whylcs.org :: 10 Myths

10 Most Popular Myths Christian Parents Believe

Answers to the Question: Why Do Christian Parents Choose to Educate Their Children in a School That Excludes Christ?

Myth 1: I am saving money by not paying Christian school tuition.

Actually, the costs to parents for not sending their child to a Christian school
are potentially much greater. First, Jesus forces us to answer this question about
what parents think is most important for their children.

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? Mark 8:36

Myth 2: We can't afford Christian school tuition.

If Christian parents fee they must have home that is larger than they actually need, new cars every three years, a vacation home, significant travel, weekly dining out, a wardrobe that needs constant replenishment, and retirement accounts that get any leftover dollars, then this myth is not a myth.

However, the word to consider is "priorities". People will always do what is important to them. Educating children in a Christian way is one the Bible's most important messages.

Myth 3: The public school and the Christian parent have the same goal in mind for the child's education so my child is not being damaged spiritually by going to a non-Christian School.

It is impossible that this particular myth as any chance of being true. Why?
Because the Chr ist ian parent is commanded to raise the child in a Christian way and the public school cannot educate children in a Christian way. The Bible tells us that there is no neutral ground in this world-you are either with Jesus or you are against Him:

“He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.”
Matthew 12:30

Myth 4: Exposing my child to ungodly thinking and actions will prepare my child for the "real world".

This thinking is based more on the worldly slogan, “If it doesn’t kill me, it will make me stronger” than anything found in God’s Word. What we desperately need for our children is the opportunity for them to learn from the Bible how to deal with the world that is ﬁlled with sin and temptation rather than becoming like the world.

Myth 5: Children should be missionaries in the public school.

Parents are being fooled when they believe this for several major reasons. First, there is neither a Biblical command nor precedent for children to be missionaries. Second, the very purpose of a missionary requires that he be fully trained and prepared to give an
explanation of the scriptures and withstand the abuse and rejection that Jesus has promised from the world. A child is by deﬁnition an immature human being who is being taught how to live and think so he will be prepared to serve God effectively as a young adult.

“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will
suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:20

Myth 6: My child we be best served by figuring out life while attending a non-Christian school.

It is true that children will go through the years trying to ﬁgure out life for themselves. The questions they will ask and the answers they receive will likely shape their lives forever.

Myth 7: The prom, dating and sports are vital school experiences for my child and can be best be experienced in a public school.

The idea that a Christian parent who loves the Lord would place such importance on one night in a person’s life where many students become involved in various kinds of substance abuse or gratuitous sex is perplexing indeed. Christian parents are correct in thinking that an experience like the typical high school prom will make a permanent impact on their child. The loss of sexual purity in the middle and high school years
along with the gain of mental pictures and the possibility of catching sexually transmitted diseases are things that their child will never forget. For Christian parents, our God has a great deal to say about purity!

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent
or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Philippians 4:8

Myth 8: My child is receiving a good education in the public schools.

The statement above begs the question: “What do you mean by ‘good’?” We have
already addressed the fact that only an education which has Christ at the center
can be considered good in God’s eyes. However, we will analyze myth #8 using the
common perception that a good education is one that is academically strong and does
not have Jesus Christ at the center.

Myth 9: The learning environment in the public school is good.

What constitutes a good learning environment? Some parents look at the shiny gymnasium in the public school and believe that that is the deﬁnition of a good learning environment.

However, if you consider that many public schools in America have instances of drug transactions, sexual acts being committed in the halls, bathrooms, locker rooms, and classrooms, overcrowded classrooms, teachers who are in fear for their physical well being, classrooms that lack discipline and structure, bullying, gangs, and lax security and safety, then it should be impossible to believe the myth that the learning environment in the public school is good.

Parents can obtain statistical information about criminal activity from their local county’s public school administrative ofﬁces.

Myth 10: The ultimate in myth telling to Christian parents in America may not be because the myth is being created for belief by the public school administrators, public school teachers unions, or politicians. It may be that parents are creating a myth that they want to believe for themselves.

Sadly, there are Christian parents who really don’t want to think about educating their children in a Christian way. Rather than examine the readily available facts on education in America and the Biblical directives from God concerning the education of children, they would prefer to suppress the truth or continue to believe the misrepresentations that they are fed. However, a fact remains that should be sobering to all: we will give an account to God for how we raised the children that He gave us. Lord help Christian parents in America to see that God’s priorities for His people will not allow
for anything less than a God honoring education for the children.

Conclusion: The learning environment in the public school is good.

Many Christian parents think that the public school system can be ﬁxed and if they wait a little longer, things won’t be so bad. Some people lay blame on the teachers in the public schools, but that is not the root problem. Some blame the politicians or the bureaucrats for not doing enough or not being willing to make the hard decisions that will bring reform. Those things are not the root cause.

The root cause is the foundational starting point and philosophy of public
schools in America; one that does not begin with the teachings of God in His Word. The public schools simply cannot serve two masters.

A philosophy that excludes Jesus Christ in the teaching of children simply cannot succeed. The effect of Christianity or lack thereof, permeates every aspect of education.

The question for Christian parents today is, “are you going to continue to believe the myths and choose an educational environment for your child that is not for our Lord and continues to ﬂounder academically, or will you follow the Biblical teaching for children and trust God for the results?”

The hearts and minds of our children and the future spiritual condition of our country await your answer.

To download the entire 10 Myths information click on the following link:

10_Myths-Christian_Parents_Believe.pdf