR THE LORD, so I guess it does come around full circle doesn’t it?)
We’ve recently changed our plans for HC. She was registered for Webster this fall and then God stirred my heart again towards Homeschooling. Kristy had a small group this summer for those new to homeschooling and it helped me tremendously. We are only beginning Pre-K 4 but I am getting my feet wet now so I won’t be so overwhelmed when it matters!
Anyway, this scripture and topic feels like a reminder to me that I am following God’s nudge for our family! I know others will send their kids to public school but for our family we have been called to homeschool. Homeschool isn’t for everyone but public school WILL disciple our kids more towards the world view. This doesn’t mean the kids won’t make it to God, it does mean it puts a tougher job on parents to ‘detox’ their kids from views they don’t agree with. I prefer to maintain the influence I’ve built up. That’s my choice. I plan to teach my kids about Creation but I will not be so simple as to not inform them of the ‘opinions’ the world has. I want to fully equip them so they can stand. Others may choose, or may have to choose, public school. I pray they will have wisdom to keep their kids hearts set on God. I think it is possible – it just makes it harder on Mom and Dad.
I think the church often hurts itself more when one person steps in one direction and the other tries to beat them down for following the road God is guiding them down. We won’t all have cookie cutter lives. Thank God for that. Let’s not bash those who don’t agree with our view. They are following God’s road for them, it doesn’t mean our road is bad.
I have not loooked at his website yet- I will however! In the meantime- you know my thoughts on this. The IDEAL is godly parents raising God-loving, discipled, in-love-with-Jesus kids. However, when that doesn’t happen- which unfortunately in my unscientific, but very experienced opinion is most of the time the church, with good leaders, absolutely becomes surrogate spiritual parents for kids. Without even going into he homeschool vs public school discusion- because that is a completely different topic- I think a thriving Children’s Ministry can absolutely come alongside families and help them raise their children for the Lord. I could absolutely go on and on about this- but one tiny point that I think is valid- is that the ministry of the local church helps to put structure into the spiritual lives of families and brings accountability to parents as they are raising their children. But for that, I’m afraid even more families lives would be all about baseball, TV, going to the lake and “family time.” In the meantime, the attractive kids’ programs, the social aspect of church and Christian friends, the opportunities for parents to get involved with their children and their children’s friends at church as well as the rest of the “Body of Christ” experience at church leads me to say that the gathering together of believers IS God’s plan. Sharing our lives together in an Acts 2 model IS God’s plan. Preaching the Gosel to ALL (including kids) IS God’s plan. And none of that negates anything abut Dt 6. Parents need to raise their children for the Lod, impressing His law upon their hearts- but we all need assistance- and that’s where the church and good children’s ministry needs to be added to the family’s plan for discipling their children for the Lord.
Hmmm…I think I’ll step off the soapbox now 🙂