The church led by Arizona Pastor David Reece also requires members to provide Christian education “and would discipline anyone who sent a kid who is not already mature in faith to [a public school] full time,” he wrote. If parents need help funding a Christian education, he added, “That is the job of the extended family, friends, and diaconate.”
Reece said, “The Bible makes clear the requirement to provide a Christian education and to not make children the pupil or companion of fools.”
Podcaster Joshua Haymes agreed, writing that public schools are “GOVERNMENT. INDOCTRINATION. CAMPS” and that sending children to them is sinful. “We don’t have ‘gospel freedom’ to neglect one of our most important duties as the primary disciplers of our children,” he stated. “There is a reason American teenagers have been apostatized in droves for generations now.”
Regarding the expense of private schools, Haymes said “the church should fill the gap.” He added, “Unfortunately, many Christians simply don’t want to make the life adjustments necessary to give their children a Christ centered education.”
Debate About Making Wise Educational Choices
Other people criticized Pastor Douglas Wilson’s view on public schools. Missionary David Drake wrote, “I went to public school, one of very few in my large [youth group] who did…also one of few who still follows Jesus.”
“My kids went to public school…they are all young adults who actively follow Jesus,” said Drake. “Doug’s theology is heretical, why would he be right about this?”
RELATED: Jen Wilkin Responds to Criticism of Her Views on Sending Children to Public Schools
Author Marissa Franks Burt called it “lazy thinking” to assume that “all public schools are [bad] & all Christian schools or homeschools are good.” She wrote, “Some parents are uniquely ill equipped to homeschool. Is educational neglect a sin issue? These important conversations & decisions become caricatures when ‘sin’ gets unilaterally applied.”
Samuel Sey, who teaches at a “classical Christian school,” wrote, “I think Christian schools and homeschooling are the best options for parents. But it is not a sin to send your children to public school. It’s often unwise, but it’s not a sin. Be wise and do what is best for your children.”
In response, Idaho Pastor Ben Zornes referenced James 4:17, saying, “The good you know you ought to do and don’t do is sin.” He continued, “To knowingly send your child to Government schools is incredibly unwise. Thus, to knowingly act unwise is to sin by the omission of doing good.”
