I have been writing about homeschooling lately from a biblical perspective and Israel Wayne at the ChristianWoldView.net Blog has posted A Christian Education Manifesto. I am sure you will see many of these verses as I write more on Homeschooling in the future but this a great list all in one place with some commentary on how they relate to our God given responsibility to educate our children.
Dan Ford has written a good article, The Reformed Christian Legacy of Dominion, which shows the tie between the dominion mandate and private dominion. In a country such as ours where the government is increasingly bent on removing private ownership and seeks to have dominion, be sovereign, over the people it is important to see that the founders of this nation did not see things this way. It is also important to remember that when speaking of the founders of this nation one does not simply go back to 1776 but we must continue further into history to the 1600’s to see the original founders as it is their legacy and the legacy they brought with them from the reformation that was integral in the formation of America.
Chuck Baldwin has written an article entitled: Romans Chapter 13 Revisited. This is a good explanation on how we are to view government from a biblical perspective. The only place I may have a question is his use of the term “natural law” as we as believers are to hold to His “revealed law” in all of God’s word. Natural law is not truly able to inform action as we do not find out about such things as property rights from the landscape around us but God’s revealed law in His word can do so. I will be emailing Mr. Baldwin to get a clarification on this as it simply may be a different use of terminology. Regardless of this question this is a great article when we look at all the government is trying to do today as we are not to judge the work of government by our feelings but by the very word of God.
Along the same lines as above Dr. Archie Jones writes in his article The Tenth Amendment and Interposition about the place of government in our society. His last paragraph is so true of our day. Actually I think that many are blindly happy with the government as the sovereign of this nation because they are ignorant of God’s purpose for government and also because they tend to see man as autonomous from God in virtually every area of life. Here is Dr. Jones last paragraph:
“Do enough Americans today understand our rights? Are enough Americans disposed to defend our liberty? Do enough understand the constitutional means of using the powers of the states to defend and recover our liberty? The Tenth Amendment’s statement that the powers not delegated by the people of the states to the central government are retained by the people of the states respectively was meant to make Americans understand our rights and those of our states, to protect our constitutional system of interposition, and so to motivate us to defend our liberty before we let conditions become so dire that we urge our states to resort to our ultimate defense against centralized tyranny”
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Around the Web and Blogosphere (7/16/09)
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Should the government be involved in the education of our children?
As I continue looking at the education of our children from a Christian perspective another question that has to be answered is whether the government should be involved in their education at all.
I fear that many believers do not even contemplate this question because of the successful indoctrination of the government to train us to think it is natural and right to send our children to Uncle Sam for training. We have been told so often that teaching is a job for professionals that most parents do not even question this assertion. But we must question this premise since if we are told in Deut 6:1-9 that it is our responsibility to train our children would God not also equip us to do as He requires. I have heard Voddie Baucham when speaking on homeschooling and the ability of parents to teach say that a parent only needs to be one day ahead of the child when training, how true that is. We need to get it in our heads that the adage that “we need to leave the education of our children to the professionals” is incorrect, instead we need to keep the education of our children with the parent.
I should add that the mindset of education only being for professionals has infiltrated our churches as well. Believing parents so often hand their children over to well meaning youth leaders and Sunday school teachers and in the process do just as the education system has trained them to do. Keep in mind the whole concept of education used in most churches is also simply a spiritualizing of the world’s method of education.
Most of what I have just said applies to education as a whole and not just as it concerns the government. What has to be contemplated when sending ones children to the government school system is what is their goal. What are their stated and desired goals for children that come out of their system? No matter what you feel those goals are it should be obvious to believers that the one thing the government schools system does not want is God honoring students, students who give all credit to God and seek His guidance in all areas of life. This is obvious because the subject of God has been removed from schools so that if one is to work by the government standards God will not enter into education. Not only does God not enter into education when the government is involved He is denied access at all and is even ridiculed and negated at every opportunity. Children in the government school systems are trained to see life as having nothing to do with God. If God is even mentioned it is that God only plays a part in one area, the spiritual component, of a persons life and often even minimally then. The goal of the government is to train children to be freed from the “constraints of religion” and to be brought to the light of secular humanism.
This should be enough to make any believing parent not send their children to the government school system. But often we as parents try and justify our actions by saying such things as “my school is different”, “my child is well grounded”, “I will correct things when they get home” and many other similar statements. The problem is this attitude does not see the affect that an inordinate amount of time in the indoctrination process creates. Due to this large amount of seat hours in the government schools the minimal amount of time the child is left with parents does not allow for deprogramming and retraining.
Even if you would be fortunate enough to have Christian teachers in the government school system they are bound by the contracts they sign to teach within the parameters of the school. Thus, God is still to be left out of the education process and your children are still not being taught in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph 6:4). Let alone Prov 22:6 lets us see that as a child is raised so he will go and if that raising is primarily in the government school system that way will be the way of secular humanism.
I believe the present condition as a nation can be largely attributed to government control of education and the churches acceptance of the state of affairs. The church is too comfortable in the world and is fearful of the repercussion of not allowing the world to educate their children. This attitude needs to change and it will only do so when God’s word is seen as the only means of deciding ones child’s education.
I believe the answer is clear that we are not to have the government involved in the education of our children. With this in mind remember that the whole Charter School issue allows government involvement no matter how minimal it may appear presently it is sure to change. Let us not send our children to the government for their education. As Voddie Baucham has said in his great DVD, The Children of Caesar, "If you send your kids to Caesar for their education don't be surprised when they come back as Romans."
More to come.
Questions to be covered with links to past posts:
1) What is the purpose of Christian Education: Part 1 & Part 2
2) Should the Government be involved in the Education of our children (Post above)
3) Why are we so easily swayed by the money & items offered by charter schools?
4) Should not my children be in the public school to be lights in a dark place?
5)Why do we need to meet man’s standards for education?
6) Why do we need relief or a respite from the presence of our children?
7) Isn’t the method of education of our children a preference?
I fear that many believers do not even contemplate this question because of the successful indoctrination of the government to train us to think it is natural and right to send our children to Uncle Sam for training. We have been told so often that teaching is a job for professionals that most parents do not even question this assertion. But we must question this premise since if we are told in Deut 6:1-9 that it is our responsibility to train our children would God not also equip us to do as He requires. I have heard Voddie Baucham when speaking on homeschooling and the ability of parents to teach say that a parent only needs to be one day ahead of the child when training, how true that is. We need to get it in our heads that the adage that “we need to leave the education of our children to the professionals” is incorrect, instead we need to keep the education of our children with the parent.
I should add that the mindset of education only being for professionals has infiltrated our churches as well. Believing parents so often hand their children over to well meaning youth leaders and Sunday school teachers and in the process do just as the education system has trained them to do. Keep in mind the whole concept of education used in most churches is also simply a spiritualizing of the world’s method of education.
Most of what I have just said applies to education as a whole and not just as it concerns the government. What has to be contemplated when sending ones children to the government school system is what is their goal. What are their stated and desired goals for children that come out of their system? No matter what you feel those goals are it should be obvious to believers that the one thing the government schools system does not want is God honoring students, students who give all credit to God and seek His guidance in all areas of life. This is obvious because the subject of God has been removed from schools so that if one is to work by the government standards God will not enter into education. Not only does God not enter into education when the government is involved He is denied access at all and is even ridiculed and negated at every opportunity. Children in the government school systems are trained to see life as having nothing to do with God. If God is even mentioned it is that God only plays a part in one area, the spiritual component, of a persons life and often even minimally then. The goal of the government is to train children to be freed from the “constraints of religion” and to be brought to the light of secular humanism.
This should be enough to make any believing parent not send their children to the government school system. But often we as parents try and justify our actions by saying such things as “my school is different”, “my child is well grounded”, “I will correct things when they get home” and many other similar statements. The problem is this attitude does not see the affect that an inordinate amount of time in the indoctrination process creates. Due to this large amount of seat hours in the government schools the minimal amount of time the child is left with parents does not allow for deprogramming and retraining.
Even if you would be fortunate enough to have Christian teachers in the government school system they are bound by the contracts they sign to teach within the parameters of the school. Thus, God is still to be left out of the education process and your children are still not being taught in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph 6:4). Let alone Prov 22:6 lets us see that as a child is raised so he will go and if that raising is primarily in the government school system that way will be the way of secular humanism.
I believe the present condition as a nation can be largely attributed to government control of education and the churches acceptance of the state of affairs. The church is too comfortable in the world and is fearful of the repercussion of not allowing the world to educate their children. This attitude needs to change and it will only do so when God’s word is seen as the only means of deciding ones child’s education.
I believe the answer is clear that we are not to have the government involved in the education of our children. With this in mind remember that the whole Charter School issue allows government involvement no matter how minimal it may appear presently it is sure to change. Let us not send our children to the government for their education. As Voddie Baucham has said in his great DVD, The Children of Caesar, "If you send your kids to Caesar for their education don't be surprised when they come back as Romans."
More to come.
Questions to be covered with links to past posts:
1) What is the purpose of Christian Education: Part 1 & Part 2
2) Should the Government be involved in the Education of our children (Post above)
3) Why are we so easily swayed by the money & items offered by charter schools?
4) Should not my children be in the public school to be lights in a dark place?
5)Why do we need to meet man’s standards for education?
6) Why do we need relief or a respite from the presence of our children?
7) Isn’t the method of education of our children a preference?
Friday, July 10, 2009
John Calvin – 500th Birthday
Here are some articles from various sources on Calvin’s 500th:John Calvin, Founding Father by Doug Phillips
Calvin 500 Website
The Calvin 500 Blog
Monergism.com’s Calvin resources
How are you celebrating Calvin’s 500th? by Tom Ascol at the Founders Ministry Blog
John Adams on John Calvin by Kevin Swanson
The Expository Genius of John Calvin, a great little book by Steven Lawson
Solid Ground Books Calvin Specials
Reformed Baptist Fellowship has a number of links here
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Reformation 500 Celebration CD Set
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Demographic Bomb: demography is destiny DVD Review
For those of you who have seen Demographic Winter, my review is here, they have a new DVD that is part 2 of the series called Demographic Bomb: demography is destiny. This documentary builds on the previous one in that it explains more about the “Inaccurate Assumptions” of over population. This documentary, as with the first, does not come from a Christian perspective but it does show that the call of God to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth was a serious charge and not to do so in defiance of God has its consequences that even the secular world can see.It is also fascinating in the DVD that demographics were able to predict the economic downturn we are in, worldwide. This was not just done in hind sight but was spoken of in the initial documentary and again in this DVD prior to the current economic woes we are experiencing.
DEMOGRAPHIC WINTER PART II, THE DEMOGRAPHIC BOMB: DEMOGRAPHY IS DESTINY
In Part 1 of this film series, experts from many different fields revealed with chilling soberness the dangers facing society and the world?s economies.
Demographic Bomb: demography is destiny (the long awaited part two), illuminates the history of population control, how we came to believe that there are too many people in the world, and how these beliefs became institutionalized.
In Demographic Bomb we interviewed Paul Ehrlich of Stanford University, author of 1968?s The Population Bomb, who popularized the myth of overpopulation and became the father of the modern population-control movement?.
You?ll also hear from Matthew Connelly of Columbia University (author of Fatal Misconception: The Struggle To Control World Population), who reveals how organizations, institutions, governments and the United Nations manipulated and coerced families, evaded political accountability and deceived the poor ? who were targeted for population control -- violating their human rights in the process.
Demographic Bomb shows what happens when countries comprising 80% of the world?s economy have plummeting numbers of workers, consumers and innovators ? leading to falling consumer spending, and not enough young to support the old.
Former Yale Professor of Economics Jennifer Roback Morse and USC?s Professor of Urban Planning and Demography Dowell Myers join with Harvard PhD Nick Eberstadt, Harvard MBA and author of The Great Depression Ahead Harry Dent, and Nobel Prize winning economist Gary Becker to uncover the roots of the crisis that has shaken the world?s economies. Demographic Winter predicted the financial crash of 2008 to within 12 months. Demographic Bomb reveals how it is just the beginning.
These are just some of the voices you?ll hear in Demographic Bomb ? an essential sequel to Demographic Winter.
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Friday, July 03, 2009
Independence Day 7/4/09
The 4th of July is a time to celebrate the independence from what the colonies saw as the tyranny of the king. As we face increasing tyranny by a central government that seeks to control every aspect of life the 4th should be a time to reflect on what our founding fathers desired from their declaration of independence.
We have become a people that have moved from our founders reliance, dependence, on God to being a people reliant on “Uncle Sam.” When I say founders we must not forget that the true founders of this country arrived on these shores over 150 years before 1776. They came with a puritan view of God that saw His sovereign hand in all that happened including their move to the new land they were in. Their mindset also came with a biblical view of man and his depravity which would lead them to see the need for even godly leaders and government to have controls since man was still man and prone to his own ends instead of God’s.
The following are some sections of the Declaration of Independence with thoughts:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”
Sadly many try to disconnect God from our founding and our nation but any basic understanding of the history of our nation and the writings of its founders will show quite the opposite. In the quote above it is clear that what we are endowed with is not what we desire as life, liberty and happiness but what God decrees as such. Since it is God that gives us these rights it is not the governments place to take them away or create new ones. We are to search out these rights in the word of God and not by our sinful inclinations. The government then is to protect the rights that God has given to His creation and the only way to do this is to have these rights defined by His word and not by mans ever changing view of himself.
“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,..”
Do you see that the place and purpose of government is not to rule but secure those rights that God decrees in His word. Government has no need to create what God has already decreed. This is basically what Paul tells us about government in Romans 13, that the government is to protect us from evildoers that would deprive us from God given rights. It is also clear that the founding fathers placed the government as the servant of the people and not the other way around. The government is to derive its “just powers” by the consent of the people and the nature of those powers are tied back to and define by God. I do not think the intention of he founders was that popular opinion was to drive the government but that the founders wanted the government to realize for what purpose it existed, to care for the rights, biblical rights, of the people and then to act justly.
“ We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States,”
This last section appeals not to man or some legislative body but to the “Supreme Judge of the world.” The founders did not seek approval with regards to their intended separation from England from man but from God. As we look at the present landscape of our country we need to have the focus of the founders in that our intentions are seen as not judged by the vote of men or the inclinations of culture but by the very word of God. Also, prior to the statement above there is a long list of tyrannical activities of the crown that led them to the point of seeking separation from England. This list shows this was not done as a knee jerk reaction but was embarked on only after extended acts of tyranny. While the acts may be different from today tyranny still exists. Government run by man and with man as its judge, instead of God, will only lead to tyranny.
We have come a long way from the God centered view of the leadership in 1776 to the secular humanistic God denying government of today. Sure, many in government claim the mantel of “Christian” but when weighed by scripture they come up severely wanting. We need to seek life, liberty and happiness as defined in scripture and that is a far cry from what is offered up by today’s government. Many want to separate the bible from politics and government but that would be seeking to do other than the founding fathers desired. More importantly it would be a far cry from what God desires.
I would encourage you to read the Declaration of Independence. As you read through it ask yourself if this country was founded on biblical principles. Once you see the centrality of God to the founding of this nation you should see the need to seek out God’s desires for how we are to live so that then we can truly see what God intends for “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” It is a far cry from what is presented to us today by the government and mankind in general. Let us seek to live lives that are in line with God’s word and not simply acceptable to the world around us. Let us be a light in this world.
We have become a people that have moved from our founders reliance, dependence, on God to being a people reliant on “Uncle Sam.” When I say founders we must not forget that the true founders of this country arrived on these shores over 150 years before 1776. They came with a puritan view of God that saw His sovereign hand in all that happened including their move to the new land they were in. Their mindset also came with a biblical view of man and his depravity which would lead them to see the need for even godly leaders and government to have controls since man was still man and prone to his own ends instead of God’s.
The following are some sections of the Declaration of Independence with thoughts:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”
Sadly many try to disconnect God from our founding and our nation but any basic understanding of the history of our nation and the writings of its founders will show quite the opposite. In the quote above it is clear that what we are endowed with is not what we desire as life, liberty and happiness but what God decrees as such. Since it is God that gives us these rights it is not the governments place to take them away or create new ones. We are to search out these rights in the word of God and not by our sinful inclinations. The government then is to protect the rights that God has given to His creation and the only way to do this is to have these rights defined by His word and not by mans ever changing view of himself.
“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,..”
Do you see that the place and purpose of government is not to rule but secure those rights that God decrees in His word. Government has no need to create what God has already decreed. This is basically what Paul tells us about government in Romans 13, that the government is to protect us from evildoers that would deprive us from God given rights. It is also clear that the founding fathers placed the government as the servant of the people and not the other way around. The government is to derive its “just powers” by the consent of the people and the nature of those powers are tied back to and define by God. I do not think the intention of he founders was that popular opinion was to drive the government but that the founders wanted the government to realize for what purpose it existed, to care for the rights, biblical rights, of the people and then to act justly.
“ We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States,”
This last section appeals not to man or some legislative body but to the “Supreme Judge of the world.” The founders did not seek approval with regards to their intended separation from England from man but from God. As we look at the present landscape of our country we need to have the focus of the founders in that our intentions are seen as not judged by the vote of men or the inclinations of culture but by the very word of God. Also, prior to the statement above there is a long list of tyrannical activities of the crown that led them to the point of seeking separation from England. This list shows this was not done as a knee jerk reaction but was embarked on only after extended acts of tyranny. While the acts may be different from today tyranny still exists. Government run by man and with man as its judge, instead of God, will only lead to tyranny.
We have come a long way from the God centered view of the leadership in 1776 to the secular humanistic God denying government of today. Sure, many in government claim the mantel of “Christian” but when weighed by scripture they come up severely wanting. We need to seek life, liberty and happiness as defined in scripture and that is a far cry from what is offered up by today’s government. Many want to separate the bible from politics and government but that would be seeking to do other than the founding fathers desired. More importantly it would be a far cry from what God desires.
I would encourage you to read the Declaration of Independence. As you read through it ask yourself if this country was founded on biblical principles. Once you see the centrality of God to the founding of this nation you should see the need to seek out God’s desires for how we are to live so that then we can truly see what God intends for “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” It is a far cry from what is presented to us today by the government and mankind in general. Let us seek to live lives that are in line with God’s word and not simply acceptable to the world around us. Let us be a light in this world.
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