Mimi Rothschild - Home School Support & Home Education News

By Mimi Rothschild

The Highland’s Study Center’s Every Thought Captive is a wonderfully insightful publication. Consider a recent entry regarding the idolatry of the family.

When we get ourselves backwards and pursue as our primary goal the family-integrated thing, the homeschooling thing, the patriarchy thing, the breeding thing, the modesty/home-baked bread thing, or the “making sure our boys are tough warriors and not wimpy” thing, instead of God’s glory, idolatry is just around the corner. Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with any of these things I have just mentioned. But they are means, not ends.

Yikes. I think that some Christian homeschooling families tend to err on this side of the continuum. Some of us are so pro-family that we forget what a strong family is for in the first place. Every institution or lifestyle decision should be made to give glory to God and spread his love and truth. While a strong, God-fearing family is a great way to bring about these actions, it is not the only way, nor should it be considered the ultimate goal in life.

Many homeschool moms like myself take great pride in having kids that can recite Bible verses, the Preamble to the Constitution, and times tables galore. We are proud of our womanly daughters and our manly sons. We get a kick out of our large gardens and self-sufficiency.

Finding satisfaction in these qualities is fine, but when we miss the mark of what we should achieve through such characteristics…that’s when problems arise. These feelings often are coupled with judgment towards those who have not achieved the type of family life that you may have. I have seen homeschool families with fewer children looked down on by families with many. I have seen mother hens condescend younger mothers who have reluctantly entered the workforce to make ends meet. Even the children can become victims of this pride, when one family’s bedtime philosophy doesn’t match well with a strict, “rank and file”-style family.

By holding on to pride, we are taking what God meant for good and allowing Satan to turn it into something evil and destructive. Many of the things that homeschooling families hold dear are really just matters of preference and not God’s will. Do you really think God cares if our homeschoolers get up at the crack of dawn or sleep in until 10:00 to start their school work? Let’s not get so caught up in being different from the world and focus on being more like Christ. The rest is just legalism.
A strong family is a good thing. Let’s not forget what they are for.