Nitty Gritty Day 4: The Dangers of Teaching Truth in a Post Modern World
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32.
“The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.” ― Gloria Steinem.
"Postmodernism is "post" because it is denies the existence of any ultimate
principles, and it lacks the optimism of there being a scientific,
philosophical, or religious truth which will explain everything for everybody -
a characteristic of the so-called "modern" mind."
Francis Schaeffer in "How Shall We Then Live" writes that, as Christians, our job is to discern the Spirit of the Present Age and speak to it from a Christian perspective. If we teach our children that there are fundamental Truths such as God is real, Jesus Christ is the Son of God, there is Right and Wrong, then we are teaching them to think from a position of Truth. Most of their peers will be steeped in mass media, an educational system that, if not bedfellows, is as least flirtatious with socialism, and a faith system that touts anything goes and Jesus (forget the Christ) is just a nice, loving, gentle, undemanding Father Christmas-ish type that will love you no matter what and that law(s) are for legalists and fuddy duddies (the heresy of antinomianism).
Of course, there are many public school families that teach their kids Truth, too. Their job is both easier and more difficult than homeschoolers. Easier because their kids can see the difference up close and personal between those who live a life committed to Truth and those who don't. More difficult because their kids will be confronted with a score of social situations that will tax them to the limit at a young age; maybe even sway them from their Truth itself. More difficult because the halls of academia are not always much about education, (via Hillary Clinton) as about social conformity; which, for right now, means Post-modernism.
What happens when you teach your children Truth, and they believe it and live it. For instance, if they believe in modesty and not dating capriciously? They will be mocked, asked if they're queer, made fun of, questioned and probably respected, not necessarily in that order. What happens if your kids show up to youth group without tats or piercings or the latest phone (or no phone at all?). What happens when they go to college and they don't show up with the latest gadgets, new computer, new wardrobe, hip car and an attitude; oh, and have to work part time? Believe me, it won't be mild acceptance, even at Christian youth groups or Christian colleges. Not that "stuff" determines adherence to Truth, but our accouterments tell the world a lot about ourselves, our beliefs and values.
If you teach your children Truth, and they believe it, and they live it, and they walk a narrow road instead of a wide one, they will have challenges you can't forsee. They will be tested in ways you can't fathom. And they will either stay on that narrow, and probably somewhat lonely road, or they will turn from it. Or they might pretend they are still on it, claiming Truth, while playing with 1/2 Truths, which, my friends, are whole lies.
The Dangers of teaching Truth for you, homeschooling parent are these: there is no insurance for your kids. They MUST work out their OWN salvation with fear and trembling. Homeschooling won't save them. YOU won't save them. Only Jesus (Truth) can do that. And they must encounter Him and submit to Him personally- there are no grandchildren in the Kingdom.
Your kids might make you proud. They might break your heart. They will probably do both, maybe simultaneously. You must trust in Truth, not yourself, or your abilities, or homeschooling, or curriculum, or doctrine or pedagogy. If you are called to home school, do it, and trust in Him for the outcome.
Truth in an age of Postmodernism is confrontational. Your kids will rise to the challenge or break under it. As will our churches, as will we. But that is no different than the challenge every Christian has faced throughout the ages.
Resources:
The Truth Project
How Shall We Then Live, et al, Francis Scheaffer
Screwtape Letters, et al, C.S. Lewis
The Case for Christ, et al, Lee Strobel,
Post-Modernism, Christ and Classical Ed (GG post)
Can a Post- Modern Be Christian? (GG post)
Post-modernism and Iowa Re-define Marriage (GG post)
Come back all week long for more Nitty Gritty!
#1 Organize You, Your Stuff, Your Space, Your Students
#2 Show UP
#3 When Sanballet Testifies Against You
#4 The Dangers of Teaching Truth in a Post Modern World
#5 Staying the Course / Finishing Well -when to stop, when to re-asses
What happens when you teach your children Truth, and they believe it and live it. For instance, if they believe in modesty and not dating capriciously? They will be mocked, asked if they're queer, made fun of, questioned and probably respected, not necessarily in that order. What happens if your kids show up to youth group without tats or piercings or the latest phone (or no phone at all?). What happens when they go to college and they don't show up with the latest gadgets, new computer, new wardrobe, hip car and an attitude; oh, and have to work part time? Believe me, it won't be mild acceptance, even at Christian youth groups or Christian colleges. Not that "stuff" determines adherence to Truth, but our accouterments tell the world a lot about ourselves, our beliefs and values.
If you teach your children Truth, and they believe it, and they live it, and they walk a narrow road instead of a wide one, they will have challenges you can't forsee. They will be tested in ways you can't fathom. And they will either stay on that narrow, and probably somewhat lonely road, or they will turn from it. Or they might pretend they are still on it, claiming Truth, while playing with 1/2 Truths, which, my friends, are whole lies.
The Dangers of teaching Truth for you, homeschooling parent are these: there is no insurance for your kids. They MUST work out their OWN salvation with fear and trembling. Homeschooling won't save them. YOU won't save them. Only Jesus (Truth) can do that. And they must encounter Him and submit to Him personally- there are no grandchildren in the Kingdom.
Your kids might make you proud. They might break your heart. They will probably do both, maybe simultaneously. You must trust in Truth, not yourself, or your abilities, or homeschooling, or curriculum, or doctrine or pedagogy. If you are called to home school, do it, and trust in Him for the outcome.
Truth in an age of Postmodernism is confrontational. Your kids will rise to the challenge or break under it. As will our churches, as will we. But that is no different than the challenge every Christian has faced throughout the ages.
Resources:
The Truth Project
How Shall We Then Live, et al, Francis Scheaffer
Screwtape Letters, et al, C.S. Lewis
The Case for Christ, et al, Lee Strobel,
Post-Modernism, Christ and Classical Ed (GG post)
Can a Post- Modern Be Christian? (GG post)
Post-modernism and Iowa Re-define Marriage (GG post)
Come back all week long for more Nitty Gritty!
#1 Organize You, Your Stuff, Your Space, Your Students
#2 Show UP
#3 When Sanballet Testifies Against You
#4 The Dangers of Teaching Truth in a Post Modern World
#5 Staying the Course / Finishing Well -when to stop, when to re-asses
3 comments:
Amen! Well said. We need more emphasize on Truth, as opposed to opinions in the way we teach.
"Your kids might make you proud. They might break your heart. They will probably do both, maybe simultaneously."
Amen, sister!
So true!! Great post to keep it real!
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