AS
שמע SHEMA
IS CHRISTIAN EDUCATION A CHOICE ?
By Ron Gordon
What the Hebrew word shema can teach us about responding to the increasing demand for Christian education
the political season escalates throughout 2024 , the ideologies around education will once again take center stage . Most of the debate will focus on support for or against educational choice and how federal and state funding for education should be managed . Most conservative voters will land on the side of strong support for educational choice and moving funding back into the hands of American families to best equip them with the finances to make their own decisions on their child ’ s education . However , should Christian education really be a choice for the Christ follower ?
When asked what commandment was the greatest , Jesus pointed back to Deuteronomy 6:5 , referred to as the Hebrew word shema . The Shema is the prayer spoken twice each day in the Jewish culture , morning and evening , as a testament and reminder that we are to love God and our neighbors as ourselves . The name shema gets its meaning from the first words of the prayer , translated as “ hear ” or “ listen .” It ’ s interesting that this passage from Deuteronomy , the Greatest Commandment according to our Lord and Savior , is wrapped around language Moses shares that is for “ you , your son , and your son ’ s son ” ( 6:2 ) and that “ you shall teach them diligently to your children , and shall talk of them when you sit in your house , and when you walk by the way , and when you lie down , and when you rise ” ( 6:7 ).
Throughout this passage , the words used include command , rule , and statute , a far cry from how we view education today as an option , alternative , or choice . Our only option as Christ ’ s followers is to train and educate our children with the Greatest Commandment so that they ’ ll one day be equipped to also follow the Great Commission in making other disciples of Jesus Christ . The Greatest Commandment is the predecessor of the Great Commission . Our children must first be prepared for battle before sending them out to be “ salt and light ” in this world .
SURGE IN DEMAND
Over the past few years , with rising concerns across various issues , including biological boys being allowed to use girls ’ bathrooms in some public school systems , many Christian parents are finally taking action . According to the National Home Education Research Institute ( NHERI ), homeschooled children have increased over the past two years by more than 60 percent , from 2.65 million ( 2020 ) to 4.3 million ( 2022 ). Additionally , a 2022 survey of Christian schools by Dickerson , Bakker , and Associates reported nearly 80 percent of these schools were experiencing increased enrollment , with over half of those respondents characterizing the growth as “ substantial .” At RenewaNation , we ’ ve also felt this surge , with inquiries about launching new Christian schools at an all-time high .
Christian homeschooling is a powerful educational option and should certainly be a strong consideration for Christian families seeking to train their children in biblical principles . However , the percentage of married couples in the United States that rely on dual incomes has more than doubled from 1960 to 2000 , increasing from 25 percent to 60 percent ( Pew Research Center , 2015 ). With this reality , Christian schools become a critical need for families seeking to train their children according to the Deuteronomy 6 mandate aligned with the values and beliefs they are working to instill in their children .
ANSWERING THE CALL
An urgent need exists to establish more thriving Christian schools to meet this growing demand for education taught around the Judeo-Christian belief system . Pastors , parents , grandparents , and teachers must answer the call .
Pastors who once feared financial stress and membership disunity from launching a Christian school at their churches realize their congregations ’ future depends on cultivating families and children who develop a lasting relationship with their Savior , Jesus Christ . More and more pastors are understanding there will be no church in the next generation if we don ’ t grow disciples in this one .
44 THE RENEWANATION REVIEW