You want scriptural backup...

Hi Mark-

The Lord called me into home schooling back in 1985 and I have never looked back. January marks the 21st anniversary of that time. I'd be happy to share my testimony about that, but what you asked for is scripture.

Deuteronomy 6 is a good start. 1)Now these are the commandments... which the Lord your God commanded to teach YOU, that YE might do them.... 2)That THOU mightest fear the Lord thy God, to KEEP all his statutes..., which I COMMAND THEE, THOU, and THY SON, and THY SON'S SON, [it's a command, not an option] all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged [see, there's a promise attached to this command]. 3) Hear, O Israel, and observe to DO IT; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily [promise is restated and another one added]... 4)Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord [we will worship only one God, and not all the bazillion false gods out there]: 5)And thou shalt LOVE the LORD THY GOD with all thine HEART, and with all thy SOUL, and with all thy MIGHT [everything we've got].6) And these words [the commandments and statutes from the Lord]... shall be in thine heart 7)And THOU SHALT TEACH THEM DILIGENTLY UPON THY CHILDREN, and shalt TALK OF THEM when thou SITTEST IN THINE HOUSE, and when thou WALKEST BY THE WAY [we sometimes say "driveth in your car"], and when thou LIEST DOWN [bedtime] and when thou RISETH UP [in the morning].

The scripture goes on to say that you should write the scriptures down and post them around the house and at the door and even wear them as a bracelet or as a headpiece. The idea was to keep them constantly before you and to teach them constantly to your children.

The question to answer with this passage is, how can you teach the scriptures to your children if nobody's home? Also notice, that God commanded the Hebrew parents to teach their own children.

There is an argument that Hebrew parents did send their boys off to Hebrew school at the synagogue for a few hours a day to be taught by the rabbis if they were wealthy enough. But the spiritual instruction came from the home on a daily and constant basis.

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth [don't stop talking about it or memorizing it]; but thou shalt meditate [think about them and mull them over] therein day and night [constantly], that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous [another promise], and then thou shalt have good success [want success? There you go.]

Psalm 1
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly[why would you subject your children to the counsel of the ungodly?], nor standeth in the way of sinners [what kind of children are in public schools? Do you want your children to be around these sinners for 7-8 hours a day, 5 days a week?], nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful [some teachers and curricula are so anti-Christian as to scorn the religion. Do you want to subject your children to that?]

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season [your children will bring forth fruit in time, and you get to see what it was you've been sowing all this time]; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper [there's that promise again].

The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away [so why would you send your children to their schools?].

Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgement [on the Day of Judgement], nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous [Christ's righteousness, not our works].

For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous [thank you, Lord]: but the way of the ungodly shall perish [do you want your children to perish?]

Psalm 127
Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so he gives his beloved sleep.

Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man [warrior]; so are children of the youth.

Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

And there are a ton of Proverbs.

Need New Testament scriptures? Read Timothy for starters.
1Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

11Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

11Timothy 3:15 And that froma child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

This ought to get you started.

His,
-Donna