While on the way into church one Sunday recently, my seven year old said, "Mom, secrets aren't healthy are they?" Apparently my seven year old understands a very vital concept of being a healthy individual: To hide behind an image and to guild yourself in shame and guilt is not only unhealthy, it is also a form of glory stealing.
We are called as Christians (and bear with me audience while I divert into a more theological discussion on Christianity during this post) to bear Christ's image. We are called to give Him glory. I don't think that any Protestant believer would deny that, not even Movement homeschoolers.
Notice though that its not our own image that we are bearing. It is Christ's. Yet too many Christians, and in particular, Movement homeschoolers, project an image that is false. God is the God of truth, and the truth is that of all people we should understand the depravity of our sin and just how much our broken lives need The Truth. We should understand just how screwed up we really are. The only reason we cling to Christ is because of our sin and our need of redemption.
Then why is it that we bear this image that is false? One word: judgement.
When did the church become such an un-safe place to let down your guard and expose the depths of your heart? When did the church become so indoctrinated into the idea that one must look as though they "are bearing fruit" in their life in order for someone to be accepted into the inner circle? Why do we judge those who are honest with where they are in life- that their life, their children, their spouse (if they have one), are not perfect? Why do feel the need to project an image that is not even true to ourselves? Why can't we be honest without the stares of people- "Hey we just woke up and so what if I fed my kids Pop Tarts on the way to church and they have jelly on their faces." Would you think that that parent was disorganized and sloppy and "obviously did not make church a priority"?
What about the church leader whose child has gone down a regrettable path of sin? "Oh, he must not have done his job right as a father." Yes, of course. Because we all know that there are perfect, sinless parents out there.
So let's be honest. Please. Authentic honesty.
I personally do not judge those who are authentic with their faith. "I am struggling with my faith. Is God even real?" I would be an idiot if I didn't admit that I have those same struggles at various times in my life. But what is the church-goer's response? Judgement. "Obviously that poor soul is missing something."
What I am not saying is that you don't try. I am not saying that you don't strive daily to bear The Fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control). But what I am saying is that in trying we FAIL. We can't do it alone and its only the blood of the Lamb that can do it for us. The accurate image is that we are trying, but we can't do it. We are incapable of even being patient during clean-up time in the home, helping our children with their homework, soothing a colicky baby, if it were not for CHRIST and His work in us. We can't do it. We are sinful. And by trying to come off with one another that we can do is stealing glory from The One to whom our allegiance is due.
The problem with Movement homeschoolers is that they are so damn good at projecting this image. They have perfect, polite children who look adults in the eyes and never act weird or out of place. However, those children live in fear that if they don't project this image that homeschooling is God's way of salvation for the heathen world, that they will be faced with severe corporal punishment upon arrival home.
Parents beat their children into submission using "the rod." And it is not done out of love or out of a need to truly train. It is done because the child failed to be an image-bearer for The Movement. They embarrassed and "disrespected" their parents because instead of helping unload boxes at a homeschool conference the young boys were playing hacky-sac in the parking lot. A child contradicted someone. Perhaps they were loud and boisterous acting. And they were taken home and beaten. If they were not physically beaten, they were beaten down emotionally and spiritually as Mom or Dad laid on their shoulders that God would not bless them because they had failed to show honor to them. Personally I lived in fear daily of that very thing, and I also struggle to this day to believe that God won't end my life prematurely because of the "dishonor" that I was told I had not shown to my parents. Movement homeschoolers favorite Bible verses are these:
The last time I was spanked I was twelve. My best friend was spanked when she was fifteen. Another homeschool daughter I know was spanked by her father when she was fourteen.
Yes, Movement homeschoolers still spank their teenage children. And its disgusting.
So the next time you encounter a perfect homeschooling family, please understand one crucial thing: Their children are living in fear and intimidation and it isn't what they claim it to be.
So let's give honor and glory where its due. Its not on your amazing parenting techniques. Its not on homeschooling. Its not that you could afford to put your children into Christian school. Its not that you were so great, that you had the theology, that you had the faith, the good works, the blah, blah, blah.
Its because you recognized your need of Him and that you couldn't do it alone. You couldn't do it without Him or apart from Him. It was because of Him that you could do it at all.
"To Him who has called you by His blood...to HIM be the glory and honor forever and ever. Amen."
