Keeping Our Children's Faith

It's no secret that one of the biggest reasons our family homeschools is for "religious reasons." I want my little ones to know what they believe and why. My ears perked more than a bit when I stumbled on this post earlier this year. It provided statistics to back up what I've always thought might be true.

Will your children believe in Jesus when
they graduate from high school?

Homeschooled: 94% - - Public Schooled: 15%

94% of homeschoolers keep the faith and 93% continue to attend church after the high school years. But a shocking 75% to 85% of Christian children sent to public school drop out of church, and do not hold a Christian worldview after high school graduation.

Wow. Ouch! Those are some numbers. Even if the homeschool number is off by half (47%), that's still more than twice what those in public school can hope for. Scary stuff.

I think it's great that, "By grade eight, the average homeschooled student performs four grade levels above their public and private school counterparts." Of course I want my children to have a better education, one that's tailored for them and their quirks. But I'm more concerned that my children "perform" above their peers at the "final graduation" - death. I want to know that my children are at the top of the class with others that have accepted Christ as their schoolmaster and learned in his classroom. I want to give them a rich Christian education and let them see the fruit firsthand.

What We've Done to Educate Our Children in the Faith

We aren't perfect when it comes to raising and teaching our children, but I've already addressed that. You do not have to be perfect. You simply have to give it everything you're able to. God doesn't ask for more then that. You can't make your children decide to follow Christ, but you can provide them with an education that shares the facts about him and teach them to reason which helps them make an informed choice.

Start to Think Oddly. I would love to be more formal in Bible instruction for the munchkins, but when I look to the example of Jesus, I see him teaching the oddest things at the oddest times in the oddest places. I mean, what's this seed sowing business? From a boat? (Matthew 13:1-23) Anyone who knows me personally knows I can do odd!! lol

I can't tell you how many "Bible lessons" I've taught while scrubbing the floor or putting away dishes at night or cleaning the toilet. And you know what? Those are the discussions that the children remember. Those discussions were about the things that pique their curiosity. Things they care about. The Bible passages from those "lessons" are the ones they can quote with little prompting.

Read the Bible to Them. Start in Genesis and read to the end. NO! They will not understand everything or most of it. But it will be in their brain and the Holy Spirit can work with it when the time calls for it. The Holy Spirit can't work with what's not available.

When I was growing up, my parents read the Bible to us cover to cover about a half dozen times. 99% of it didn't make sense until after I finally got the whole "Jesus thing" 9 years ago. Now when I go back and read passages that were once confusing, it's silly, but I can't tell you how many light bulb moments I've had and how much finally makes sense. You're children will do the same thing.

Listen to the Bible on CD. During daily rest time. During long car trips. While gardening. On their iPod. I can't count the times I've heard, "Wow! That's cool. I didn't know that was in there." Curiosity will make them hungry. Hungry will lead them to Jesus.

Invite Discussion. I've always told our children that they can talk to me about anything. Yes, I can be irritated and short when kids are squabbling or whining, but I promise, if you want to stop and discuss anything rationally and reasonably, I will push my frustrations aside and engage in discussion. I might not agree or allow whatever it is, but I will listen and give a truthful and honest answer. This invitation has proved most fascinating as the children get older.

If I feel that someone is particularly struggling with something, I will mention ONCE and only once, "If you'd like to talk about xxx, let me know." Then I pray like crazy they'll come to me if I can help! Generally within hours or days, xxx will be the topic of conversation. This is a great way to give God's view on whatever you're talking about and they are struggling with. But this would not be the time to get preachy. Don't push an agenda. Matter-of-factly talk about truth with love.

Memorize a Bible Passage. We don't make them memorize a Bible verse a day or anything like that, but they can quote a bunch. Every couple weeks or months, we learn a new passage. That doesn't sound like much, but if we only learn 6 a year, that's around 100 passages by the time they leave at 18. That's not bad at all.

I try to pick verses that mean something to life as we're living it right now. Like I said above, if it relates to something they are curious about already, they can memorize it quick as a wink and look for more. Doing it this way, Scripture doesn't get old or boring. It's alive and fresh - it means something to them NOW. Besides, there is nothing cuter than a 3 year old that can quote Proverbs 1:7 and other passages of merit.

Pray with Them. About a year ago, Rich felt convicted that we needed to be consistently praying together as a family. The best time for us? 5:30am right after the alarm goes off. {sigh} I am so not a morning person, but Rich is completely right.

When we started praying together a year ago, the kids would basically repeat what we prayed. After a year of praying with them, wow can they get long winded! Sometimes Rich and I have to pray less so he's not late leaving for work. It's been fascinating to listen to the children grow in their prayer lives. It's also wonderful to hear them trusting God for some pretty big things. It makes my heart rejoice when I hear them refer to something they've prayed about.

Stump the Sib. This is our new thing at dinner. My dear hubby is grand for coming up with these adventures... Before anyone can have dessert, they have to stump the next younger person with a Bible question. Because we try not to repeat questions, this helps everyone dig for new facts and info about Scripture.

Here's how it works: The child has to come up with a Bible content question that their next younger sibling can't answer. The catch is you have to be able to answer your own question, because when the person you're asking gets stumped, you have to produce the answer. Mommy and Daddy always seem to know the answers, so there is no bluffing. :grin:

How that looks at our table: Christopher (almost 7) has to come up with Bible questions until Ariana (4) can't answer one. Then Christopher has to answer the unanswerable question, and in turn wait for his question from Ben (10). So the cycle repeats. Josh (12) comes up with questions for Ben. And Mommy gets to stump Josh. (This is a fun battle of first born egos!) Finally Daddy comes up with some obscure passage (from all his Logos studies) to make Mommy pull out her hair (if she's been especially tough on Josh). After all that, we all try to come up with something to catch Daddy on.

We've laughed like crazy at some of the answers. Plus Rich and I have been amazed to see what the kids come up with for questions - especially since they have to answer them too! We think they might just be "getting" it.

Whatever type of schooling you choose for your children, you are responsible for seeing to their spiritual nurturing and training. I find it so much easier to fulfill that responsibility and have opportunities open up all the time because I have my children with me. Yes, homeschooling can be a lot of hard work and even overwhelming at times. But I think the potential eternal rewards are well worth it. High I.Q.s, a Ph.D. in Molecular Science and a rich knowledge of history will mean nothing if you have no hope in a blissful eternity.