As I have witnessed the evolution of homeschooling over the last 20 years in the Christian community, one thing that has remained constant is that, for most Christian families, their faith is the primary reason for homeschooling. They witness the decline of the public school system and attempt to shield their child from the consequences of a system that has fallen into disrepair. At the same time, as I watch the students who are raised in these families go through their homeschooling years, they do not look any different than those who come out of the public school system. I have had several families whose children became a part of the LGBT and Trans communities, some who have nothing to do with Christianity, and some who have become outright atheists. Similarly, our daughter, who had never stepped into a public school setting, would not set foot inside a church service.

So where did we all go wrong? Did we not read the Bible to them enough? Did they not spend enough time in youth ministry? Should we have attended church twice a week instead of just on Sundays? I have heard the heartbreaking stories of parents who homeschooled their children with all the best intentions and with all the best Christian-based curriculum on the market, and they still can not understand what went wrong. However, some homeschooled their children their whole lives, and their children did not miss a step in their faith, entering their adult lives on fire for the Lord and their faith. The difference I found in the families whose children went astray and those who stayed the course is that their faith was the centerpiece of their family. It was the heart of the parents’ lives, and they lived it both within and outside the faith community.

Another difference between the families is that they were not interested in socializing their children; they were interested in raising their children in the training and admonition of the Lord. Their parents were seasoned Christians who displayed the gospel message in their own personal lives. The fathers in these families lead in their role of being responsible for guiding their wives and children in the faith. They made their faith a family affair. One of the things that a child must see is authenticity. That does not mean they must view their parents as perfect, but they view their parents as transparent in their weaknesses and consistent in living out what they believe about the Bible. The parents were committed to investing in their child’s spiritual development. They created a connection with their children built on love, trust, and fairness. The marriage was based on faith in Christ and the Biblical definition of the roles of the husband and wife within the family unit. They did not pass this responsibility off to the church or church program. Their homes were faith-filled institutions.

These families engaged in regular times of devotion and integrated Biblical concepts into their homeschool curriculum. The godly love they shared within their marriage was the key building block to creating an experience where faith flourishes. The most important part of building a strong foundation of faith is allowing the child to see what the gospel of Christ looks like in real life through their parent’s marriage. A marriage that is built upon godly principles will reflect the character of Christ in how both the husband and wife treat each other, their children, and those around them. Their children see their faith displayed in everything they do, and that provides the essential truths that a child needs to stay the course of faith. Faith is a family affair, and it requires a personal reflection of Christ. I can definitely attest that our homeschooling experience was built upon the strongest desire to teach our daughter to love and serve God. But our marriage did not reflect Christ or the message of the gospel.

The husband must be the head of the family and must be just as involved in the homeschooling experience. He must lead the family in spiritual discipleship and godly character and leadership. The wife must reflect on how the church responds to Christ. Together, they teach their children the real message of faith. The homeschool experience is more about faith and not subjects, socializing, and grades. When we allow worldly influences to infiltrate our homeschooling experience, they will lead our children astray. 1 Corinthians 15:32-33 says, ” If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” Proverbs 1:10-16 also warns youth of what happens when they are not careful about who they choose to associate with.

When faith is a family affair, a parent desires to protect their children from influences that may lead them astray. In today’s culture, parents must navigate social media monitoring. This was the instrument that led our daughter into darkness. The most important gift God has given us is our children, and we do not apologize to anyone for protecting them from harm in any form it presents itself. That is what I saw in the families whose children stayed the course of faith. They were not apologetic about the guard they placed on who their child socialized with. Homeschooling is a great option for families of faith, but faith must be the foundation, not schooling. Be blessed!