Are we teaching algebra or faith?

Are we educating or disciple-ing our children?

Are we stuffing facts into brains of children, or are we training the whole person of our child — emotions, mind, body, and soul, at the same time?

These are the essential questions that every parent in the world must answer before making decisions regarding their children’s educational program. Haphazard handling of our children’s education, or turning our children over to “experts” without first answering these question will be disastrous.

That’s why Generations and CHEC encourage a full-orbed discipleship of the whole child, when it comes to the education of children. Above all, the focal point for every parent, the highest concern remains the character and faith of the child. This drives everything in the life of the child. What could be more important to the character of the child than to increasingly realize the awesomeness of God and the trustworthiness of God, and then to trust God? The believer lives by faith. She does algebra by faith. He grows in all areas of character by faith. Boiling all matters of character down to this, the child becomes more diligent, more honorable, more honest, and more conscientious by faith.

When training the whole child, are we intending to teach algebra or faith?  When “enforcing” the study of math in home or school, are we stuffing facts into brains of children, or are we still training emotions, mind, body, and soul, at the same time? 

Above all, the focal point for every parent, the highest concern remains the character and faith of the child — but first faith. The believer lives by faith. She does algebra by faith. We look for growth in son and daughter in all areas of character, but this must come by faith. Boiling all matters of character down to this, the child becomes more diligent, more honorable, more honest, and more conscientious by faith.

But, here’s the tough thing about this faith and character business.  As mentors and teachers, we (the parents) will need to exemplify what we are attempting to teach. How easy is it to give way ourselves to fear, to anxiety, faithlessness, or hopelessness?

Drawing from the story in the Gospels, we find Jesus praying in the mountains while his disciples were rowing and rowing against winds and waves on the Sea of Galilee. Around 3:00 in the morning, He takes a saunter across the lake, sits down in the boat with the men and, we read, “immediately” they were on the other side. Such is the life of faith.

Now, what may be said about the “tiger mom” who is insisting upon excellence, but resorts to nervous admonitions? Any of us can slip into this at some point. She calls out to her child, “Why aren’t you getting this math? You’re going to be a failure in life!  You’ll never get into a good college! And I will fail! We will all turn out to be one big failure!”

At the moment of failure and frustration, we still need to be asking the question, “What are we teaching our children?  Are we teaching Algebra 101 or Anxiety 101?  Or, shall we teach Faith 101 and Prayer 101?” Jesus wasn’t teach Rowing 101, as much as He was teaching Prayer 101 and Faith 101 on the Sea of Galilee. This is the focus of the godly homeschool.

Confidence is essential in the math class, and everywhere else in life. But, where is that confidence placed? At any point of personal struggle, two words are most valuable for every one of us: “LOOK UP!” Don’t look down, Don’t look sideways to the winds and waves. Don’t look at anybody else. Don’t look inwards to oneself. Look to God.  “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” We pray by faith. We move by faith. We live by faith. We teach by faith. We learn by faith. Faith is everyday.

This means that every teacher or exemplar will pay attention to their words in daily conversation and instruction. What characterizes our language day to day in home and school? Faith or fear? Hope or despair? Using the words “I can’t,” as the go-to standard is a problem. Actually, there are two problems with “I can’t.”  “I” and “can’t.” Scripture introduces a different language: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). Let us be overwhelmed not as much by the problems, but by the absolute capability of God to handle the problems we face.

The tendency for all of us is to look for the sure deal, the easy solution, and the professional help for whatever our children need. We tend to want to walk by sight. But, Jesus tells us, “It’s time to get out of the boat.” Walking on water is tough. You’re going to need to peel your fingers off the sides of the boat, look to Jesus, and start walking!

So the important question is this: Are we teaching our children faith?  Or are we teaching them anxiety, and self-reliance, and pride, and fear of failure? While much of secular education today emphasizes the pride of man, self-sufficiency, and self-confidence, of course none of this is enough for walking on water and facing the greatest challenges of life and death, (let alone algebra)! We must teach our children steadfast faith in God, the awesomeness of God, the trustworthiness of God, and prayer. Tell them stories of faith —  Moses at the Red Sea, facing the most impossible situation in the world, lifting the rod, and calling out, “Watch this!”

Today, let us walk out the thrilling, daring, wonderfully exhilarating, tremendously rewarding, life of faith. God loves faith!  He’s looking for faith in us, and our children.  There’s nothing like stepping out in faith, walking, and waiting, and watching God work! Hey, my friends. . . Look up. Pray big. Pray in faith. Walk on water, by faith.

Kevin Swanson is Director of Generations, a subsidiary of Christian Home Educators of Colorado. A homeschool dad, pastor, and host of the Generations radio program, Kevin is the author of Upgrade, the Ten Secrets to the Best Education for Your Child, Taking the World for Jesus, The Proverbs Bible Study Guides, The Story of Freedom, Epoch - the Rise and Fall of the West, and Worldview — What We Believe, What They Believe, and Why They are Wrong.