Tim Sweetman is an 18-year-old journalist, blogger, and student who lives near our nation's capital,
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The following two resolutions are, in my opinion, absolutely wonderful. Your thoughts?
RESOLUTION ON DEVELOPING AN EXIT STRATEGY FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT WOULD GIVE PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS OF ORPHANS, SINGLE PARENTS, AND THE DISADVANTAGED
April 24, 2006
Submitted by
Roger Moran,
and
Dr. Bruce N. Shortt
Whereas, in June 2005 Dr. Albert Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, called for responsible Southern Baptists to develop an exit strategy from the government schools, stating further that there is no reason to believe that each year will not bring even more urgent concerns related to public education1; andWhereas, federal circuit court judges held in November 2005 in Fields v. Palmdale that “parents have no constitutional right … to prevent a public school from providing its students with whatever information it wishes to provide, sexual, or otherwise, when and as the school determines that it is appropriate to do so”; and
Whereas, in December 2005 a federal judge ruled in favor of government schools indoctrinating children with dogmatic Darwinism; and
Whereas, government schools continue to adopt and implement curricula and policies teaching that the homosexual lifestyle is acceptable; and
Whereas, Christian educational alternatives to government schools are desperately needed immediately by orphans, children of single parents, and the disadvantaged2 and can be an effective means for evangelistic outreach; and
Whereas, the Gospel of Luke instructs us that a student is not above his teacher and, when he is fully trained, will be like his teacher; andWhereas, the government schools are required by law to be humanistic and secular in their instruction; and
Whereas, children are our most important mission field, and the overwhelming majority of Christians have made the government school system their children’s teacher; and
Whereas, studies by Barna Research, Dr. Christian Smith, and The Nehemiah Institute have found that a large majority of children from Christian families do not have a Christian worldview3; and
Whereas, an article by Dr. Thom Ranier published in the spring 2005 issue of the Southern Baptist Journal of Theology reported, “nearly one half of all [Southern Baptist] church members may not be Christiansâ€4; and
Whereas, the Southern Baptist Council on Family Life reported to the 2002 Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention that 88 percent of the children
raised in evangelical homes leave church at the age of 18, never to return; and
Whereas, the Messengers of the Southern Baptist Convention’s 2005 Annual Meeting urged parents in Resolution No. 1, On Educating Children, to embrace their responsibility to educate their children by choosing a means of education that would “…ensure their physical, moral, emotional, and spiritual well-being, with a goal of raising godly men and women who are thoroughly equipped to live as fully devoted followers of Christâ€; andWhereas, in light of government school curricula, court rulings, and the influence of the NEA, parents cannot satisfy the criteria for the education of Christian children set forth in Resolution 1 by educating Christian children in today’s government schools; and
Whereas, article XII of the Baptist Faith and Message states, “the cause of education in the Kingdom of Christ is co-ordinate with the causes of missions and general benevolence, and should receive along with these the liberal support of the churches. An adequate system of Christian education is necessary to a complete spiritual program for Christ’s peopleâ€; andWhereas, the next clause in article XII makes it clear that this education is to be provided through ‘Christian schools, colleges and seminaries’; and
Whereas, Southern Baptist congregations can draw upon many existing buildings and other resources to provide an alternative to educating children in government schools; andWhereas, Southern Baptist congregations have many adults, including pastors, who can assist in the education of children as a ministry; and
Whereas, satellite, DVD, internet-enabled multi-media computer technology, and other more traditional forms of self-paced learning are effective ways of providing Christian education and are now very affordable; andWhereas, churches can collaborate in providing alternatives to the government school system:
BE IT NOW RESOLVED that the 2006 Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention encourages each church associated with the Southern Baptist Convention to heed Dr. Mohler’s call to develop an exit strategy from the government’s schools; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the 2006 Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention urges that particular attention be given in the development of such exit strategies to the needs of orphans, single parents, and the disadvantaged; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the 2006 Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention urges that the agencies of the Southern Baptist Convention assist churches in the development of exit strategies from the government schools and help coordinate efforts, including partnerships with churches in low income areas, to provide a Christian educational alternative to orphans, single parents, and the disadvantaged; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the 2006 Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention applauds the many adult members of our congregations who teach in government schools, and this resolution should be construed to encourage adult believers who are truly called to labor as missionaries to unbelieving colleagues and students to continue their missionary work in the government school system.
The other resolution can be found here.
I understand many of you are not Southern Baptist, but what do you think of a group of believers passing a resolution such as this?
Tags: SBC resolution, Southern Baptists, Homeschool, Southern Baptist Convention
May 5th, 2006 at 1:43 pm
I was watching for this. I was hoping with all my heart that it would happen. Now what can I say but AMEN! For the Southern Baptist convention to do this means a lot.
Not necessarily that everybody will do it, but it means that there are really some serious efforts, and realizations on the part of the leadership — something I am afraid is lacking in many churches.
And just think Tim, you’re in the spearhead!
May 5th, 2006 at 1:49 pm
Oh my, speak before you think and you get comments like this. You can tell I’m a: Canadian, b: not aware of dates and times and Southern Baptist Conventions…
Oh well, I’m still hoping that it will happen, just realized that it hadn’t yet. That is now, if I’m assuming that the dates on that other resolution were correct.
Man, it’s a good thing I caught this before posting on my blog.
Ah, forgive the foreigner.
May 5th, 2006 at 2:51 pm
No problem David. Go ahead and post it as a prayer request. Pray for two things:
1) The resolution commitee will have wisdom about this resolution.
2) I will be able to be a great representative of homeschoolers.
May 5th, 2006 at 8:50 pm
Tim,
I’m not sure about the politics and structure of how resolutions are put forth but here are my thoughts.
Why is there no scriptural justification for pulling children out of the schools. While I think all of the resolves are valid and true, it is scripture that is what we must use as believers. This is all convincing but not necessarily convicting.
Without the use of scripture we are reduced to opinions that can be refuted. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for rebuke and teaching in righteousness. It would seem to me that the scriptural justifications should be included in this resolution.
May 5th, 2006 at 10:54 pm
Spunky,
They didn’t include scripture, but there is plenty of it that maybe they just assume all good Baptists know:
Deut 6:6-9 - And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
Psalm 111:10 - The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do [his commandments]: his praise endureth for ever.
Psalm 119:160 - Thy word [is] true [from] the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments [endureth] for ever.
Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge: [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 2:6 - For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth [cometh] knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 9:10 - The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy [is] understanding.
Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Malachi 2:14-15 - Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet [is] she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. 15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
Malachi 4:6 - And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
May 6th, 2006 at 6:01 pm
Tim,
If all good Baptists knew these scriptures there would be no need for a resolution. That is the crux of the problem. It is as we grapple with the scripture that lives and behavior is changed. A resolution like this changes behavior but not lives. Why not add in the scripture and make it that much more powerful?
May 6th, 2006 at 6:09 pm
I heartily agree Spunky. I’m going to attempt to speak with Dr. Bruce Shortt about it this week.
Not sure about this, but does the book “The Harsh Truth About Public Schools” not use scripture to make its point (along with stats)?
May 7th, 2006 at 7:09 pm
Awesome! I love it. Remind me to post a link to it on my site….
May 10th, 2006 at 9:59 pm
Tim - It seems to me that if public schools didn’t exist, we would wish that they did.
What is the plan for families that don’t have the financial or support resources that your family is lucky to have?
May 11th, 2006 at 1:48 pm
That is a rhetorical arguement, and adds nothing to this debate. Why even bring it up?
Let’s put aside that aspect of this debate and look at the legal side. The Consitution does not provide any fundamental right to education, such a “right” is a myth perputated by those with an “entitlement state” mentality. These are the same people that are against our Christian morals and ethics. Proverbs 22:6 says to “Train up a child in the way he should go”. How exactly is the government supposed to do what God says parents should do?
You can homeschool for very little money if you try. The local public library and interlibrary loans are excellent resources. An internet search will find several low-budget homeschooling resources.
May 13th, 2006 at 7:43 pm
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May 26th, 2006 at 11:00 am
Tim, first as a Christian homeschooling father and secondly as a public school principal I cannot tell you how excited I am that this resolution is coming before the conventioners again. I was dissappointed it did not pass the last time, however I believe the steam behind it continues to build. The mere fact that it is this well known at this point should have Christians thinking. God remains sovereign of course whether or not it passes. Our family continues to pray for this issue.
The resolution itself, though devoid of scripture, is scripturally concieved as you point out. I suspect that many may feel that the warnings mentioned are “in other schools in other places, not in there hometown”. I hear this all the time. Let me assure you, the godless cultural influences are not only subtle, but glaringly overt, and daily reinforced 6-8 hours a day, 180 days a year, for 13 years.
Is any Christian College up to the task of re-educating these young people “sent to public schools to be salt and light”? Doubtful. Consider the training of Timothy, mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:14-15. We should be raising Timothy’s in our homes.
June 5th, 2006 at 12:19 pm
[...] We Hereby Resolve [...]