God gives us a choice, so this movement of evangeleicals forcing down Christianity to everyone is pointless.

Seriously, for any God-Fearing Christians, We all know God doesn’t need our help to fight his battles.

It amazes me the minute some “God” sign is taken off some court house, you see the gazillions bunch with the cardboards overreacting.

Or that lady, Phelps who goes at Funeral with her kids with cardboards saying that they deserved to die because America is evil. Something along those lines.

It’s not by Strenght, nor by might but by my spirit says the lord.

We christians should just pray and do our job to preach the goodnews, leave the dirty battle up to God.

As for prayer in school, again, prayer is a free choice.

It’s a conversation with God, we have formalized prayer, when it’s really talking to God, in the shower, doing dishes, in bed ect…

I don’t believe in homseschooling, simply because kids are going to grow up and live in the world that’s full of evilness.

Sheltering kids isn’t the answer. I went to a university that had about 200 students per class, a friend of mine went to a university with 20 students per class.

We argued and a report showed that students who go to larger scale universities are more equipped to face the real world.

As a former PK, I don’t think it’s always good for parents to force their religion to kids. Expecting your 8 year old kid to speak in tongue or read Isiah, this only turns him/her off. He’s not equipped.

I learned the hard way and it’s only now until I developped my own relationship with God around 17 years old that I actually started enjoying it, because I wasn’t going to church because my parents were making me do that.

All christians parents have to do is pray for their kids and just give it up to God.

We tend to take more burdens that we could handle. Let God worry about it.

God knows that as parents we want the best for our kids, so he’ll just work out the scenarios for them.

Sheltering kids, homeschooling or only protecting kids from unbelievers isn’t the answer.

Because the world is full of unbeliever. So, the child grows up in an area only full of christians. What happens when he steps out in the real world.

I’m not saying not to teach your kids about God. But do it in a fun way in a language kids understand, there’s a difference between sharing and forcing.

No wonder why so many christian kids rebel. As a parent, I wouldn’t want my kids to do something out of brainwashing but out of love.

That woman (shirley phelps I think), i’m sorry but when I see her 8 something year old kids iwth signs “God hate fags, kill fags” ect… I really think it’s brainwashing. I’m really sure if I asked them to explain why God doesn’t approve of homosexuality, they woulnd’t.

The minute someone can’t give you a reasoning or explanation as to what they believe, that’s brainwashing.

As a parent, I sure would hate my kids to believe in something for the sake of believing.

They get to miss the real fun and purpose of being a christian.

If the feds and the teacher’s unions were out of the mix, communities, churches and private enterprise could compete on a local basis.

Competition would produce the best and most affordable schools, which is precisely the reason “Big Education” cannot allow vouchers and freedom of choice. They would be out of business faster than you can say “indoctrination.”

We opted to homeschool and both of our kids matriculated with honors at prestigious universities here in the Dallas area. Homeschool was a tremendous opportunity for them as well as for the primary instructor, my wife. She cherishes those school days and our kids received a vastly superior education than we could have ever expected from the government schools.

2) Christian parents should definitely get involved at least as far as the PTA level and attend any parent/staff meetings. Certainly no reason why they shouldn’t even run for the school boards. At least that gives them the wherewithal to temper and even counter the excesses of liberals.

3)On one hand, we ARE the authorities, as opposed to Caesar. However, if we have to take a stand against a governmental position, by all means do so and be ready to bear the consequences. In any case, disagreeing or speaking out against this government while our right to do so, it has nothing to do with paying taxes.

I might see something where, the govt says they will exact a particular tax and use it to fund something immoral. In that situation, I can see Christians revolting, ie an abortion clinic tax. However, because our government tends to hide the odious stuff in a general tax, to refuse to pay a tax puts the Christian on thin ice.

Anything we would face here in the US is going to be small potatoes compared to life-threatening stnads that Christians have to make in standing against the Chinese, N Koreans and other anti-Christ governments.

If prayer and Christian groups can be banned, why not ban gay/lesbian clubs as well? This is the real danger of having government in the education business – those in power too often play favorites, no matter how clever their rhetoric. Ban everything or ban nothing.

2. How should Christian parents react if they’re offended by certain curricula or policies in government schools?

Depends upon the circumstances. But Christian parents must be prepared to withdraw their children from public schools if the situation calls for it.

3. How relevant are the biblical concepts “render unto Caesar” and “submitting to the authorities” when it comes to Christian parents and children and government schools?

This is a tough one for Christians. Render unto Caesar that which belongs to Caesar – and nothing else. Your child does not belong to Caesar, no matter what the educrats may say.

And in a democracy, at least, “submitting to authorities” does not mean Christians head for the back of the bus. Though this may come as a shock to “separation of church and state” cultists, Christians have political rights, too. And as long as government schools exist using taxpayer dollars coming from Christians as well as non-Christians, Christians have both the duty as well as the right to participate.

In any event, home-grown theocracy is not exactly a looming threat in America. If anything, the reverse is true – people of faith are seeing their rights being threatened by a fascistic irreligious minority in the name of “tolerance” and “diversity”.

I grow up in that type of environment. Yes, I did not have the trendy wear (pick on him), my parents did not make a lot of money (pick on him), I wasn’t as athletic as the best player (pick on him). All of these things still happen to students everyday.

Also, be mindful that the same people that you disapprove of (Gays) are the same people that are still paying tax dollars to educate your children. Yes, let’s make sure they are without the civil liberties that are granted to Christian Heterosexuals. More and more this thinking is about trying to force other to conform to ways that we feel are unnatural.

We want to live in peace and not fear. We want to be held accountable to God only. We have God in our life as well as the next Christian.
Ask yourself if you are acting God like? Are you acting like the people that nailed Jesus to the cross? Is this a fight about your believes and fears or are you acting in a way that God would be proud of you? Think about that and pray before you respond with more hateful or fearful responses.

We have spoken before about the positives in the public school. As you may remember, I teach at the local public high school. I respect you and your work greatly, and I understand and respect your view.

American public schools represent one the busiest intersections of our worldly culture and the message of the gospel. While Christian parents have the right to enroll their children in often inferior private schools, competent and highly challenging intellectual Christian educators are found in every public school. We love the children, enjoy the challenge, behave as professionals, and take our spiritual values with us into our classrooms each day.

When asked to speak about our noble profession, I have always presented my honest philosophy which is that my teaching is a ministry program and missionary work. Certainly, the great commission:”Go Ye Into All the World and Preach my Gospel to every Creature” can be fulfilled in our great American public institutions.

As a Christian Educator, I am “in the world, but no of the world.” I aspire to influence lives and show the world a face of Christian compassion.

Regardless of the choice made by parents, Christian Educators are needed in today’s public schools. There are many children and families to reach with our message of love and joy.

In a free society, if we allow Christians to have special clubs, then we must allow the homosexuals. This is our mission field!

2. Christian parents should react the same way any other parent would. Speak to the principal and other school administrators, and see if there are other parents who feel the same way. But do it in such a way that you don’t make a fool of yourself and your kid, and don’t infringe on everyone else’s rights — they pay taxes, too. (I’m going on the premise that we’re talking about public school, as in the article.)

3. I don’t really consider this one relevant. If you’re that concerned, maybe public school isn’t for you and/or your child.

1. As far as homosexual clubs go, I agree with your position that they should be allowed – if the school district is also allowing faith based groups.

2. Christian parents should stand up if they are offended by certain curricula and policies in the public schools, but this doesn’t mean that they also have to submit their children to these things. As a parent who has recently made a decision to homeschool a child who is not yet of school age, it came down to this…I can go and fight the system until I’m blue in the face – but that doesn’t change the fact that my child will be taught values and principles that my husband and I do not agree with and do not teach in the home. How can I expect my child to understand when mommy is refuting ideas that are taught by the teacher? One could argue that children need to learn to think for themselves, which they do… once they reach a certain age. In the primary years, they need to learn how to think – not what to think. I do voice my opinion in school matters and educate my friends about these issues when they come up. I will continue to do so once we are actively homeschooling.

3. As far as “render unto Caesar” and “submitting to authorities”…it is legal to homeschool and/or send a child to private school in this country, so I don’t think by doing so one is being subversive or not submitting to authority.

As far as Stephen L. Carter’s position goes, forgive me if I don’t want to risk the precious few years that I have to lay a Christian foundation in my child’s mind and heart duking it out with the local school board over the numerous issues and problems that I have with the government school system.

My only comment was that simply being attracted to a member of the same sex (just like being attracted to a woman who is not your wife) does not automatically mean that you can’t be a devoted Christian. We all have certain vices, and becoming a Christian doesn’t make them go away. It does take away their penalty, though. Amen?

The truth is not in some evolved piece of literature written by humans. The truth is within each of our souls, and that truth is that God is the Highest Form of Love and Light and it is our journey here on earth and elsewhere to rediscover and return to our Oneness with God.

For the most part, the public school situation has gotten so bad because Christian parents LET it get so bad, or refused to stand up for the right thing in the past.

I link todays school problems with the hypocrisy of the past. Imagine if more Christian White parents back in 40’s and 50’s demanded that all
kids of all colors have the same facilities and not be separated due to race ALONG with prayer in school, strict discipline and etc. We would not have much of the problems of today.

With the introduction of forced integration came other liberal attitudes of homosexual acceptance, poor behavior, acceptance of alternative lifestyles and the removal of anything with God in it. With these changes came the retreat of Christian influence.

Still, I’m for public school. My kids will go to public school.

More power to those who want to homeschool.

And even if you did fantasize about this woman, most people would not consider that nearly as bad as if you actually had cheated on her. Even those homosexuals who are living celibately slip into lust every now and then. As humans, it’s part of our sinful nature. And aren’t we lucky that there’s One out there who’s looked past that sinful nature and saved us anyway?