We often refer to our church family as our "church family", this is not an inappropriate title according to Ephesians 3:14-15. Jesus taught from the onset of His earthly ministry that there is a difference between the earthly and the heavenly, between the flesh and the spirit. In John 3:6 Jesus said, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit." Our physical or earthly family is made up of father, mother, sisters, and brothers. If we are saved, we also have a spiritual family. God is our father and other Christians are our sisters and brothers. In Matthew 12:46-50, these two families meet. I'm sure that some people were very surprised when Jesus said. "For whosoever shall do the will of my father which is in heaven, the same is my brother and sister and mother." Jesus made clear that our spiritual family takes a higher priority than our physical family.
I am not sure how he drew the conclusion that the verse in Matthew proves that the spiritual family is more important than the physical family. There is nothing in that verse to support that conclusion. If we look at Christ on the cross, while making the payment for our sin He took the time to take care of his mother. To me that is amazing and proves that the physical family MUST be taken care of. He who cares not for his household is worse than an infidel.
One of the great improprieties of the homeschooling movement is that a greater priority is often placed upon their physical family over their spiritual family, or local church. In Matthew 16:8, Jesus made a promise of divine power and protection to the local church. Nowhere in Scripture is this promise made to any other institution, including the home. In order for a family to receive this blessing, they must, individually, be a part of that local church. God said in: 2 Corinthians 6:17-18, Where fore come our 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 Almightl.
When we trust Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we become God's children "positionally", but Jesus said He would not fulfill the duties of "Father" in our lives until we separate ourselves from the world and conduct ourselves as His children. In other words, if a child of God wants to live in the devil's house, don't expect Jesus to buy the groceries. We live in a day where Christians expect God to bless their way rather than submitting to God's order and plan. God's plan for His Christian family is for them to be a part of a fundamental local church and to be submitted to, and involved in, its ministries. Gods' priority is on the spiritual, not the physical family. The world is trying desperately to save their homes with new methods and programs, and are failing miserably, why? Because God's program is the only one that works. Homeschoolers are trying to do the same thing with their own method of education.
First off I have no idea what he means by using the verse in Matthew 16:8. here is what it says "Which when Jesus perceived he said unto them, "O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread." The passage in 2 Corinthians has to do with salvation and separating ourselves from the things of the world.
I really can not see what he is saying about a promise to the local church. Which local church did Christ establish, Do I have to be a member of THAT church to have the power and protection that the author says the verse in Matthew gives to that church.
Also I seem to recall that in the end times people would be turning on their own families and not showing that love that the Lord wants us to have for one another. How sad that that is being taught in a church. Also how many times have we struggled to get help when it was time for another babies birth here in our home. We would go to our Independent Local Church and we could not get help. All the teens were busy with school, school functions or jobs and the same was with the mothers. How much better to have a large homeschooling family with daughters who can help out and are capable of helping another family with this need. That is truly helping out your spiritual family.
The problem is, too many times homeschooling generates an overemphasis on the home. Any activity or program at church that does not fit into their homemade schedule is disregarded. The next statement you will read is the most important one in this booklet. GOD INSTITUTED THE HOME TO BE IN SUBMISSION TO THE LOCAL CHURCH. God never made dad the pastor and mom a deacon. God gave churches "PASTORS" to love families and keep them in the love of God. The Bible says in Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more as ye see the day approaching." What homeschooling does to seclude children from the church's program only short circuits their spiritual growth. Why would a parent homeschool their child when they attend a good church with a Christian school? The answer will be anything but spiritual, "We can not afford it." Since when has God ever failed to finance His will? The truth is that God never promised to bless any program outside the local church.
I would love to know how he came to the conclusion that the home is in submission to the church when the church was not around when the home was set up. His verse in Hebrews is a good verse for reminding us all to encourage one another but for that verse to be used to support the pastor's authority is a huge stretch. That verse doesn't even mention pastors in it. As a wife I am subject to my husbands authority and no one elses. And my husband is subject to the Lord. 1 Corinthians 11 spells our the order of authority very clearly.
And to say people home school for financial reasons is a bunch of hooey, (am I allowed to say that) Most people I have talked to who homeschool do so so they can guide and train their children and bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
The sad fact is that many a homeschooler is satisfied to attend a nominal church with weak pastoral leadership. They are then free to operate their own schedule without interference. What is even more sad is that the family that thinks they have taken a step to become stronger, has actually cut themselves off from spiritual nourishment. Remember, a good church is the life blood of a strong family. If you homeschool and your church is secondary to your home, you have misplaced your priorities which God will refuse to bless. If involvement in your church causes your children to backslide, find a good fundamental church, get involved and place your kids in their school. God has an order and a plan for your family's success. May God guide you as you yield to His Word.
Weak pastoral leadership, he means a pastor who is gonna keep his people in line and that means no homeschoolers in that church. The pastor is not in charge of the homes, the father is. You can see how he runs his church by his tone in this chapter in this booklet. Having your family grounded upon God is what makes a strong family. I know families who are heavily involved in the church, good IFB churches as this pastor is asking people to attend. And those family's are not strong. As a friend says you can sit in a garage and make car noises and pour motor oil all over you and that won't make you a car. Well you can go to an IFB church, send your kids to the christian school, and be involved in every ministry they have and that won't give you a strong family. Strong families are made by a papa who is following the Lord, whose wife supports him and loves him and whose children see their parents loving the Lord with all their hearts.
I love the fear mongering that he throws in here. God won't bless you if you don't do as the pastor says. That really gets my goat. God WILL bless a family who studies his word, sees what it says and does it. But he also covers that with the last 2 sentance's, If you really study the word you will obviously come to the same conclusion as him. (even though I have shown over and over that he mishandles the word of God)
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