extinguish the flame entirely. It’s like placing a lone candle
in a sealed jar—in the middle of a hurricane! If it survives
at all, the candle will likely burn out quickly. At best, it will
burn weakly, a shadow of the flame it could have been. Why
hope they survive when they can thrive in an oxygen-rich
environment?
MYTH 3: We can’t afford to pay for a biblical educa-
tion for our child.
“I am afraid that the schools will prove the
very gates of hell, unless they diligently
labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures and
engraving them in the heart of youth.”
Martin Luther
MYTH 2: My child will be a missionary in the public
school system.
If the light of a candle represents your student’s faith, consid-
er this simple truth: every light needs oxygen to thrive—or
even to survive. The public school system currently prohib-
its the oxygen of God’s truth. “Faith comes by hearing and
hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17).
On top of the oxygen-deprived environment, the state-
mandated curriculum and procedures actively attack your
student’s faith, creating a violent storm that threatens to
Unfortunately, our current school-funding system does
require that property taxes support the public schools
whether you actually send your students to those schools
or not. Thus, many parents who choose Christian education
must pay twice.
The reality, however, is that it’s not a question of if you
will pay for your child’s education, but when you will pay
for it. A parent who invests time, energy, and resources in
a biblical foundation will reap the promises of God as the
child continues as an adult in “the way they should go.” On
the other hand, a parent who does not invest in a biblical
foundation will often pay in life consequences, heartache,
and trials as their child nears adulthood—and beyond.
Lest we forget these Scriptures:
• “My God shall supply all your needs according to the
riches in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).
• “He who loves his child is diligent to discipline him”
(Prov. 13:24).
• “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever
one sows, that will he also reap” (Gal. 6:7).
• “Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it” (Ps. 81:10).
MYTH 4: We can counteract the non-Christian influ-
ences in a public school.
Most of what our kids learn is caught, not taught. Your child
will absorb more from the people around them than from
the actual textbooks and curriculum—for 7-8 hours every
day. They will absorb it both from teachers—whom you tell
them to listen to—and peers. “Bad company corrupts good
morals” (1 Cor. 15:33). Every time.
In a Christian education setting, your student will be
surrounded by teachers, students, and other families who,
while not perfect, share your faith in Christ. More than ever,
we need to build authentic faith communities. In the public
system, your student will be daily influenced by people who
either do not want or are not permitted to live as if God were
even relevant at all.
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