What is the purpose of public education? Well, some people might think it’s to teach children how to read, write, do math, know history, and understand the basics of science. Many believe education is a neutral endeavor of merely teaching children what they need to know. But that’s a myth! There is no neutrality (Matthew 12:30).
And many of those teaching and working in the public education system know there is no neutrality and are actively and consciously working to teach children their worldview (which really is the religion of the state—the religion of naturalism). And we’re increasingly seeing those in education or politicians making legislative decisions, believing it’s the duty of the state—not of the parents—to teach children and control what they are learning. Consider a recent example in a since-deleted tweet from the Michigan Democratic Party:
Not sure where this ‘parents-should-control-what-is-taught-in-school-because-they-are-our-kids’ is originating, but parents do have the option to send their kids to a hand-selected private school at their own expense if this is what they desire.
The purpose of education in a public school is not to teach only what parents want them to be taught. It is to teach them what society needs them to know. The client of the public school is not the parent, but the entire community, the public. [emphasis in the original].
So, according to this tweet, parents’ opinions on their children’s education shouldn’t matter because schools serve the community and “teach [kids] what society needs them to know.” Really, what they mean is children don’t belong to their parents—they belong to the government and the government has a right to teach them their religion (which is the religion of atheism/naturalism). That in itself is a religious statement and reflects the increasing secularization of our culture.
And such a view of parents is not what God’s Word teaches! In the biblical view, children are a gift to their parents from God for those parents to raise in the knowledge of the Lord. The family is the first and most fundamental institution God created. Consider these Scriptures:
Psalm 127:3-5 KJV – “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.”
Proverbs 6:20 KJV – “My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:”
Colossians 3:20 KJV – “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.”
Ephesians 6:4 KJV – “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
According to Scripture, children are a gift to parents for them to raise them in the Lord. Children are to obey their parents. It’s not the government’s job to raise or disciple children! Children belong to their parents.
Our culture’s drift from a biblical worldview has massive, real-world consequences. And one of those is the growing view that children belong to the government and parents are just “in the way” of raising little secularists who will grow up to support the prevailing religion of the day. How long before this thinking becomes legislature?
Having a biblical worldview matters!
