Biblical Rules for Educating Children
Written By Israel Wayne
Every passage in Scripture that talks about education is directed to parents. No one else in the Bible is ever commanded to teach children other than parents (and in a supplementary role, grandparents). While the Bible doesn’t expressly forbid anyone else from teaching our children (in a supplementary role), the Bible does lay down these ground-rules:
1. All education must begin with the fear of the Lord (which is the beginning of wisdom). (Proverbs 9:10)
2. It must avoid the counsel of the ungodly, the way of sinners and the seat of the mocker, but instead provide a context where the child can meditate on the law of the Lord day and night. (Psalm 1:1, 2)
3. It must not be instructing children in learning the ideology of the heathen. (Jeremiah 10:2a, Ephesians 5:11, Colossians 2:8)
4. We are expressly forbidden to partner with unbelievers in the education of our children. (2 Corinthians 6:13-18)
5. Any education that does not begin with faith in God, and declare Him is a sin and cannot please God. (Romans 14:23b, Hebrews 11:6)
6. Any education that does not acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Creator of everything that exists, the visible things and the invisible things, will not be acknowledged by Christ, but instead are denounced by Him. (John 1:3, Colossians 1:16, Matthew 10:32-33)
7. We are expressly forbidden to put our children in an environment where they have a sinful peer culture. (Proverbs 13:20, 1 Corinthians 15:33)
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6
16 thoughts on “Biblical Rules for Educating Children”
Thank you for bringing this to the forefront again Lori. So many people that claim Jesus pick and choose parts of the Bible they believe.!im thankful for an “older” woman such as yourself who is willing to highlight the truth.
Lately I’ve seen people mocking your blog or publicly dissenting and it makes me even more thankful that you persevere in the midst of such hostility, hysteria and harassment. It makes NO sense whatsoever. If someone has a viewpoint I don’t believe matches up with scripture, I don’t waste my time listening to them, let alone responding with emotional dross.
I find it so sad that Christian parents do not seem to know or care to know what God’s mandate is for teaching their children. They push them out the door every morning, Monday -Friday for six to seven hours a day, then on Sunday morning while the child cries wanting Mom and Dad, they force them into kid’s church telling them they have to go so they can learn about Jesus! This selfish ignorance breaks my heart!
Thank you for writing this. I have listened to some of Israel Wayne’s talks lately for encouragement as a homeschooling parent. Some of our friends do not see the value in home education and use the public system. I cannot understand why they would … trying not to judge but knowing how bad our government schools are …. well, I just needed this extra pick me up and points as to WHY we home educate. Thank you.
I read your new posts daily. They are so encouraging and straight to the point. You are my Titus 2 woman. Bless you.
The more I hear about public schools, the more fear I feel for children in them. As a newlywed in SoCal, there was no question that when we had kids (which we didn’t), I’d be homeschooling them.
What happens if a parent is unable to homeschool, or because of disability, a child needs to go to a school setting?
Hello. I am from Australia and I keep reading about the emphasis on avoiding public schooling. Where do you stand on religious/Catholic schools?
Thank you
They will still be surrounded by their peers and we are warned that bad company corrupts good morals. Our children’s eternal souls are all that matter in the end and God calls parents to raise their children in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord.
I don’t believe any children “needs” to go to a school setting. I can’t answer all of the “what ifs…” Hannah. This will have to be parents’ decision.
Bullying, drug use and sexual experimenting are just as bad in private schools as they are in public schools. Just because they are religious schools does not mean they are a safe environment for our children. Parents that send their children to “Christian School” have a false sense of security in these type of schools.
I homeschool a 10year old, 6 year old and 5 year old. My 10yo has Down Syndrome. If my boy went to public school it would be a horrible mess! The time I get to spend helping in the areas he is week and strengthening him in the areas he is strong and at the same time continue to provide a loving, patient and most of all wholesome environment based on the Bible, God’s Word is the best education I could ever provide him or my other children. Homeschooling is definitely work, but I love it. The alternative is terrifying!!!!
I homeschool a 10year old, 6 year old and 5 year old. My 10yo has Down Syndrome. If my son went to public school it would be a horrible mess! The time I get to spend helping in the areas he is week and strengthening him in the areas he is strong and at the same time continue to provide a loving, patient and most of all wholesome environment based on the Bible, God’s Word is the best education I could ever provide him or my other children. Homeschooling is definitely work, but I love it. The alternative is terrifying!!!!
You are a wise mother, Elizabeth, and your children are blessed!
California is a different world, that’s for sure!
California is a different world, that’s for sure!
Special needs children do well in different environments…it’s good you know what’s best for your child! My daughter just shared a class with a boy with Downs—his parents are Christians who live in my neighborhood! I’m glad she got to be his friend and that their teacher was a Christian, too.
Lori, do you feel that it is acceptable for Christians to lose their love for one another over the subject of school? I witness this frequently to the detriment of local churches.